Dessa

Whenever Dessa, perhaps best known as part of the Minneapolis-based hip-hop crew Doomtree, finishes a big project, she cuts her hair and makes a donation to Locks of Love, an organization that makes hairpieces for kids dealing with long-term medical problems. Given how big 2008 was for Dessa and Doomtree, this writer, emcee and singer probably ought to be bald: Doomtree released its first “official” record featuring the entire crew, the group’s December “Blowout” at First Avenue was just that, and — the reason her hair was recently lopped off — Dessa completed a book of essays and poems. I caught up with her via e-mail to see what kind of year she hopes 2009 will be.