Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Published February 15, 2007 03:39 pm -  Joplin raps, ya'll w/audio and videoAs part of a contest a few weeks ago, I challenged the people of Joplin to write a rap about our hometown.
As an incentive, I provided as grand prize a deluxe vinyl reissue of obscure hip-hop classics recorded during the birth of hip hop in Brooklyn between 1979 and 1982. Almost 10 people entered. This was actually way more than I had anticipated, and determining a single winner was difficult. Annie Clarkson, with the help of Mark Sullivan and Elliot Vasquez, actually recorded a version of her rap, “Get the Lead Out.” Over realistic mining sound effects, Vasquez raps Clarkson’s words about the history of Joplin while name checking numerous local legends and landmarks. One miner died down in the mines, His ghost returned with a light to shine, He still appears ’most every night Out south of town at the old Spooklight. Obviously, I was impressed by Clarkson’s initiative and scope. Then I recalled high school and the numerous times ambitious kids with their fancy binders and bibliographies blew the curve. I resolved to not be swayed by presentation, but judge solely on the words. This meant I could not give any additional weight to Gene Herbert, proprietor of the local concert venue The Cesspool, who went to the trouble of submitting a video of a masked man rapping about Joplin. The video was a rather low budget and bizarre feature that I nonetheless truly appreciated. In the end, Clarkson and many of the others were good, but there could be only one grand prize. I chose Jeremy L. Trowbridge of Joplin because I liked his line “hangin’ out with a squirrel.” I also liked how he balanced Joplin’s history of unsavory characters with a glimpse into his personal life. Joplin, intersection of America, Poppin’ revolvers and Jesse James is sparin’ a Whole lotta folks, 
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