Rapt.fm, a Detroit music technology startup that produces online video rap competitions and live events, recently had two high-profile guests from outside the hip-hop world. Far outside.
"It was amazing," Erik Torenberg says of a BBC-taped visit by two British royal kinfolk.
Two members of the British royal family, visiting Detroit with a BBC documentary crew, participated with about 100 others in a Fort Street event downtown last Friday night, Amy Haimerl recounts in a Crain's blog:
"The members of the royal family lead a very sheltered life, as I understand from the producers, and the documentary is to get them to go on an adventure," said Erik Torenberg, Rapt.fm's chief executive. . . .
They got to rap as part of Rapt.fm's weekly cypher, which is basically a big inclusive, community rap session in which everyone is interrupting and flowing and keeping a circle of rap and storytelling constantly going and evolving.
The two royals – no names given due to BBC confidentiality clauses, but needless to say, it wasn't Her Royal Amazingness Kate or the Other Guy – got a lesson from Torenberg himself and then spit a few rhymes as part of the cypher circle. "It was amazing," Torenberg said.
The year-old firm, which Yorenberg founded with Jamie Pitts, is based at the Bizdom Detroit incubator. It describes itself as as "a community for artists and fans to network, and as a platform for talent to be discovered," adding:
Rapping on Rapt.fm is like video-chatting on Skype, but with a beat playing in the background and an audience watching in real time. Users come from all over the world to rap, watch, and vote for who they like best.
The next freesstyle cypher is Friday from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at the Federal Reserve Building, 160 W. Fort St. (See Facebook event page.)
Local rappers pose after the Nov. 15 "cypher" at the Federal Reserve Building downtown. (Facebook photo)
