North Dakota Went Boom

NY Times Headline – 1/31/13

Bismarck, ND – Long thought of as a land where even the loneliest of cowboys wouldn’t travel, North Dakota, or more specifically, Bismarck, has become the hip-hop epicenter of our nation.  Whether it’s rappers like Deer Spitter, Far Go Nutz, Cowboy Wayne, or a group like the infamous Church per Capita, Bismarck has exploded onto the rap scene the past few months.

“Bismarck is real.  Lyrics are born on the streets, “ says Mumbai-born, Bismarck-bred rapper, Dakota Bagoda.  “I learned some of life’s hardest lessons on these streets.  Back when I had nothing to rely on but myself, my two loving parents, and the moderately successful grocery store they run.  Real shit, real life.  That’s Bismarck, that’s the ND.”

It’s unclear when, exactly, North Dakota became such a hotbed for aspiring rap artists, but many credit the success of Eminem’s 2002 semi-bio-pic, 8 Mile, for the upswing in rap interest.  “North Dakota is like, 98% white,” says rapper Sunny Smilez.  “So in 2007, when the 8 Mile VHS finally started to hit shelves all across the state, people began to realize not only what rap music is, but that you could be white and do it too.”

Regardless of the catalyst, there’s no denying the impact North Dakota rap has had on the music industry.  Legendary producer, Suge Knight of Death Row Records, says the ripple effect of North Dakota’s emergence has been felt in LA.  “They showed me you didn’t need to rap about murder, drugs, or bitches to make a successful rap album,” Knight claims.  “You could rap about foothills and prairie animals and turn it into some compelling shit.  Sitting horseback and staring up into the stars on a mild June night? That’s the type of shit LA kids can only dream about.  But those North Dakota niggers, man, they bring that shit to life.  They make it real.”

There’s a hip (-hop) new industry in North Dakota, and rap talent is flocking to it like it’s a diamond-studded jetski.  LA, New York, Detroit, and Chicago need to make room for the new rap capitol of the world, because North Dakota has finally done something people actually care about.

-- Pete Higgins