Ray Pierce, the man who performs as Steddy P, is the founder of Indyground Entertainment, a miniature version of Tech N9ne’s Strange Music empire. The label has issued music by regional artists including Farout and Dom Chronicles.
3 reasons we're listening to Steddy P this week:
1. On Saturday, Steddy P oversees the annual Indy Fest party at the Riot Room. Beginning at noon, Indy Fest features about two dozen rappers and DJs on indoor and outdoor stages; among the performers are The Abnorm, Greg Enemy and Second Hand King.
2. Though Steddy P has gradually evolved into a bacchanal party rapper, his 2008 album Dear Columbia was the imaginative work of a performer who took his cues from conscious artists like KRS-One and Chuck D of Public Enemy.
3. “End of the World Party,” a track from his 2012 project While You Were Sleeping 2, splits the difference between Steddy P’s roots as a thoughtful rapper and his more recent emphasis on celebratory music. It's the third track on this live performance at KJHK in Lawrence:
IndyFest 16, n00n-3 a.m. at the Riot Room, 4048 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111, 816-442-8179.
Bill Brownlee’s writing appears weekly in The Kansas City Star and Ink magazine. He blogs about Kansas City’s jazz scene at Plastic Sax.
