Looking for live and local hip-hop? Then go further than downtown Squamish.
Local hip-hop group, the Dynamik Emperorz, release their new album, The Chronicles of Runt and Spesh, at the Hip-Hop Extravaganza Friday, Nov. 6 at the Ocean Port Hotel.
"We had about 25 songs that we liked but we cut it down to just the best," said Jhye about Dynamik Emperorz new album. "We did all the mixing, mastering, recording, production and promotion."
The show will host a collection of hip-hop artists from Squamish and Northern California, with musicians performing their solo labour and uniting to show off their collaborative work.
Members of Dynamik Emperorz include twin brothers Jhye and Cody Hopkins, aka Spesh and Runt, along with singer Lindsey Fowler, aka Empress.
They join extravaganza host Maleko, of Jedi Knights Circle (JKC), and ticket holders will witness performances from JKC members Optimus Rhymes, Monikape and Cosmic as well as local hip-hop artists Your boi RG and Biological Son.
Jhye said he first got hooked on hip-hop in 1999 when his friend played him a rare JKC track.
"I could only follow the JKC through my friend because you couldn't get their music from any share program, they were so underground," said Jhye.
Things changed for Jhye in 2006 when he was introduced to Myspace, a popular social networking website for musicians. He was able to contact JKC group member, Optimus Rhymes, and convince him to play a show in Squamish.
"Once I talked to him it was really inspiring and it inspired me to start music," said Jhye.
In 2007 Jhye, his brother Cody, Lindsey Fowler and Mike Hoogenboom chose the name, Dynamik Emperorz and began recording songs from their home studio using Google and Garage Band to learn how to make beats.
The group managed to record enough music in that time to open for JKC's first performance at the Ocean Port.
"I had exactly one year since contacting them and getting them out here to put an album together. So, we entitled it One Year and Running," said Jhye.
The two groups used the next two years to collaborate on songs over the Internet and played together in Squamish and Vancouver.
Since then, Hoogenboom has left the Dynamik Emperorz but the group continues to invest in their music.
"You're only as good as your tools are. We invested about $10,000 into a brand new studio and we're making all our own beats. Our music has totally progressed," said Jhye.
Tickets for the Hip Hop Extravaganza are 10$ and available at the OP Beer and Wine store.
Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 9 p.m.
