The nationwide respect accorded the Twin Cities hip-hop scene — and the proof that such high regard is well-justified -- is reflected in the wide swath of smart, kinetic artists who will grace the stages of Soundset 09 on Sunday. If you even remotely enjoy rappers who opt for think-think over bling-bling and cherish wordplay more than Noah Webster, Canterbury Park is the place to stake your claim all Sunday afternoon and evening.

That’s right, Canterbury Park. After frying patrons on the Metrodome concourse during their early incarnations, Soundset is spreading out in the fields by the racetrack. Not quite as optimal as, say, Midway Stadium, but as anyone who caught Vans Warped last year, the space by Canterbury is comfortable for roaming and more sustainable for the sprawl necessitated by the gush of great performers on tap for the event.

So, let’s finally get to the lineup. For old school heads, there are the astute clowns from the left coast, the original Pharcyde lineup, plus the magnificent ex-De La Soul cohort Prince Paul (who also dropped some solo discs in the ’90s that hold up remarkably well, as this clip demonstrates), and ex-Company Flow pioneer El-P.

For the street-cred worshippers, there is Freeway, Beanie Sigel’s Philly homeboy who has performed with Jay-Z and 50 Cent but whose distinctively toned raps may finally be given the forum they deserve now that he’s free of the whole Roc-a-fella label politics on his just-dropped new collection, “Philadelphia Freeway Vol. 2.” And don’t sleep on Nova Scotia’s beat-poetry “honky,” Buck 65 (check him out here) or the ever-playful Doom.

But Soundset is, first and foremost, a proud local talent strut, a tribal powwow that enables Minnesotans to prick their minds and get on the balls of their feet for Atmosphere, Brother Ali, P.O.S., Heiruspecs, Eyedea & Abilities, and a half-dozen other rhyme-slingers and -sayers who have made “Twin Cities hip-hop” a worthy signifier. If you are only vaguely aware of who these people are, it’s all the more reason to spend a Sunday in their sonic library.

Here is Atmosphere performing at Soundset 08. And here is Brother Ali, rockin’ a Kevin Garnett jersey, performing at the same event.

Soundset 09 at Canterbury Park, Sunday, May 24, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., general admission $30. Free bus shuttle from the Mall of America North Bus Loop from 10 to 9.