Statesman

Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Submitted photo Deploi (far left) with House of Vibe, a hip-hop/R + B group from the Los Angeles area.

Media Credit: Submitted photo Mark Grundhoefer of Down Lo.

"You're tone deaf, kid." This is what everyone said when the L.A.-based rapper Deploi auditioned for choir in the 4th grade.

"I was heartbroken," Deploi said.

This is Deploi's story. A now Minneapolis-based, hip-hop artist, who will be playing at the Rex on Friday with Down Lo on Nov. 21.

After being discouraged from choir, Deploi moved on to play in the percussion section of his San Bernardino school band.After junior high, Deploi's teenage angst lead him away from band and into the world of hip-hop.

Deploi enjoyed the "outspoken" nature of hip-hop. That, and the cussing he said. But when his curiosity led him to look at the musical influences of his favorite tracks his friends asked, "Why are you reading the credits?"

"I'm just interested," Deploi said. That curiosity led him to appreciate hip-hop's jazz and blues influences, and changed his outlook on the mold of rap.

With a new attitude about rap and hip-hop, Deploi established himself in the L.A.-rap scene, just 60 miles west of his San Bernardino roots.

"I'm tired of just seeing a rapper up on stage," Deploi said. "How about the real music?"

As fate would have it, he found the answer to his question in the Twin Cities band Down Lo (DL).

Deploi and St. Paul-native DJ Inno met while attending San Diego State University. When Inno returned to St. Paul in 2003, he introduced the members of DL to Deploi's unique style. Soon after DL, front man Mark Grundhoefer called Deploi and asked him to start touring with the band.

So, who is DL, then?

A Minnesota band who has gathered an arsenal of musical talent since its conception in 2002, and is now comprised of previously mentioned Grundhoefer (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Cini (drums), Ryan Nielsen (vocals, bass) and Will Nissen (keyboards, sax, vocals).

Since DL is now performing over 175 shows a year, the relationship between Deploi and the band has transformed from simply opening shows to a much more collaborative effort.

They have played the coveted 10,000 Lakes Festival in 2005 and 2007 with Deploi and hope to translate their Midwesttouring success into more shows on the East Coast and American South, according to their Web site.

Deploi said the artists just started to mesh their music together and began writing on a larger spectrum. Their recent collaborative album, "In Our World," is now available, and shows why DL & Deploi are being booked throughout the Midwest.

Their next stop will be this Friday at the Rex. Music starts at 10 p.m. for the 21 plus show with a $5 cover.

For more information and to hear some tracks from Down Lo and Deploi, check out www.myspace.com/deploi or www.downlotunes.com.

Rather than just spending another Friday night out at the bar, Deploi urges you to, "Come out and try something new. Get enlightened."

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