Turnt Up is a slang expression that means partying or being wild. It has entered mainstream pop culture through hip-hop music.
Americans generally express greater concerns about made-up news and are more likely than not to blame journalists for its prevalence. But, they also feel that the onus for reducing made-up news falls most heavily on themselves.
Local Hip-Hop
From its beginnings in New York City’s boroughs, hip-hop culture has expanded across the United States and into cities around the world. As it moved from local to global, hip-hop’s internal creative force has grown stronger and more chaotic, mutating its forms spatially, temporally, and sonically. Today, the music, dance, and graffiti that are the foundation of hip-hop culture appear in an ever-increasing number of distinct local styles, resulting in what the map above visualizes as an interconnected network of ecosystems linked by people, local infrastructures, accumulated and repeated sounds, and networks of interaction and navigation.
The rap scene in Buffalo is a tight knit community with a strong connection to the city’s history and identity. From amateur emcee showcases like The Thesis and Mic Check to the semi-regular YGB dance party DJ’d by StarChile, hip-hop is alive and well in the Nickel City. Last month, Griselda’s Tonight Show appearance was a worldwide wake-up call to the talent that’s coming out of this town. The rap artists of this city are no strangers to hard work, either. From Griselda’s greasy, menacing black-on-black portraits of trap life to Duffel Bag Hottie’s East Coast hustle with a touch of West Coast shine, these rappers have the sound that fits this place.
Local hip-hop producers have also embraced and built on the traditions of this city’s history, using samples from jazz, classic rock, and soul to create a style that has become synonymous with “underground,” “eclectic,” and/or “alternative.” Many of these same producers have integrated Eastern and West Coast production styles into their music, creating a blending of styles that is often described as “party rap.”
These local producers have developed their own unique soundscapes while still relying on the core elements of hip-hop’s foundational era. These artists have found their niche in a market that is constantly shifting and evolving, with the internet serving as the catalyst for change. The online platform has allowed for the spread of a more accessible, democratic, and intimate musical form, where artists can connect directly to fans. Hip-hop has never been more alive than it is now, and that’s something worth celebrating.
Local Music
Local musicians are a critical component of the hip-hop scene. They create the music that connects to the community and inspire action. Activist hip-hop is deeply rooted in Seattle’s culture and Julie-C says there are many reasons for that, including the DIY spirit and strong connections between artists and youth services. She points to programs like Macklemore’s The Residency and 206 Zulu, a hip-hop-oriented youth development program where she works as a teaching artist.
Talib Kweli hops on a 14+ hour flight to Tokyo to bring crisp international visuals to his Trend produced track, “Turnt Up.” Turn up your volume and party with the rapper in this video.
Local Artists
Local artists matter because they bring more to their community than just pretty art pieces. They help build a culture, change mindsets and norms and make their community a better place to live. They are the ones that teach children about art in schools, they are the ones who spend their time at healthcare institutes using arts as therapy and they are the ones that inspire local businesses to think outside of the box.
They are the ones that have a true passion for their work and they want to see their communities grow and thrive. They are the people that deserve your support. Whether it’s by purchasing their artwork, sharing their posts on social media or simply telling their story to your friends and family, you should always make an effort to do more for your local artists. You will never regret it.
Six years ago, Lance Mijares was sitting in his daughter’s mother’s laundry room recording a hip-hop podcast between paying jobs. He had long admired Denver’s hip-hop talent, which he felt rivaled that of national acts, and decided to create a platform to showcase it.
Now, the self-described “neo-grunge radio host” of Turnt Up News hosts multiple shows from his home studio and travels the country for interviews with hip-hop’s most respected names. He credits the show’s success to its consistency and its dedicated listener base. The show is now distributed via Spreaker, and its episodes receive more than 100,000 views per episode. Mijares is optimistic about Denver’s hip-hop future, and says the scene is finally taking itself more seriously. “I’ve seen artists selling out venues in town just as quickly as some national acts,” he says.
Local Events
Keke Palmer has more than a little acting experience, but her latest project, the Facebook Watch parody series Turnt Up with the Taylors, proves she’s got serious range. With a few wigs and light prosthetics, she transforms herself into Barbie, the narcissistic daughter; Lil Thad, the smooth-talking son; Miranda, the fierce matriarch; and Gammy Tay, the brazen grandmother.
Lance Mijares started Turnt Up TV six years ago in the laundry room of his mother’s house, recording between paying gigs. Eventually, he gained a following and was picked up by iHeart Radio.
TURNT is an electronic music collective that aims to bring diversity, equality and inclusivity to the community of Montreal’s underground scene. They do this by putting on different events that provide platforms for women, minorities and local projects to be heard and recognized.