Hip Hop Roots finds new home 
March 10, 2011 by Mona White
Local MC tries to motivate the hip-hop scene in Las Vegas
Historic downtown Las Vegas is the new home for Hip Hop Roots, the longest running hip-hop show in Las Vegas.
Hip Hop Roots moved to Las Vegas Country Saloon a month ago because the saloon has a high-tech sound system with an intimate setting on Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street.
“I am tickled to have a home, a haven for hip-hop for the locals with a positive vibe and in a positive way,” said HighDro, the president and online organizer for Fresh Talent, which produces Hip Hop Roots every Tuesday night. “It is growing in a magnificent way.”
DJs, beat boxers, verbal percussionists, organic music, poets, dancers and more are welcome and encouraged to participate.
“It’s open mic. I don’t care if you get up here and do the chicken dance,” HighDro yelled from the stage.
HighDro is the MC every Tuesday night and runs a tight ship, explained Keith Wallace, general manager of LVCS. Resistant at first to the idea of allowing Hip Hop Roots in LVCS, HighDro’s “spotless reputation” for running this evening the past three years was a tipping point, Wallace said.
“HighDro is a professional that is respected by the hip-hop community and doesn’t allow violent lyrics or violent acts,” Wallace said.
He talked of the stereotype that hip-hop typically holds, but Wallace added that with HighDro, the experience has been 110 percent the opposite.
To enhance the experience, HighDro also has fans and artists bring in canned goods and clothing to support the Salvation Army, Opportunity Village and Catholic Charities. In return, for every item they bring in, the fans get two raffle tickets to win free T-shirts and CDs — or as HighDro calls it, “free billionaire mafia gear.”
Tuesday night’s show featured performances by local MC’s A1ne, Phil A & Hassan, Dirty Earthlings and Sober Soul.
Great article Mona! Thank you for coming out and thank you for the kind words. Billionaire Mafia was just a sponsor for the night. We have different giveaways from different sponsors every week. Your welcome at Hip Hop Roots anytime!
Peace
-Highdro
Hip Hop roots has been a home for me and soo many of my fellow emcees and artists. For so long i was looking for a place to do my spoken word poety, I have yet to find a place that is as positive and uplifting as hip hop roots. Its a Family of emcees deejays and b boys that is second to none. I am happy to be apart of this loving group of people who dont glorify violence and drug use, but instead promote love, charity and togetherness. On top of this the Shows are absolutley amazing with energy and good vibes flowing from front to back. Thank you HIGHDRO for opening the door to us and giving us a place to outlet all our internal feelings through our poems, and rythem. This type of mentality needs to florish through out all of vegas and even further.
-Jabs-
[...] Hip Hop Roots finds new home Local MC tries to motivate the hip-hop scene in Las Vegas Historic downtown Las Vegas is the new home for Hip Hop Roots, the longest running hip-hop show in Las Vegas. Hip Hop Roots moved to Las Vegas Country Saloon a month ago because the saloon has a high-tech sound system with an intimate setting [...] Read more on The Rebel Yell [...]