At 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, Bernie’s Distillery was virtually empty except for a couple of guys absorbed with their drinks and sign that read “Farewell to Pos 2 + PRZM.”
But in less than two hours, Bernie’s, located at 1896 N. High St. was filled with hip-hop lovers.
For the past six years, DJs PRZM, Pos 2 and Lozone, better known as the Fonosluts, have engineered Rathole Sundays, a weekly event that has been to Columbus hip-hop what CBGB’s was to the New York punk scene in the ’70s. But because of personal and business reasons, the Fonosluts have been forced to leave Columbus (Lozone to Cincinnati, PRZM to Detroit) and Sunday was their last night at the turntable helm.
“It’s our mainstay night,” said bartender-doorman, William Allen about Rathole Sundays. “It’s one of the most diverse crowds you’ll see.”
Allen said on hip-hop night, an eclectic crowd that includes punk and Goth rockers mix with the hip-hoppers and break dancers and “everything seems to work out.”
Pos 2 (Derrick Hill) will remain in Columbus, but said the Fonosluts will continue working together despite the distance.
“We just have to keep on going, especially with everyone getting a name,” he said.
And despite the fact Bernie’s has been the center of Columbus’ hip-hop since 1999, Hill said he is optimistic about the future of the hip-hop scene.
“I see it getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
Hill said hip-hop night at Bernie’s was started by DJ Self in 1997. PRZM took the reins in 1999 when Self moved. PRZM met Pos in 1999 when he needed someone to take over so he could also move. Pos had known Lozone since 1997 and the three began DJing together every week.
Hill said at its greatest, hip-hop night was a major force in gathering local talent and serving as a place to hone their craft.
He cited classic open mic nights that have included Copywrite, Camu Tao, Jakki tha Motamouth, Illogic and Blueprint as events that have drawn now nationally known artists.
“They might be stars out of Columbus, but here they’re friends,” he said.
Blueprint (Al Shepard) recalled one moment representative of the heart of hip-hop night, when several “cats from California” came to Bernie’s talking about how Columbus hip-hop was trash.
“We shut down open mic, took them outside and served them,” he said. “(We) battled for like 20-30 minutes. I ate them up the first five minutes but they wanted to keep going.”
Blueprint, who along with DJ Shadow and RJD2 are pioneering the concept of the DJ concept album. The critically acclaimed release of his new album, 1988, as well heading growing underground label, Weightless Records, has allowed Blueprint to carve a niche for himself in the hip-hop world. But he still credits Bernie’s as a place where he could always go and rhyme among friends.
“I tour nationally but this is like the home base,” he said.
Despite Fonosluts no longer being present at hip-hop night, the festivities will continue at Bernie’s. DJ Self is returning to run the event that he began.
DJ Amos Famous (James Stinson) of Envelope credits Bernie’s with fostering local musicians that in turn influenced upcoming artists such as himself and the Thought Collective.
He said Bernie’s will still be there for the younger generation to participate in and get involved.
“One door is closing, another is opening and another generation is coming on,” he said.
