Lawrence.com

Charisma and ingenuity have been Stik Figa's ace-in-the-hole since his days battle-rapping in the Topeka High cafeteria. With a no-coast style that's equally enamored with the crescent-fresh mainstream (Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, T.I.) and the booty-shaking fringe (Cool Kids, Santogold), Figa is Southerner by blood and a Midwesterner by choice. As Stik Figa puts it: "I'm very well-rounded for being a square."

Kansas City's D/WILL makes fresh beats and rhymes inspired by artists like Alchemist, Pete Rock, J Dilla, Dangermouse, and DJ Shadow. He recently produced a project called "Human Decency Prevails," available as a free download on his MySpace.

If you think local hip-hop has fallen off the map, you probably haven't heard Greg Enemy yet. The 21-year-old Kansas City rapper and producer comes correct on his debut self-titled EP and recent “Babylon” EP (a collaboration with Stik Figa). His versatile style places a premium on farm-fresh beats and sharpshooter rhymes. “Every single rhyme of mine will prolly make you move,” Enemy boasts on his song “The Protocol.” Hell, it's hard to argue with that.

Knock- RTL from D/WILL on Vimeo.