Indyground showcase at Blue Fugue celebrates rap, art

Local artist Graham Blackwell will paint during the show.

By Walton Murphy

Published May 7, 2009

Graham Blackwell's art embodies the streets of Columbia. Walk into Lakota Coffee shop, Poppy or down Ninth Street just south of Broadway, and chances are you'll encounter the bohemian subjects and urban landscapes of Blackwell's art. Perhaps you might even run into dreadlocked Blackwell himself.

Blackwell, born Graham Bailey, came to Columbia in 2002 while majoring in marketing at MU. But at 22, Blackwell did not want to become a businessman. He dropped out and was homeless for six months, devoting all his time to writing two books and honing his art.

"It was a crazy time," Blackwell said. "My mom got cancer, my brother went to jail and my head was exploding because I was reading a bunch of crazy shit and my consciousness was alerting. It just made me snap, but I snapped in a good way."

During that time, Blackwell practiced his drawing every day outside of the old Dreamcatcher store on Ninth Street. The first piece he completed was a sketch of the front of the store, which he gave to the owner, Jason Cook.

"Dreamcatcher went out of business and they moved to their new location but they didn't have a sign and the only thing that they had of the old store was my drawing," Blackwell said.

Cook remained thankful for the gift, years later.

"He offered me money for it like three years later and I had to say, no dude I gave you that," Blackwell said. "Fresh off sleeping outside, I just gave you that."

Spending time with Blackwell, you quickly discover he's not the kind of person who's possessive of his work. He'll leave sketches on store counters and gives his subjects portraits he's done.

"I don't want to be seen as a selfish artist," Blackwell said. "People who take care of me, I take care of them."

Wide ranges of people are affected by his pieces and his way of life. Shop owners will offer their walls to him. A father and son visiting Lakota after playing catch offer him a ride home. Students find him on Ninth Street and give him leftover sketchbooks and unused colored pencils. But Blackwell's art isn't limited to the walls of friends' houses and stores around town.

In 2004, Blackwell, along with Ray Pierce, better known as Kansas City hip-hop artist Steddy P., began the Indyground record label. Blackwell supplied much of the art and early on tried his hand rapping on tracks with Steddy P.

"We were all just friends before this shit," Blackwell said. "There was nothing going on in Columbia. I mean there was a bunch of like 35-year-old guys who'd rap in basements. They had talent but presentation is marketing."

Every month Indyground hosts a showcase, releasing compilations or mix tapes of hip-hop artists around Missouri. This Friday, the showcase hits The Blue Fugue featuring Steddy P., DJ Mahf, Rhyme University and JBomb.

In addition to the music, Blackwell will paint live art as the music plays.

"When we do album release shows, it's crazy." Blackwell said. "We have five or six painters in there and if you don't get a spot on stage, you're right in the front and you have beer spilled on you and you have beer spilled on your painting. I usually paint on wood, so I can deal with that."