The Wake

Heiruspecs is all about mixin’ it up – defying rap conventions.

The St. Paul hip-hop group backs its rhymes with live drums, bass and keyboard, so on stage they look like a pair of MCs rolling out rhymes in front of a rock-band backdrop. But the sound is totally integrated, with Twinkie Jiggles’ strong basslines shining through in some songs and dVRG’s piano melodies in others. The fabric holding all of it together is the dense, smooth vocals of Felix and Maud’Dib. The speed at which the two fly through their lyrics creates a texture more than a discernible verbal statement, like a handful of wooden beads tossed on the floor. The attitude of each song, which is muted on the CD, comes through on stage.

Heiruspecs’ independent roots didn’t stop them from signing with a semi-big record label. Although their latest album, Tiger Dancing, is backed by Razor & Tie, the guys recorded all the songs before signing the contract. Judging from the crowd at The Whole, they’ve retained the indie-rap connection with their fans that they developed grassroots-style since they formed the band in their St. Paul Central High School music class. When Felix led the crowd in “5ves,” a song about sitting on the front step while your neighborhood goes by, a roomful of Twin Cities kids shouted along and waved their hands in the air. Heiruspecs hopped down from the stage after their set at The Whole and headed to the merch table at the back to give autographs and sell t-shirts and albums. Twinkie counted ones out of a zip-up money bag.

The band’s rap-world popularity hasn’t forced them to trim from their identity the pride they have in their St. Paul origins. Gearing up for “Intro,” which opens with the line “Straight outta St. Paul,” Felix asks the crowd, “Who here is proud of where you’re from?” Everyone cheers. Chatting with a fan about local music after the Whole show, Felix says he’s the only person ever to stage dive at a Mason Jennings concert.

Heiruspecs blend hip-hop bravado with critical self-reflection and integrity. Felix boasts in “Drop,” “Did you notice when I’m holding this pen, I flow with my hands like Chopin or Gauguin over a jam?” but in “Lie to Me” reveals, “I sometimes wonder if these epiphanies will kill me / Creeping out of the deep, dark corners of the real me.” When a young woman asks him to sign her tight white t-shirt after the show, Felix says, “The belly only.” I ask dVRG about the absence of girl-demeaning lyrics in their songs, which I’ve always associated with rap. “We were all raised in families with moms who loved us. There’s no reason for us to hate women. That’s ridiculous.”

Heiruspecs takes a lot of risks to stay true to their roots, and when you get the chance to see them live you should thank them for the turning out a fun show with heart.

Heiruspecs’ latest, Tiger Dancing, is available at local record shops throughout the Twin Cities.