Yoni Puts the Lingam to Fargo

When you search the annals of Twin Cities hip hop a few key names come to mind. Without a doubt you will think of Slug from Atmosphere and of course the likes of Dessa and P.O.S of Doomtree. There are more, of course, but that’s not the point. These acts are all known for the way they craft their words into something infrequent listeners of hip hop wouldn’t expect, something meaningful and complex. Yoni is no exception.

You might remember Yoni from the Matisyahu DVD/CD “Matisyahu: Live at Stubbs.” He’s an MC from St. Paul. If anything is apparent about him from listening to his debut album “End of an Era,” out now, it is that he is proud; proud to be Jewish, proud of his city, and proud of his music. Unlike some musicians from the area though, he does not let that pride define him.

His lyrics do not come off as overly message-oriented. His music feels more like a conversation than a lecture about the hot-button topics of the day. This is something that seems to plague most hip hop. But Yoni’s message is universal, and for anybody in any city. His metaphors come with teeth and you can tell that he knows exactly what he is doing. He runs circles around you with his words, jumping between the vocabularies of a poet laureate and a hardened man of the world in a split second.

His influence ranges from the typical regional and national hip hop acts, but from the very first listen you can tell there is something else there. The influence of rock and roll bands such as Santana and Pearl Jam come through, as well as the influence of Jazz/funk fusion bands like Jamiroquai.

Does this sound like something you might be into? You are in luck. Yoni will be gracing the Fargo/Moorhead area with his presence. He will be playing alongside Jon Wayne and the Pain and Fargo’s own Meandyoucrew at The Aquarium above Dempsey’s on Broadway. The modest cover is a small price to pay for a Tuesday night of great music. If you can’t make it to the show, be sure to check out Yoni and all the other bands on Myspace.

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If You Go

What: Yoni, Jon Wayne and the Pain, Meandyoucrew
Where: The Aquarium
When: Tues, Feb 2, 9 pm
How Much: $7, 21+ID