Before Fat Tone, Rich the Factor, Tech N9ne, and even Vell Bakardy, the first local rap star from the Kansas City Hip-Hop scene was DoggStarr D. DoggStarr D is the original, show up in yo hood and smash on every wannabe rapper. He was the first local rapper to rap in ANY club in Kansas City. He was the first local rapper to be heard on KPRS. I don't believe he ever dropped a full-length album, but he was definately the first artist locally to establish himself as the top rapper in the city.
The first producer from Kansas City to establish himself as the man at the forefront of the KC rap scene was none other than DJ Icy Roc. Icy Roc gave up DJing to provide beats for young aspiring artists like Pure Dope and Tech N9ne. He even used his relationship with the platinum R&B group Lo-Key to help Tech N9ne get his first record deal. DoggStarr D is now the pastor of a growing non-denominational church in Kansas City and Icy Roc is now the top video director, editor, producer in Kansas City. I'm gonna check in with my triple OG to find out who were some of the early Dj's and promoter's in Kansas City. Oh yea, I might as well add that MoCheez magazine was the first and still only magazine to promote the Kansas City rap scene.