From South Dakota to Stardom: Soulcrate Music

Who says hip hop music can’t come out of South Dakota? Soulcrate Music has been doing it for years and are only getting bigger. Wes Eisenhauer of Soulcrate Music has been into all sorts of music for as long as he can remember, but hip hop really stood out for him.

“I’ve been into hip hop as long as I’ve been into music,” said Eisenhauer.

Growing up listening to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Eisenhauer has since been embracing the hip hop culture for the past ten years. Yet the journey hasn’t necessarily been an easy one. Soulcrate is composed of three members: the brothers Eisenhauer, Def and Dirt Dee, and their DJ, DJ Absolute. The brothers met their DJ somewhat fatefully through the punk rock music scene and skateboarding.

As the relationship grew, DJ Absolute had a recording system in his basement and the rhymes started flowing. From there grew the story of Soulcrate. Eisenhauer remembers taking influences from anywhere and everywhere. He surrounded himself by motivated people, and noticed what was happening in the Minneapolis hip hop scene, and took that all in and looked to see what Soulcrate could do in Sioux Falls.

Since then, the scene in South Dakota has been thriving. Soulcrate has been around for a big part of the hip hop life in South Dakota and has played a big role in building the scene. In this last year they signed with Black Clover records, an indie label out of Kansas City, Missouri and most widely known for front emcee Mac Lethal.

Soulcrate opened a few shows with Mac Lethal on his tour and grew mutual respect. The label liked what they saw and the deal was done. The label will be giving Soulcrate national distribution on their next record. The new record, coming in early 2010, will be available at Best Buy stores, a big step for any independent band.

From there came quite the change. From playing and swapping shows on the weekends, Soulcrate went on their first national tour and played 37 shows in 40 days. They are taking big strides to the next step.

This isn’t their first trip to Fargo, but this will be their first time headlining.

Soulcrate will be joined by Prof and Rahzwell out of Minneapolis, Maxilla Blue and Me and You Crew.

Soulcrate’s sound is self-described as party music. “We like to promote fun and want people to have a good time,” said Eisenhauer.

The 21 plus show is this Friday at The Aquarium, starting at 9 p.m.

Soulcrate has come a long way in making a name for themselves. Yet, even with the label signing, the national tours, and the national sales distribution, they aren’t letting all that go to their head.  Eisenhauer stays modest: “We realize this shit doesn’t happen overnight.”

Questions and comments: zach.smith@ndsu

INFO:
What: Soulcrate Music
When: Fri, Oct 9, 9:30pm
Where: The Aquarium
How much: $5, 21+