Limited Liability Tour

Lacking the thuggish mentality of area hardcore-rap denizens and the competitive spirit of the region’s rockers, the brightest up-and-coming hip-hop acts stress positive vibes, verbal skills and top-flight showmanship. Having amassed a solid grassroots audience in the area, these local hip-hoppers are now beginning to convert national heads. Lawrence’s Approach recently inked a deal with Coup d’Etat, home to MC Paul Barman and J-Live, and the current issue of Urb names KC rapper Mac Lethal one of its “next 100.” (Alumni include Eminem, Nappy Roots and Craig David.) Rather than sit at home and rest on these laurels, a handful of rap artists have banded together to take the show on the road for a monthlong Midwest excursion. Dubbed the Limited Liability Tour, the outing features Mac Lethal and Approach alongside Springfield wax spinner DJ P and Lawrence-based trio Archetype, a lineup that underscores the breadth and talent of the bubbling regional hip-hop scene.