For most people when you think of hip hop, you think of every mainstream stereotype that could be out there and potentially draw from what you’ve heard in top-40 watered down hip hop.
It’s hard to judge an entire genre of music when there are guys like Stef Alexander aka P.O.S on the scene. If you haven’t heard of him yet, then this is your chance to check out P.O.S, because he’s unlike any hip-hop artist you’ve ever heard. I had the chance to speak with him regarding his upcoming Canadian tour and just about life as a musician.
With roots in punk rock and hardcore bands, P.O.S has grown up in the vibrant Minneapolis music scene, “It has one of the best scenes on the planet. We all support & stand together, which feeds the independent spirit. I think it shows in our music.” From there, he’s had the opportunity to become a part of the hip-hip collective Doomtree. His mixture of punk rock, hip hop & poetic melodies make his music more than what is available currently. “I never thought about the how I blended (these music types together) – it just came out. The first songs I ever wrote were punk/hardcore.”
So from his days in MN, things have been on the up & up. Blogs all across North America have taken notice to P.O.S’ album, ‘Never Better’ naming it to Top Ten of 2009 lists all over the internet. When I ask Stef how the internet has helped his career, he tells me “Since my music is so out of the box, not like most hip-hop, the old models of the music business just don’t work. The internet is so key. It helps artists like me get paid.”
So with the buzz and hype that has been surrounding ‘Never Better’, P.O.S is headed onto the road to bring his sound to the masses. Fans old, but hopefully some new. And for fans that are new, what can they expect from his shows? “You can just expect to have a really good time. Feeling like you’re alive for the very first time.” So why not give the P.O.S style of hip-hop a chance. You might just find yourself pleasantly surprised.
Tour Dates:
w/ Dessa and Grieves
February 11th The Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, Canada
w/ Dessa and Astronautalis
March 13th Il Motore Montreal, Quebec
March 14th Sneaky Dee’s Toronto, Ontario
Listen to the track Goodbye
