HipHopotamus

Artist Information

Biography

We have played with/at:
Flobots (Tulsa, OK at the Cain's Ballroom. October 2008)
Matisyahu (Tulsa, OK at the Cain's Ballroom. June 2008)
D Fest Music Festival and Conference (Tulsa, OK) 2007
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival (Lawerance, KS) 2008
Blueprint (Rhymesayers Records)
Hello Stranger (Four Square Death Match Records)
Johnny Polygon (Future Green Entertainment)
P.D.A. (Yeah Siam Records)
Vito Ninefingers/SocietySociety
Ghosts
Circa 360
just to name a few.

We came togather in August 2006 because we wanted to do something different than all the other hip hop acts that are out there. Somehow our sound has evolved into what it has become today. We play music that we like, and we know other people will like when they hear us. Our backgrounds are all different (from classic rock, house and D&B, punk and ska, rap, garage indie rock, of course hip hip, and everything in between), but all the influences come togather to make a unique sound that I can guarintee you haven't heard before.

Instrumentation

Raymond Conde - MC/Rap
Tip Crowley - Bass
Kevin Lantz - Drums
Steve Doyle - Turntables/Rap
Aaron - Guitar and Keyboards

Discography

Album in progress. For recording blog, visit www.myspace.com/mindemancipation83

Audio

• Cool As Shit (demo)
  Listen  
• Just Release (demo)
  Listen  
• Soundwaves
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Hip-hop band brings socially conscious message to Dfest [+ Show ]
  

  Dfest is not only a big chance to catch some unique underground national acts; it's also a great cha...Dfest is not only a big chance to catch some unique underground national acts; it's also a great chance to catch a cross-section of local bands.
  
  For example, check out the band-based hip hop from HipHopotamus, a relatively new group that's been taking its socially conscious rap to local clubs. From the chikka-chikka on Aaron Davis's guitar to Tip Crowley's bass thump, HipHopotamus knows how to make the audience shake it while also bringing food for thought to the table.
  
  The beats (from drummer Kevin Lantz) and rhymes (from Ray Conde) are important but so is the message, Crowley said. The band shows that on songs such as "Contact Sport," "Hip Hop Is Lost" and "Shade of Brown."
  
  "I think it's important because a lot of people look up to musicians," Crowley said. "They listen to the lyrics and they sing along to them, but they don't always understand what they mean."
  
  He derided the wilderness of mainstream hip hop that recycles the same series of hooks over the same beats with weak raps about the same subjects, usually women and materialism.
  
  The lack of originality thrown into the mainstream acts is part of the inspiration behind the song "Hip Hop Is Lost," Crowley said.
  
  "We just think it's been lost to commercialization and just like easy hooks being thrown in there," Crowley said. "We think it's better to have real musicians and to have real lyricists and all this other stuff instead of just copy and paste this beat over this copy-and-pasted hook."
  
  The group got together a year ago this July. Influenced by underground hip-hop groups such as M.F. Doom, Crowley said his band wants to bring music back into hip hop and keep out the sexism.
  
  Check them out at 8 p.m. Friday at Exit 6C, 222 E. First St.

• HipHopotamus [+ Show ]
  

  "It's socially conscious, positive hip hop with MCs rapping over a live band with an indie-rock tilt..."It's socially conscious, positive hip hop with MCs rapping over a live band with an indie-rock tilt... and you'll still hit the streets with a grin afterwards."
  GARY HIZER
  Urban Tulsa
  

• "C'mon get happy" [+ Show ]
  

  Tired of being cooped up? Then tomorrow night, get out and get down with local, live-instrument ...Tired of being cooped up?
  
  Then tomorrow night, get out and get down with local, live-instrument hip hop act HipHopotamus.
  
  It's a free show with local band Jirrhaff also performing, at 10 p.m. the Continental, 421 E. First Street in downtown Tulsa.
  
  "We play positive music, stuff that is meant to uplift you, not just distract you from the world. No leaning with it, no rocking with it, no making it rain on anyone, no nasty hooks, no prerecorded beats, no bull****, no stupid gimmicks. Just pure, true, uncorrupted, unadulterated, creative, REAL hip hop," said band member Tip Toasty in a recent email.
  
  It's jazz, rap, rock, old school, trip hop, rock, ska, you name it, it's cool like that. Now, get out there and make happy!
  
  JENNIFER CHANCELLOR
  Tulsa World

• Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival :: 06.05.08 – 06.08.08 [+ Show ]
  

  HipHopotamus won our attention... While the ears may have been hungry for music, the band delivered ...HipHopotamus won our attention... While the ears may have been hungry for music, the band delivered a nice, satisfying performance. The five-piece group offered rapid-fire vocals over tight funk, with words that flowed over the music similar to Anthony Kiedis or Matisyahu. "Get Up and Groove" (Soundwaves) featured nice solos from both the guitarist and DJ, and at times it seemed they were more rock than hip-hop. A few songs later, and the guitarist was pounding the keys while the DJ spit on the mic center stage. "Hip Hop Is Lost" came late in the set, and typified the heart-on-the-sleeve appeal of the Tulsa quintet. HipHopotamus proved to be a solid party band, and one worth keeping tabs on.

Setlist

We have up to an hour and 20 minutes worth of origional material. We have one cover in our repertoire, called Reflections by the artist Atmosphere.

We have recently started doing small acoustic sets depending on the situation. These consist of acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, piano if available, and emcee.

Basic Requirements

Calendar