VIDEO: “For Colored Boys Who Consider Suicide” – Khingz
Khingz has a demon over his shoulder. Will it get the better of him? From his excellent Wandering Worx debut, Liberation of the Monster.
VIDEO: “Swap Up” – Justis
From Justis’ new album, West Coast Affiliate.
VIDEO: “Hey Zeus!” – Art Vandelay
From the upcoming Face Tattoo. Art Vandelay inhales/exhales, imports/exports.
VIDEO: “Frank Hirata” – La
From his Ocean Howell EP (in collabo with producer Olee), La’s newest video is simple, straightforward and unassuming — the exact opposite of dude’s raps. Find out why he’s one of Seattle’s best below.
VIDEO: “Down” – The BreakLites
From the Tacoma party-rocking crew The BreakLites: “Down” is their latest clip from the forthcoming In The Trunk, due this summer.
VIDEO: “Outlandish” – FRCxBNE (Fearce Villain & BeanOne)
Dyme Def’s Fearce Vill and producer BeanOne are: FRCxBNE. “Fearce and Bean” kinda sounds like the hot new food joint in the South End. They should explore that collab after There Goes The Neighborhood drops.
SHOW (WIN TICKETS!): Boot Camp Clik at The Crocodile – TONIGHT, 4.2.12, 8:00 pm
The demographics of Brooklyn may be changing (sections of Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy barely resemble the ‘hoods of even five years ago when I first relocated out here from Seattle), but the hip-hop mind-state stays rooted in the Golden Era of bygone days. If it were up to geezers like me, everything rap would sound like the dusty hardcore of Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage.
Alas, time pushes forward like a Q45 Infinit on the BQE, so my brethren and I are relegated to beating young ‘uns over their heads (figuratively, of course) with the cracked jewel cases of seminal crews like Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, and OGC, groups who composed the larger Boot Camp Clik collective and who recorded on the still-in-effect Duck Down Records. (For one degree of Seatown separation, see: Blue Scholars’ OOF! EP.)
Reminisce over shit like Smif-N-Wessun’s “Bucktown” tonight at The Crocodile ON US! 206UP.COM has one pair of tickets to give away to a lucky reader. To enter, just send an email to 206upblog@gmail.com OR a Tweet to @206upBlog, with the phrase “Who got da props?!” in the subject line. We’ll draw one lucky name at random for the show.
VIDEO: “Less Is More” – Thaddeus David (dir. by First Ladies Productions)
Latest clip from Thaddeus David, off that Maven ‘tape.
VIDEO: “Lemonade” – Fly Moon Royalty (dir. by The Note)
Sportn’ Life Records’ hip-hop/R&B/soul/electro/funk duo Fly Moon Royalty with their latest video, “Lemonade.” You can buy their self-titled album below and download the single for free.
VIDEO: “Staring At The Sun” – Nacho Picasso & Blue Sky Black Death
NP and production cohorts BSBD high in Austin. (Borrowed from Lar’s post in LineOut.)
VIDEO: “Interlude” – Peta Tosh (dir. by Detooz Films)
I don’t know much about Peta Tosh, a local MC who appears to be hustling hard (based on the number of press emails I get from his camp anyway). He enlisted local video veteran Detooz Films for this clip, “Interlude,” a track available on the artist’s last EP, Different (get that below). A little Twitter told me a new ‘tape from the MC is coming soon called The Take Off Part 2, so if you dig his style watch for that.
VIDEO: “Perspective” – Grynch
Seattle rappers really love each other. More proof.
VIDEO: “I’m Bout That” – Avatar Young Blaze (feat. AK)
New clip from Chopper District representative Avatar Young Blaze. “I’m Bout That” features AK, with production by V Don. It’s off his latest — and in my opinion best — mixtape, The Humble Villain. Download that for free here.
VIDEO: “Oldie” – OFWGKTA
Fall into love/hate with ‘em all over again. This one-take, ten and a half minute clip with the OF kiddies is everything you could’ve hoped for as a fan: simple, unrefined, callow, and creative. The voice of Young America whether you like it or not.
VIDEO: “Rammin” – Nacho Picasso
The latest clip from Nacho Picasso. Get Lord of the Fly, here.
(News travels down hill: from Spin to The Stranger to your lowly bottom feeder, 206UP. The circle of blog life.)
VIDEO: “Never No” – J. Pinder (feat. Dice)
The hi-defs for “Never No,” J. Pinder’s lead single from the upcoming Careless (Fin Records).
VIDEO: “IDGAF” – Produktive (dir. by On 1)
Produktive is from the L.A.C.O.S.A. camp, a crew of dedicated local underground heads who you can learn more about here. From the press:
The Northwest is home to countless artists who strive to bring higher consciousness to their craft and hope to become beacons of enlightenment for their communities. Produktive attempts to do nothing of the sort, and instead uses his vast vocabulary, pronounced punctuation, and lyrical precision to appeal to his audience.
So, yeah, that’s cool I guess.
VIDEO: “Summer Breeze” – Dave B. (feat. JusMoni) (prod. by KD Cutz)
“Summer Breeze” is the new song and video from Dave B., part of the Le Fresh Perspective collective of artists. Red Bull Big Tune alum KD Cutz on the beat and Town R&B darling JusMoni provides backup.
VIDEO: “Curtis Mayfield” – Second Family (dir. by Guad)
Tac-town shit from Element and Noquezt, known in assembly as Second Family. Get the crew’s latest, Gateway Drug, here.
VIDEO: “Esrever Ni” – Kung Foo Grip
Kung Foo Grip in the return of the fisheye.
(Spied at Matson on Music.)
VIDEO: “Never Never” – Thaddeus David
The latest clip from Thaddeus David’s solo outing, Maven.
VIDEO: “Lettin’ Go” – Nautilus MC
“You Facebook de-friended me / And on my Twitter you clicked “Unfollow.” These are the days and times, my friends. I think Nautilus and I have the same jacket. Also: “Corny as Corn Nuts,” really??. That’s about it on this video. #UnintentionalHumor
VIDEO: “FVCKV9TA5″ – Kung Foo Grip (prod. by Giorgio Mormurda)
The most exciting young hip-hop crew in our region is from the other side of the Lake. Sorry, Seattle, but it’s true. Indigo Children: Tales From The Otha Side, coming soon.
(Thanks to The Stranger’s LineOut for making my job easier.)
