By: Savannah Brown

When University of Oregon alum Spencer Smyth talks about hip-hop, it’s as though he’s reciting poetry. He speaks in a cadence that naturally emulates passion and reflection, with every word carefully chosen to illustrate what the genre means to him. He’s an artist and a dreamer — striving to make a permanent name for himself in the Pacific Northwest music scene. 

Smyth, better known to his listeners as “Spinitch,” is a 28-year-old Portland hip-hop artist who has been involved in a plethora of musical projects. Among these are EPs, instrumentals, collaborations, and his most recent album, “BOXORAMA.” He’s an MC, a DJ, a producer, an engineer, and most importantly, in his own words, “a student of the art form.” 

Smyth has been interested in music since he was a child, with family playing a significant role in his journey. He grew up surrounded by —and drawn to— his parents’ music taste, which consisted of funk, soul, and blues. Seeing that these all lay at the roots of hip-hop, it was a natural transition to begin exploring what would become Smyth’s favorite genre. Later, a different family member inspired him to pursue musicianship. “My cousin was a rapper, and he put me on to the different aspects of hip-hop. I garnered an interest in being an artist and not just a fan,” Smyth said. 

His rap career began in college, where he was a member of the legendary campus hip-hop ensemble the Illaquips, as well as a former KWVA DJ. Smyth said that these first forays into the hip-hop orbit were not only “formative” and “amazing,” but also educational, as he was able to dip his toes into the genre and find himself as a performer. He said about the Illaquips, “We became incredibly close friends, and I learned how to be a member of a team.” He told the KWVA music blog in 2015, “I love spreading things I love, but sometimes I feel boxed in without an outlet to do so. KWVA made it possible.”

Since graduation, Smyth has collaborated with many artists and produced music for fellow Illaquip and Wynne, a rising Portland star. He also lived every growing hip-hop artist’s dream when he opened for his favorite DJ, Cut Chemist, in 2023. Smyth has spent his time creating art, releasing projects, and growing his legacy, all from the comfort of his Portland home.

Growing his career in Portland and Eugene has been important to Smyth, who said that these areas have impacted his art. “My music is a reflection of how I've experienced the world, and 99% of it has been in those two places. Each city holds a cesspool of obscenely talented people…And the gorgeous slice of the natural world we find ourselves in. And there's a lot of incredible record stores across Oregon, so that doesn't hurt.’”

However, building a name from the ground up is not always releasing passion projects and opening for heroes. Smyth noted the innumerable challenges that accompany the emerging artist. According to Smyth, one of the most discouraging parts is actually the music industry itself. “...It's a dastardly business spearheaded by corporate oligarchs and their lapdogs…learning about and experiencing its underbelly isn't exactly motivating,” he said. 

Smyth also discussed the sometimes draining process of creating art. Of a recent project, he said, “We were lucky to have ample time and creative energy to dedicate towards it. Took several years off our lives, hah...Then you hate it in three months and churn out the next one. Rinse and repeat.”

Yet, Smyth remains motivated. “I try to find my joy in the music itself as much as possible, and…use it as a vehicle to resist these very structures. If I can make someone smile, encourage thinking, and/or inspire, that's great.” He also credits his musical surroundings with keeping him going. “I'm lucky to be in communities with artists smarter and more talented than me who hold similar values. The motivation permeates from there.”

Regardless of where his career takes him, Smyth continues to honor his UO roots. Each year, he returns to Eugene to perform at the annual UO Hip Hop Jam. He helped create the event as a freshman in the “Hip Hop and Politics of Race” First-Year Interest Group and performed the rest of college with the Illaquips. “It’s just a beautiful event through and through, and an emblem of what young students and artists are capable of,” Smyth said. Andre Sirois, the FIG faculty leader, said it is “really cool to have Spencer back so many times and watch him grow as a performer.” 

Talking to Smyth, it is apparent that his love of the genre, the art, and the self-expression, will always lie at the forefront of his ambitions. “For me, hip-hop is twofold. It’s an internal and an external journey,” Smyth said. “It is an outlet to explore, investigate, and evolve different aspects of myself and find a community. The external feeds the internal. I am very thankful to have hip-hop as a lens and a foundation.”