For Minnesota Music Month, The Current polled the local music industry for April’s edition of The Scouting Report. More than 90 people filled out this year’s Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report ballot, and 253 unique artists were chosen overall. The top 10 artists — well, 11 because of a tie — who received the most support include Ricki Monique.

In the past few years, Ricki Monique has built up a following as a hip-hop artist — locally and beyond. In 2022, she performed at Afropunk Minneapolis on a bill featuring Ari Lennox and Noname, and SZA gave her song “Immortal” a boost on Instagram. Her debut EP of poetic rap, Good Seeds, also arrived in that year. Lately, Monique has been cultivating what it means to be a multi-dimensional artist. She and cofounder Za’nia Coleman have grown their Tangible Collective from an open mic series to facilitating community discussions, salons, youth workshops, and other resources to help Black creatives shine.

What have you been working on since you spoke to The Current in 2022?

Ricki Monique: So much has changed for me. The biggest thing that has changed for me has been my direction and my outlook on music. I haven’t released any new music since my last interview with The Current. A big thing for me right now is allowing myself to practice shining through in other ways outside of music. I was starting to feel empty when I only saw myself as just a music artist, it made me depressed a little and so I have been prioritizing putting myself in different spaces and trying new experiences to be able to see myself as more than just a music artist. I am working on being okay with seeing myself as multi-dimensional and allowing myself to pour into other areas to feed myself.

Anybody you haven’t collaborated with that you’d like to work with in the future?

This question is hard because collaborating Is hard. In a perfect world, Essjay TheAfrocentricRachet. We have worked together, but I would love to release like something more intentional. Who else? XINA. Leo [Dreis}, the cofounder of the Cherry Pit. He is an amazing pianist and I would love to fuse our sounds together. Gifted Handz. I want to record a song with KNOWN, a youth choir out of North Minneapolis led by Courtland Pickens. They opened for me last year during a show I headlined, and their energy took over in the most beautiful way. Flwr Chyld is based in Atlanta. He is one of my favorite producers and songwriters. Planet Giza. Who else? Robert Glasper. It has to happen, I am manifesting that. Erykah Badu. That would be such a perfect vibe.

What does music mean to you?

Music is something that allows me to access both the future and past. It allows me to reconnect with nostalgia. I love being able to access my memories with music. I am the type to make a playlist for every important event in my life. Whether its traveling to a different place or going out for a walk, I have to have a playlist for it. Being able to go back to that playlist allows me to relive how I felt during that time and it’s important to me.

How would you describe the Minnesota music scene today?

I would describe the Minnesota music scene as very particular. I think it’s so special because we all have our own sound and it’s so unique. It highlights everyone as their own individual and we are all in our own bag, our own lane. We are all fusing genres together, probably without even noticing it. For example, QT?. [He’s] an artist here in Minnesota. He is in his own lane, his own bag with rapping and singing. He is not keeping himself in a box, and no one else is doing what he is doing. The Minnesota music scene is a community full of unique artists and it’s so beautiful and I am happy to be a part of it.

How did your upcoming show at the Dakota come together?

I did a show at the Dakota a year ago. I co-headlined with Mayyadda and I learned a lot working with her. She has so much control and she takes her craft seriously. From there, the Dakota was like “We must have you back,” and obviously I was more than happy to. I was supposed to play in November, but I just wasn’t ready mentally. But this time I am ready and excited. I am working on some new stuff, so I am excited, and I have a band, something I haven’t done before at the Dakota. Choosing to have XINA perform with me was a no-brainer she is a great performer and an amazing artist, and I am grateful for our friendship.

Ricki Monique, with special guest XINA, will perform Wednesday, April 24, at Dakota.

Related:    Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report 2024: The top 11 new local artists

Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report 2024: The complete ballots