- [Announcer] Tonight on Stage, take a front row seat for the inspiration, connection, and joy you've been missing.

- From darkness can I see the gates of heaven.

- [Announcer] The Mixtape Collective explores hierarchy, narrative, and vulnerability as strength through hip hop and street dance and five dance films with original music.

- Hello and welcome to Stage.

My name is Jessi Fett.

I'm the co-director of the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Art.

- And I'm Jason Noer, the artistic director of The Mixtape Collective hip hop and street dance company.

- The show that you're going to see tonight, Mixtape IV: Now Streaming, originally aired in February of 2021.

- The show uses dance and original music to explore hierarchy, vulnerability, and strength, and even reality.

- To learn more about us look up Mixtape dance or the Cowles Center on Facebook.

- Please enjoy.

("Germination") ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ I don't think ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ And I don't think I'm ever gonna change ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ I don't think ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ And I don't think I'm ever gonna change ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ I don't think ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ I can't afford another case ♪ ♪ I can't forget about it ♪ ♪ Locked up and thrown away ♪ ♪ It ain't to way around it ♪ ♪ I've been a prisoner ♪ ♪ No, I can't run from it ♪ ♪ And I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ I don't think ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ And I don't think I'm ever gonna change ♪ ♪ I'm never gonna change ♪ ♪ My heart is telling me to run ♪ ♪ I can't forget about it ♪ ♪ Temptation's underneath my skin ♪ ♪ It ain't to way around it ♪ ♪ You have to be the one to pull ♪ ♪ No, I can't run from it ♪ ♪ And I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ I don't think ♪ ♪ I don't think I'm ♪ ♪ And I don't think I'm ever gonna change ♪ ♪ I'm never gonna change ♪ ♪ But it keeps tempting me ♪ ♪ Why won't it let me breathe ♪ ♪ But it keeps tempting me ♪ ♪ Why won't it let me breathe ♪ ♪ But it keeps tempting me ♪ ♪ Why won't it let me breathe ♪ ♪ But it keeps tempting me ♪ ♪ Why won't it let me breathe ♪ (lofi hip-hop music) - You came into life with wasted and missed celebrations, joy, laughter, and tears, but also you made me wonder, God, where did I ever go wrong for being good?

You made life beautiful, sweet.

Yet you made life toxic left with chains and dreadfulness.

You know, you made 2018 feel like death.

But still, I inhaled and I exhaled without comfort like I was trapped.

But still, I existed waiting for a miracle to happen.

They always say, "New year, new fashion."

But how does one deal and cope with obstacles that life throws at them without losing your mind and worth?

The sense of weakness and fear eats up your existence and soul until its left empty, helpless, and defenseless.

You changed everything about what I thought was good and believed what's right or wrong and who I trusted.

Hell, it doesn't make a difference because no matter where I go, no matter what I do, You still have me under the brink of your nose waiting to smell the next fragrance that I have that will make you quench your deadly hunger by dragging me back with you into the darkness.

But what I do know is from darkness can I see the gates of heaven.

Black, black is king.

Black is queen.

Black is beautiful.

Black is joy.

So, guess what?

You lose.

(upbeat music) ("Ground Theory") ♪ Ashes to ashes ♪ ♪ Dust to dust ♪ ♪ We all must remain grounded ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ♪ We must remain grounded ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ♪ We must remain grounded ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ♪ Totally freeing ♪ ♪ Totally freeing ♪ ♪ Totally freeing ♪ ♪ We must remain ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ♪ Grounded we ♪ ♪ Grounded we must ♪ ("Over My Head") ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Aah ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I see trouble in the air ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Aah ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ("Kindred Spirits") ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ I can't go that far, no ♪ ♪ I won't give up myself ♪ ♪ I love myself too much for that stuff ♪ ♪ I love myself too much for that ♪ ♪ Focused on the progress and growth ♪ ♪ Tell me in which ways I should grow ♪ ♪ Thinking 'bout the next steps, yea ♪ ♪ Thinking 'bout the next steps, yea, yea ♪ ♪ Thinking 'bout the next step ♪ ♪ Thinking 'bout the next step ♪ (upbeat music) ("In This Time") ♪ You call me out upon the waters ♪ ♪ The great unknown where feet may fail ♪ ♪ And there I find You in the mystery ♪ ♪ In oceans deep ♪ ♪ My faith will stand ♪ ♪ And I will call upon Your name ♪ ♪ And keep my eyes above the waves ♪ ♪ And keep my eyes above the waves ♪ ♪ And keep my eyes above the waves ♪ ♪ When oceans rise ♪ ♪ My soul will rest in Your embrace ♪ ♪ For I am Yours ♪ ♪ You are mine ♪ ♪ Your grace abounds in deepest waters ♪ ♪ Your sovereign hand will be my guide ♪ ♪ Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders ♪ ♪ Let me walk upon the waters ♪ ♪ Wherever You would call me ♪ ♪ Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander ♪ ♪ And my faith will be made stronger ♪ ♪ In the presence of my Savior ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ You have won the victory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ You have won it all for me ♪ ♪ Death could not hold You down ♪ ♪ You are the risen King ♪ ♪ Seated in majesty ♪ ♪ You are the risen King ♪ (upbeat hip-hop music) (dubstep music) - [Announcer] Funding for Stage has been provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and these funders.