The Struggle of Kansas City’s Unofficial Hip-Hop Mayor

If Kansas City had a hip-hop mayor, La’Nardo Myrick Sr. would already have his campaign signs printed. He has the charisma, the experience, and a lifetime’s worth of speeches about the state of the rap game. Unfortunately, the city has responded with a firm, “We’ll think about it.”

Myrick, better known as Producer 9-0, has spent years shaping the underground music scene, attempting to make Kansas City a hip-hop hotspot. But much like trying to explain the rules of chess to someone who just wants to move the pieces randomly, it’s been an uphill battle. Kansas City loves its jazz, respects its blues, and tolerates its rap—just barely.

There was a time when Myrick envisioned his career like a movie montage—studio sessions, sold-out shows, and interviews with major media outlets. Instead, his reality is more like a sitcom, where every episode ends with him sighing in disappointment as he reads another email that starts with “We regret to inform you…”

The city has a habit of humbling its creatives. It gives them just enough hope to keep going but never quite enough to let them quit their day jobs. Myrick, however, has refused to be deterred. He continues to produce, promote, and push his vision, even as Kansas City chuckles and asks, “You still doing that music thing?”

But make no mistake—he’s made an impact. His efforts have given local artists a platform, his beats have traveled further than his bank account, and his influence is undeniable. The city may not fully embrace him, but it respects him in the way Kansas City respects all of its artists: quietly, without too much enthusiasm, and only after they leave town.

So, while Myrick might not be the official hip-hop mayor, he’s certainly earned the unofficial title. And if he ever does run for office, you can be sure his campaign slogan will be: “Making Kansas City Rap Again—One Beat at a Time.”