The first time I heard P.O.S. was when he remixed Minus The Bear’s track Knights for their 2007 remix album, Interpretaciones Del Oso.  This actually became my favorite of the remixes featured, but offered little in the way of how P.O.S.’s actual music might sound.  Much to my surprise, P.O.S. turned out to be a hip-hop artist with a couple of albums already under his belt.  Well, of course there was more to it than that.

As it turns out, he’s a pretty damn good rapper, if underground is what you’re into.  Personally, I’ve always avoided the conscious-rap tendencies of the underground in favor of something I could move my feet to, or enjoy without feeling like a bad person.  Thankfully, P.O.S. produces a large body of his own music (hence the MTB remix).  This has allowed him to avoid the monotonous musical styling of some of his Rhymesayers compatriots, and rap over beats that vary in influence from punk (where P.O.S. has his roots) to noise, and dance to dub.  This sense of variety also permeates throughout his lyrics; some are aggressive and confrontational, while others are personal and humorous.

Again, Oregon picks up a pair of hip-hop shows on the north and south side.  P.O.S. will be joined by the new Rhymesayers recruit Grieves and Dessa in Portland at Berbati’s Pan on the 13th of this month, as well as in Eugene at WOW Hall the following day.  Sorry kids, the Portland show is 21+.