As a bit of a follow up to my post earlier (Friday Funny) here’s a link over at the Isthmus with some thoughts from DJ Pain 1 (on the incident at the High Noon Saloon):

DJ Pain 1, real name Pacal Bayley, was one of the DJs at the event, and he is a prominent force in local hip-hop. He says about 110 people showed up. Since he was there and involved in setting up the show, I sought his comments, in hopes of following up the incident without quite getting us into the same old hand-wringing.

Bayley’s replies strike a somewhat pessimistic note.

“In the past, I would gladly counter the myth that hip-hop and violence go hand in hand, but the actions of several locals who have zero regard and zero investment in the livelihood of the hip-hop community have given the anti-hip-hop forces all the ammunition (excuse the metaphor) they need to shut us down for good,” he writes. “I can’t complain, because I don’t want to put innocent lives at risk, either, and I understand venues…closing their doors to local hip-hop shows, as much as it hurts me to say.”

The article concludes:

This isn’t to say that Bayley is demoralized. But if one of the busiest locals in the genre perceives a chilling effect, it’s hard to argue. Music fans in Madison should vigilantly look for new and creative ways to keep local hip-hop in the light. A minority of violent imbeciles have the power to screw up shows and make businesses and police wary. But local artists and audiences still have plenty of ways to demonstrate that that isn’t us.

Good for the Isthmus for actually talking with DJ Pain 1…