The WorkShop at Café Montreal (Circa 1994)

Originally Published: Oct. 1994

N4MR / Informer Hip-Hop Magazine; Vol 4, Issue #13

The Workshop is a weekly club held every Monday night at Café Montreal. The Café is a regular ‘happy hour’ alternative spot during the rest of the week but on Mondays, the true Hip-Hop headz come out to perform. All of the local Hip-Hop crews such as Fonke Socialistiks, Blackalicious, E-Train, Soul Clap, The Eargazmiks, The C.U.F. and Trinity have rocked the set winning over the love of the local Hip-Hop fans. There have even been major recording artists who have stepped through to check out the spot such as Raphael of Tony, Toni, Toné, (He came in and played the drums one night during the freestyle session). Even Mix-Master Mike (DMC World Champion DJ), Y? N-Vee (Def-Jam), K-Dee (Lench Mob Records), The Artifacts (Big Beat), Ill & Al Scratch (Mercury), Str8 G (Tuff-Break), and Big Mike and Seagram (Rap-A-Lot) have performed.
The club is the brain child of Harley ‘Skip’ White, a member of the Elektra Recordings group Papa’s Culture, and a Sacramento native. Remedy International sound company, and World Premier Promotions make sure the club runs smoothly every week. The format is pretty much the same each week. The show starts at 10:00pm with the house band and DJ warming things up. In between start and finish there are performances by local and major recording artists. The last half-hour of the club is dedicated to those who dare to take the mic and freestyle – it’s called ’60 Seconds to Wreck-It.’ The title speaks for itself.
If you’re a native or just happen to be in town on a Monday night, don’t miss the premiere Sacramento hip-hop spot!