It wasn’t many years ago that San Diego rapper Twisted Insane was homeless, struggling to get by, hustling CDs for food in mall parking lots and on busy sidewalks. Bouncing from one metropolitan area to another, the horror-core hip hopper would build a following and relocate, honing his craft while building a small but viciously loyal fan base.
With the word-of-mouth success of 2006’s Shoot For The Face, Twisted saw some traction, with copies selling out and remaining out of print, giving him a Tech N9ne-level of underground success. Building on that steam, Twisted has released five full-length albums since (with the newest, Voodoo, pending) as well as building his Brainsick Muzik into a multi-artist label comprised of other overlooked yet relentless and deserving emcees who have also risen up from nothing.
That underdog focus lives on with The Brainsick Muzik World Tour, a DIY national tour relying heavily on good old-fashioned pavement pounding and making personal connections to spread the word. The tour, booked by and featuring Twisted and The Brainsick family, intends to share its unholy gospel with the country, recruiting converts and keeping it gangsta.
Joining Mr. Insane for this massive evening will be the rest of the Brainsick Muzik roster, including C.Ray, Kamikazi, Bishop, ISO, Dikulz and Z & Redro, as well as local rappers AreaKode Assassinz, Locsta, Emphasis and S.W.P. at 9 pm Friday, July 31, at Cozmic; $17-$22. All ages.
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519