Slopfunkdust at Ol’ Dirty Sundays at Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on January 1, 2017. Credit: Brian Mahar
There’s a moment the book “Dilla Time” where author and professor Dan Charnas writes about discussions on the Okayplayer message boards, and the moment when North Carolina rapper-producer Phonte posted the first-ever tracks by Little Brother (his then-nascent project with Dilla-influenced producer 9th Wonder).

“An Okayplayer from Florida posting as Slopfunkdust, offered to make the group their first web page, posting four Little Brother songs; after he launched it, the traffic crashed his server,” Charnas—who taught an NYU course on the producer who changed music forever—explained.

Really cool to hear @slopfunkdust.bsky.social mentioned in @dancharnas.bsky.social excellent book about Dilla. Slop is part of the Beat Marauders 2 lineup in Tampa on Friday www.cltampa.com/music/slopfu…

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— Ray Roa (@rayroa.bsky.social) May 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
That’s all to say that the tenured Tampa producer—one of the best instrumental artists in the Bay—has always been on the cutting edge of hip-hop; that’s why this bill is a must-see for any self-respecting head hoping to also have a listen to what’s coming in the local scene.

Emergent scene staples like Johnny Champagne are on the poster along with Lion’s Den Podcast co-host Vinnie the Beat Dealer, Jefferson High School alum Jay Wizz, and more.

It’s $5 at the door for the Beat Marauders 2 showcase happening at Crowbar in Ybor City on Friday, May 30.

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...