Hip Hop Lives Online: We Make the World Go Round

Muja Messiah

Location - Minneapolis

Member(s) - Solo Artist

Age - Unknown

Affiliations - Raw Villa Crew, Che Vicious, I Self Divine, Slug, Black Blondie

Bio- A veteran of Minneapolis underground Hip-Hop scene, Muja Messiah, just released his first full-length album, Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy. The Minneapolis based MC is know for his politically incorrect satire as he combines serious issues along with comedy and street anthems that attract the ‘thinking wo/man’ to his sound. With politically charged subject matter like the powerful anti-Bush song, “Patriot Act,” featuring I-Self Devine and “Give It Up,” featuring Black Thought of The Roots, Messiah is lyrically bursting of passion and his message is stronger than ever!

Creating a narrative based off a generation raised strictly on hip-hop and its cousin the street drug culture, his new album weaves through daily battles and triumphs of a B-Boy/D-Boy. Recognizing the anger, struggle and observations of social awareness, coming of age stories and tales of Minneapolis and its unique culture-clash.

As a preview for the album Messiah released a mixtape in March of 2008 titled MPLS Massacre Vol. 1. With its hardcore/aggressive tracks including internet favorites-”Amy Winehouse,” a remix of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” featuring M.anifest, “O’Silly Me,” featuring Slug and the conspiratorial “True Lies”. The mixtape has received enthusiastic reviews and comments from local and national press resources.

Muja Messiah is also linked with the notorious Raw Villa crew- a hard knock Hip-Hop crew that released the Rebellion E.P ( Black Corners) in 2000 which was followed by Muja Messiah’s solo E.P. Wutz Goin’ Down!!!? (Black Corners) in 2001. He’s shared stages with The Roots, Slick Rick, Dead Prez, Common, Ghostface Killah, Rakim, De La Soul, Grandmaster Flash, KRS-One, Redman, 50-Cent, Atmosphere, J*Davey, Camp Lo, Slum Village and The Cool Kids. He’s also performed at CMJ, SoundSet ‘08, Yo! The Movement-Celebration of Hip-Hop, Twin Cities Hip-Hop Awards, Minnesota Music Awards and the Toronto Urban Music Festival. Muja Messiah can be heard on Atmosphere’s Strickly Leakage on “Crewed Up,” URB Magazine’s Next 1000 with the track “Beautiful” featuring Samahra (Black Blondie) and Vibe’s 51 Best Myspace Rappers.

SHANGO’S Perspective - Ahhhh, the refreshing quench of positivity. Muja Messiah he reminds me of that time when street cats were aware of their square. Thugs, Ganstas, jooks cats, goons, etc all you can find sharpening their minds as they fought through dirty streets and their own dirty deed. Ya’ll remember bout mid to late 90’s. Shit…..that was when the GODS (5%) basically played major roles in hip hop and it rubbed off everybody. That got washed away by the influx of money. Muja Messiah I feel brings us back to this energy. To this place that ain’t feel niggerish. I like the direction of this track he’s dumping off but not no fucking bullshit. Now-a-day MC stands for Mad Cooning but Muja shows that he’s dances to his own drum. The Maddness is some real wake up shit…that is waaaaaaay past needed. At least to me, it is reassuring to hear someone that see things in the world, seeing past just material. I won’t even drop an endearing “N” bomb to this kat. Black man is on point. If you enjoyed what, dudes like the WU brought check out Muja Messiah’s The Madness and show that perhaps substance still holds weight to a culture. Check out this artist and drop him a vote on HHLO’s own underground online battle. This is SG, PEACE.