Blowing up

Verse and the rise of Tulsa's hip-hop underground

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Coming together​
With Verse and Pade onboard, Oilhouse’s ascent continued as more and more venues began to catch on that hip-hop was finding a wider audience in Tulsa—The Yeti, Fassler Hall, even Guthrie Green. 

“After we got together, the scene moved a lot more quickly,” Algebra said. “We were kind of running out of hip-hop people to do shows with, and [Verse] introduced us to a wealth of artists that hadn’t had a proper venue for their music.”

Those new connections set the stage for an expanding network of performance opportunities in the burgeoning hip-hop scene. Local MC and poet Written Quincey started Cypher 120, a regular open-mic for MCs, poets and musicians at the Creative Room. Dr. Freeman and DJ Somar created a celebration of hip-hop culture called Lessons in Fresh, incorporating elements of rap, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti. Algebra recently began a monthly showcase at Fassler Hall for hip-hop and spoken-word artists called Oklahoma Dope. 

“Those early days were a springboard for what became a hip-hop community,” Verse said.

But Verse himself had only scratched the surface. 

Branching out
As he became more established, Verse drew the interest of musicians from other genres. Jazz (not jazz?) band Gogo Plumbay approached him to rhyme over a new song they were putting together. When he showed up to a rehearsal, the chemistry was so immediate and satisfying that they’ve since played several live shows together.

“It just all fits together,” Gogo saxophonist Michael Staub said. “He’s got that smooth flow but still sounds baller. He’s laid back but still has an authority a lot of guys try to force. And he’s a poet. If you put that in print, everyone will roll their eyes, but it doesn’t matter. He’s a poet. Period.”

Verse also approached bassist Christon Mason and keyboardist Bobby Moffat Jr. about collaborating on a hip-hop project with live instruments, which eventually became a band—Verse and the Vapors. Reminiscent of The Roots (inventive rhymes over insanely tight live instrumentation), the band has quickly gained a following, has performed on the legendary Cain’s Ballroom stage, and is beginning to write new material with plans to record an album.

“It’s all really funny for me to look back on now,” said Mitch Gilliam, frontman for Tulsa pop-punk band Lizard Police and one of Verse’s earliest fans. “I remember first seeing him and saying, ‘Holy shit, this guy’s good,’ but he was shy back then. Now he fronts Verse and the Vapors, one of the absolute best bands I’ve seen anywhere, ever.

“He’s at the forefront of Tulsa hip-hop, which I think is the single most exciting thing happening musically in Tulsa right now.”

Despite accolades from every corner of the Tulsa music scene, Verse remains as kind and humble as any musician you’d ever want to meet. He continues to build bridges among Tulsa’s hip-hop community, while striving to turn the craft he’s spent the better part of his life mastering into a viable career.

“I always had enough people who believed in what I was doing that I knew I was doing something right,” he said. “I’m just glad this is all happening in Tulsa, this underground shit, people doing things no one else is doing. There are a lot more outlets now for people to express themselves, rather than someone just trying to sell shit, and I’m glad to be a part of it."

Q: How can I hear Verse’s music?
A: Follow Verse (1st Verse) at 1stverse.bandcamp.com, or check out his 2013 release, The City That Always Sleeps, for sale on iTunes and streaming on Spotify. Subscribe to his YouTube video channel at youtube.com/firstverse918.

Q: Where can I see Verse live?
A: April 10: Oilhouse (w/ We Make Shapes), Fassler Hall
April 20: Verse (4th annual 4/20 show), Soundpony
April 25: Oilhouse (w/ Gogo Plumbay), Fassler Hall
July 11: Verse & the Vapors, Fassler Hall

Q: How do I stay abreast of what Verse is up to?
A: Duh. Follow him at facebook.com/918verse and on Instagram @pizza_and_cookies.