The Rake Magazine

In 1997, Rhymesayers gathered over two dozen local artists and more than a dozen local DJs and B-Boy's to perform at a South Minneapolis warehouse until dawn to a capacity-filled crowd. Two years later, Rhymesayers expanded the concept at First Avenue, with Soundset Wednesdays, drawing a crowd of over 1700 people for the opening night and maintaining sellout capacity for its entire run. This was the birth of SoundSet and a catalyst for the success of Rhymesayers, now one of indie Hip Hop's most successful and respected labels worldwide.

On stage, SoundSet '08, year one: Atmosphere, fresh off their sixth studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*t Gold, and a 20-city album release tour, come back home to Minneapolis to headline Soundset 08. As forerunners of the independent west coast rap movement, the legendary Dilated Peoples (Evidence, Rakaa Iriscience and DJ Babu) will join us from Los Angeles, CA. On the wheels of steel, from the West Coast, we welcome the World Famous Beat Junkies (DJ Rhettmatic, J-Rocc and DJ Babu), performing individual DJ sets. Reigning from NYC's Def Jux camp, Aesop Rock, along with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, return to Minneapolis after last year's sold out performance at First Ave. North Carolina MC's, Phonte and Big Pooh, aka Little Brother bring to the stage one of the finest shows in Hip Hop. After much broad critical acclaim for his Undisputed Truth album, Brother Ali is set to deliver his raw emotion and political views to the Twin Cities. Rhymesayers' artist and local hero, P.O.S, of Doomtree fame, returns to the Dome parking lot after performing there on last year's Warped Tour.