Minneapolis-based rapper deM atlaS appeared on the scene in 2013 with the release of “Charlie Brown.” Since then, deM’s philosophical rhymes and audible emotion have cemented him as a talented writer and performer. Not long after his humble beginnings did he appear on the radar of Minneapolis label Rhymesayers, a prominent independent hip-hop label home to artists such as Atmosphere, Brother Ali and Aesop Rock.
“I played a lot of shows and word kinda got around about, ‘Who’s this deM atlaS?’ And Rhymesayers hit me up on email and asked me if I wanted to be a part of a show with Grieves at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis,” deM atlaS — offstage Joshua Evans — said.
In his first year with Rhymesayers, deM has reached new heights as an artist. His growth culminated in a mainstage performance at Soundset, a major Minnesota hip-hop festival, this past summer.
“Playing mainstage at Soundset was the best feeling,” deM said. “Opening that stage, sharing it with my favorite artists like Nas, Cyprus Hill, Atmosphere, Chance the Rapper and Odd Future was incredible. Words can’t even express how I felt that day. It went by so fast. From performing for like 20 kids to then performing on that big-ass stage with thousands upon thousands of kids, your peers, staring at you. It’s great.”
deM atlaS will be performing here in Madison Nov. 1 for Freakfest, marking his third-ever performance in the city of Madison.
“Everybody has a lot of pride in Madison,” deM said when I asked what stands out to him about Madison. “I see a lot of the school colors everywhere. And the bars, too. Those are everywhere.”
His Freakfest performance, supplemented by fellow Rhymesayers acts Atmosphere and Prof, is a continuation of the North of Hell Tour, which has taken the three acts across the U.S. and Canada.
“I don’t know much about Freakfest, actually,” deM said. “It’s probably gonna be a lot of drinking. Also a lot of masks and costumes. I really think it’s gonna be a great time. I can’t wait.”
Freakfest’s intertwining with Halloween and the related festivities has deM considering the impacts that the October spooktacular might have on the show. He’s considering dressing up: “Since it’s the same day as Day of the Dead, I was thinking of painting my face a little bit, like black and white like a skull mask,” he said.
Other more far-fetched stage antics are being considered as well. When asked if he’d rather perform on horseback or on stilts, deM said, “On horseback for sure. I mean the stage would have to be a big stadium or something, but I’d gladly perform a set on horseback. Actually it’d be best if I was riding a bunny, or maybe in the pouch of a kangaroo.”
Barring an elaborate heist from Henry Vilas Zoo, however, it seems that this might be out of the question. Regardless, deM atlaS is poised to put on a prime performance this Freakfest, full of dope rhymes and scary-good flow.
Joey Bada$$ kicks ass at Barrymore despite excessive openers
