Eric Torgusen

MANKATO — A New Ulm local is dropping his first album this weekend in Mankato.

Eric Torgusen who raps under the moniker Bknown, (pronounced be-known) will be releasing his first album “Known For Something,” Saturday, July 22, at 8 p.m. in the What’s Up Lounge (701 N. Riverfront Dr., Mankato).

The event is 21 plus only, $5 cover and features fellow artists: Dj Shoba, Professor Fresh, !ntell!gent Des!gn and Illab.

“‘Known For Something’ refers to my need my whole life to basically have an identity, I wanted to be known for something,” Torgusen said.

Torgusen’s search for identity is a common theme throughout the album. A fair portion of the tracks explore experiences with a rough childhood, drug use as well as celebrating his home in southern Minnesota.

“I would jump from friend-group to friend-group just not necessarily fitting in because, I was just trying to do things to fit in rather than that (them) being my thing,” Torgusen said. “So this is kind of like a statement of ‘this is me finally 25, 26 years later I figured it out exactly what it is that makes me, me.'”

The album has been three years in the making, Torgusen said. After dabbling in music during high school he never really pursued it much further.

That is, until his father died about five years ago. Torgusen started writing to express his grief and connected with other artists.

Torgusen and his friend Jesse Barnhardt, who also lost his father, worked together in a music group Prymary Others.

That is how he learned the ropes Torgusen said. The two drifted apart, taking their own careers more seriously.

Eventually Torgusen met up with Al Trahms, or Professor Fresh, hanging out in a studio and watching professionals work.

“I started sitting in rooms with them and hanging out and just surrounding myself with other musicians and basically just learned the process, from making beats to recording,” Torgusen said.

Most of the album is produced — the writing of instrumental beats — by other artists, with Torgusen’s lyrics on top. Though he produced one song: “Pay No Mind” he said.

Most of the album is telling Torgusen’s story. Due to that it focuses heavily on his lyrics, which may be different than what some hip-hop fans are used to.

“A lot of it is just really simple, not overpowering, it is almost bluesy in a way,” Torgusen said.” “A lot of people that have listened to it now that I have finished it did not expect the simplicity of it, which is meant for my stories to stand out.”

Torgusen has performed around the midwest and hopes this album is just the beginning of his musical career.

“Known For Something” will be available on most digital music services like iTunes and Spotify.

More information on Torgusen and future shows can be found on his Facebook page under his moniker Bknown.

ccummiskey@nujournal.com