For Gustavus Adolphus College philosophy professor and part-time rapper Jon Ivan Gill, opening a record store makes complete sense, as it merges his passion for hip-hop music and education with the importance of community and space.
Gill’s grand opening of Aesthetic Religion, Records & Texts in downtown St. Peter on Nov. 26 is simply an extension of that personal philosophy.
“I’ve been doing hip-hop for a very long time,” Gill says. “Through rap, I’m exploring philosophical ideas … and encouraging people to see the power of rap music.”
As a rapper, Gill goes by the moniker “Gilead”; at Gustavus, he is an assistant professor of philosophy and the cross-community coordinator of its Center for Process Studies. And as one of St. Peter’s newest downtown business owners, he hopes to provide a safe place for music and philosophical discussion.
“My life is really based on rap and teaching through philosophy,” Gill says. “Maybe this is a way for me to do that.”
He’s been doing that for a while now. Born and raised in Chicago, his love for music and community took root in urban America and the sounds of popular Black musicians from Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix. While both artists’ albums and posters might be available at Gill’s record store, vinyl selections will go much deeper, he notes, from reggae and jazz to soul and country.
“It makes for a better community,” Gill says. “This is a beautiful thing.”
Gill and his brother, Stephen Andrews, actually started plotting their most recent business venture in February, slowly setting up shop at 123 S. Minnesota St., adjacent to that heavily trafficked Highway 169 slice of downtown St. Peter.
Rare stuff
The eclectic name and artsy logo for the storefront come from Gill’s personal philosophical journey and mission. As an author, his first book was a deep dive into that philosophy: “Underground Rap as Religion: A Theopoetic Examination of Process Aesthetic Religion.”
Gill’s business acumen also includes a former store in San Bernardino, California, which he and his brother operated from 2017 through 2020, and fell victim to the economic pressures of the COVID pandemic. They also continue to operate a store in Tijuana, Mexico.
“We like to have rare stuff,” Gill says. “There’s stories behind these records.”
While his rap artistry might have taken a bit of a back seat to his collegiate professor role, he remains active in unique musical ways. Gill’s Gustavus bio notes two other hip-hop collaboratives: the Southern California-based “Echoes of Oratory Muzik,” as well as the “Crystal Radio” duo with close friend Michael Adame, who goes by the moniker “Phantom Thrett.”
But it was the Gustavus connection that eventually brought Gill to St. Peter. And while into his second year at the college, it’s his first on site. There, he finally gained a sense of the local community, one Gill now calls home.
It was Bethany Valentini — part of The Ericksons musical duo with sister Jenny Kapernick of rural Henderson — who was among those in the Minnesota River Valley who encouraged his record store venture, according to Gill. She’s the wife of Gustavus tennis coach Tommy Valentini, who also teaches in the college’s philosophy department.
Those connections came together at Gill’s record store grand opening, as The Ericksons performed their soft ballads and harmonies, which followed the rapper’s opening words and music. Gill hopes to have monthly live music in the intimate store space, with a mix of local musicians and indie artists from the Twin Cities.
Gill loves the merger of art, music and community, and now he’s taken a liking to the growing St. Peter and Greater Mankato arts and music culture.
“I love being here. I feel that people are really on the same wavelengths. Most of the time. But here, there’s a home feeling. I really do like the vibe here.”
Yet, when those times and conflicts do collide, Gill believes music and art can pave a way for discussions that benefit the community. Tough talks aren’t always easy, he notes.
“I’m always looking to destabilize things because we always think we’re stable, but we aren’t.”
Gill believes today’s college students are up to the task of working through debate and tough conversations.
“We can have good, uncomfortable discussions. We want this record store to make those kinds of differences, so that we can have those discussions about these issues and this world.”