[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ngVuAIa5xI]

Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Why You Need to Listen: While Midwest musical brain trust Doomtree bills themselves as a hip-hop collective, the group clearly has at least a few roots in the DIY punk scene. Doomtree’s latest album, No Kings, (only their second official release) combines wide-ranging hip-hop stylings with a punk attitude and a charming Midwestern democratic vibe: The crew features five emcees and two DJ/producers but they make room for all band members to participate on the album’s tracks with everyone taking turns on the mic in an easy give-and-take. Their blend of rap and rock makes them a surefire crossover hit. While the group has been around since 2007, they’ve been slow to spread outside of Minneapolis. Now with a steady stream of mixtapes, mashups and stellar musical contributions from the group’s diaspora, Doomtree is on the brink of breaking big.

For Fans of: Beastie Boys, Odd Future

Essential Track: “Beacon”