The Winston-Salem Rap Round Robin makes its ninth annual return, hollerin’ up the new venue era of Hoots Roller Bar on September 28.
Encompassing the Winston-Salem community — from the flyer to the floor — the annual hip-hop festival continues flipping the show format script: artists on the floor, with the crowd running circles. Round and round, the party started by Aaron “Emceein’ Eye” Brookshire and his brother the late Joshua “Unspeakable” Brookshire, continues their call: “We out here!” into new digs at Hoots.
The 2023 rendition, the finale era of the rap round robin’s Monstercade homebase, featured a double-whammy album release format for Brookshire’s “Nothing Beats A Try” LP.
The upcoming 9th iteration offers something of a return to form: six artists, encircled by a crowd. Camel City party vibes abound, with a heavy mix across the Winston-Salem Hip-Hop community to link Triad artists and touring East Coast regionals.
OG Spliff once again joins Brookshire in hosting duties to wrangle three main event stages: the first finds Brookshire’s Emceein’ Eye persona matched with KamDoja’s WSRRR debut; Katie.blvd battles Paragon Don on Stage 2; and Larry Murvin bookends an OG Spliff reprise on Stage 3. It all pops off with a performance from Baltimore-based drummer extraordinaire, Josh Stokes, setting a high-bar tone from the jump.
“Every year I always have someone open the show to signify that something epic is about to go down,” Brookshire explained, shouting Stokes’ praises. Having made his first WSRRR appearance in 2022, Stokes gravitates in the Cold Rhymes Records orbit, drumming for artists like Height Keech as well as releasing his own material across an array of media. “He proceeded to crush and blow minds with his rocked out soulful performance playing drums while singing and rapping,” Brookshire recalled, “and I can say he 100% kinda stole the show. Fans of D’Angelo and the Vanguard, TV on the Radio, and Anderson.Paak, will find many things to love about Josh’s music and charismatic stage presence.”
Overall, the bill blends first-timers and veterans — locals and touring artists — in the center spotlight. As much as the WSRRR is about throwing down, it’s ultimately about building up — for the artists, for the city — for the music and buds.
And for Brookshire, the event meshes the opportunity to create beyond rhymes. “My friendship with OG Spliff started at the very first Winston-Salem Rap Round Robin,” he said, affirming the nearly decade-long friendship. Getting nostalgic for that first year at the defunct skater den, “The Hut,” “having him co-host with me every year is like a yearly celebration of our brotherhood.”
“Together we’ve played for two people and 200 people,” Brookshire continued. “We’ve been in the trenches together, regional state trips together, and helped foster a truly unique pocket of hip-hop and rap culture in our city, together.”
Emceein’ Eye with PT Burnem
Within that pocket, the Steady Hyperactive Collective keeps buzzing — finding something of a hive and home at the WSRRR. “I’ve been a consistent fan of their work for years and it always puts a big smile on my face to include local MCs that haven’t had a chance to get on the roster,” Brookshire said, pointing to Paragon Don making their debut appearance. Meanwhile, Larry Murvin, a Steady Hype affiliate, will make a triumphant return. “Larry has been making me laugh with his skit videos,” Brookshire insisted. “And he’s been helping me vibe with his stream of consciousness style and elegant ratchetness for some time now.”
When it comes to his own performance vibe, Brookshire is stoked to match up with KamDoja’s formal introduction into the WSRRR alumni. “I’m ultra excited to get one of my favorite local artists on the bill,” he said, recalling his own introduction to her work. “I first heard her on a track [“Me & U”] with Volz Brown and OG Spliff a few years back and remember being absolutely blown away by the cadence and flow they showcased.”
“She’s a whole different caliber of MC,” Brookshire continued, pointing to her recent release, “Daughter of Cool.”
Katie.blvd
Katie.Blvd is another MC firing on otherworldly cylinders; which she’ll ignite on her WSRRR return. It’s a personal inclusion for Brookshire, who met Katie.Blvd as a billmate on one of the last shows Speak N Eye he performed as a duo with his brother. “We were beyond thrilled to meet another hip-hop head from the Piedmont, in a different city who was holding down their own pocket of rap and soul culture,” he said. “Later that year after my brother Joshua had passed we had a Rap Round Robin Memorial show at Monstercade and then the next night had a friends only type rap show at ETC in Greensboro. That night Katie performed a set that was a stark contrast to their beat performance heavy set earlier that year. I got to see a different Katie.blvd that night, as she kicked rhymes, sang, and even displayed an excellent set of crowd participation skills.”
“I’m stupid excited to welcome them back again this year,” he continued. “At a different venue and setting all together with an eclectic mix of MCs and artists.” It’s a notion Brookshire extends to the visual arts for this round as well, having tapped graphics wizard, Kat Lamp, to design the commemorative poster; with a limited edition of screen-printed offerings for sale at the show.
Offering up new blends and eclectic mixes serving the Winston-Salem creative community, the Winston-Salem hip-hop heads are still out there — with the 9th Annual Winston-Salem Rap Round Robin throwing down at Hoots Roller Bar on September 28.
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