Lyrics & Libations: The Indy Open Mic Empowering Local Hip-Hop Artists

Lyrics & Libations: The Indy Open Mic Empowering Local Hip-Hop Artists

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Every third Thursday of the month, the Broad Ripple neighborhood becomes a testing ground for Indianapolis hip-hop through the Lyrics & Libations open mic.

The monthly event, hosted by David “Simon Sed” Katz and Jeremy “Rhetoryk” McClure, provides a space for rappers to share their latest work at The Health Club. While the concept originated in Chicago in 2013, it has arrived in Indianapolis in March 2023, Mirror Indy reported.

The series has survived changes to the local area, including the January 2025 closure of its original Indianapolis home, the Chromatic Collective brick-and-mortar space.

“The people who come to Lyrics & Libations are looking for a safe creative space to perform and mess up if they need to — for something to push them forward and motivate them to keep growing as an artist,” 34-year-old McClure told Mirror Indy.

“You could tell that they were for the artists, and people had good artist etiquette,” Freeman said.

“When another artist was performing, everybody was quiet. And even when you had artists who would mess up or trip over words, everybody was encouraging,” Freeman added.

Freeman said that the event helped him build a network of supporters and has led to multiple booking opportunities.

Katz, 36, acknowledges the common skepticism regarding the saturation of the rap genre, but he views the open mic as a necessary outlet for individual expression. “People can get caught up in the conversations and negative spin of, ‘Everybody and their mom’s a rapper. There are too many rappers,’” Katz told Mirror Indy.

“While there is some truth to that sentiment, the core principle behind Lyrics & Libations is that it’s healthy to express yourself. The world should have more expression, not less expression,” Katz said.

Lyrics & Libations: The Indy Open Mic Empowering Local Hip-Hop Artists

Following an intimate performance by New Orleans rapper Jay Electronica in May, the series is preparing to work with another artist.

On Nov. 21, Lyrics & Libations will partner with the Late Night Munchies concert series to host Detroit MC Boldy James at Monon 30, located at 1118 E. 30th St. The event will feature local performers, including KoolKidKalvo, the hip-hop duo Distinct and Baby Ebony, and Houston’s Looni.

While the opportunity to perform remains available on Nov. 21, the organizers said that the open mic portion will be shorter than usual. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance for this specific date.

Katz and McClure indicated that these larger-scale bookings are designed to provide Indianapolis artists with a much broader stage.

Worth a look

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