Doomtree - No Kings [CD]

2013 release, the second all-crew release from the Doomtree collective, the prolific pack of Minnesota musicians known for their explosive live shows, their ferociously DIY ethic, and their blatant disregard for the conventions of their genre. All seven members of Doomtree have built solo careers as rappers, producers, or DJs. (Roster cheat sheet: P.O.S, Dessa, Sims, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger.) Individually these artists receive press from outlets like the York Times, NPR, Spin, Rolling Stone, and the Utne Reader. When they take the stage together, they're an unstoppable storm of knuckle tattoos, fedoras, high-tops, and sensible flats - they're funny together, desperately serious together, and their loyalty to one another is evident to everyone who's seen a show. Ultimately the title, No Kings, is a call for both rebellion and respect - obey no monarchs, seek no thrones. There are 808s in Neverland. There are no kings in Minneapolis. And Doomtree continues their ascent the same way they began: one city, one club, one show at a time.