Every Tuesday night for the last five years, Dres tha Beatnik has hosted the hip-hop event Mic Club at Apache Cafe. He often books local and national acts like L.A.'s Aloe Blacc and Atlanta ensemble Most Hi-Fi.
Mic Club's claim to fame (or infamy), however, is its MC battles. Dres usually opens the session by asking everyone to turn to someone next to them and "shake a neighbor's hand," which subtly defuses tension in the room. He cracks jokes and cajoles shy rappers in the audience to go on stage and test their mettle. Meanwhile, a backing band featuring Divi Baby (aka MC Divinity) on the bass, Rev Rebel on the keys, drummer Mark Mayes and DJ Edward Scissorhands thump out breakbeats for accompaniment.
Sometimes, the wannabe MCs who go on stage prove to be entertaining. Others are woefully bad. But Dres argues that the quality of battle talent is beside the point. "Our whole cause as 4 Kings [Entertainment] is concerned, is to provide a voice or platform for the unheard," says Dres of the production company behind the event. He notes with pride how Mic Club mentored a generation of Atlanta artists, including the Dropbombz crew and Ricky Raw. "I'll put up Atlanta's talent against any other city."
Now 35, Dres' first Atlanta event as 4 Kings was the Ave., a precursor to Mic Club. Some of the people who helped him included Edwin Johnson and the late Quinton "DJ Ox" Bradford Jr. "We held it at the Apache for a while, and were running into some difficulties," says Dres. "At the request of Apache owner Asa Fain, we had to remix the concept." Thus was born Mic Club on July 2, 2001.
Now, Dres' 4 Kings Entertainment runs the longest-running MC battle in Atlanta. "Mic Club has literally helped raised some of these kids. I know kids that came in as freshmen in college and come faithfully and build schedules around it," he says.
"Somebody walked up to me last week telling me that, like, 'Man, I used to go to Mic Club when I was a freshman. I've been out of school for a year, man. Keep doing what you're doing,' Stuff like that makes it worthwhile."
Mic Club's anniversary BBQ is Tues., July 4 with Divi Baby, Ex-Patriots, and DJ Lord at the Five Spot. Free. 1 p.m. 1123 Euclid Ave. 404-223-1100. Sadat X and Lord Jamar. $15. 10 p.m. Apache Cafe, 64 Third St. 404-876-5436. www.apachecafe.info.
