“Swerve…” is, by far, the most accessible (I hate that term) Shabazz Palaces track released thus far. I should qualify: by “accessible” I mean “danceable.” This one will tangle your brain and your body. Honorary SP member THEESatisfaction drops science in the track’s second half. The last 1:10 is a call for Black unity through movement and rhythm. Filthy. Seattle’s collective rap conscious sits in contemplative meditation until Black Up drops on June 28.
Nice 253-centric clip by Tacoma representative Fice. His bars on “In The Kitchen” might be the dope flow that has eluded the MC for a while now — at least in this humble blogger’s opinion. By far not the smoothest of Tac-town rappers, he’s got great presence on this track. Direction by Erik Soderquist.
I’m not a huge fan of Eighty4 Fly’s music. His flow is second hand Drake and his radio-targeted steez is too passe to be fully enjoyable. Still, I appreciate dude’s hustle and his videos are always on point (thanks in large part to Jon Augustavo, the talented man behind the lens). The night shots look great in the “Confession” part of the clip and Eighty’s humble grind depicted in the “Destiny” half is endearing. (Apple Jacks for dinner? Yeah, I’ve been there before.) Everybody got their hustle and it’s hard to knock Eighty’s.
Seattle multimedia artist Mike Folden recently did a nice video profile on Scribes. I’ve never met dude, but he comes across as a thoughtful, intensely focused artist. Peep that above and download his latest full-length, What Was Lost, for free here. Scribes gets a great live look on June 10 when he opens for Pharoahe Monch at The Crocodile.
Click image to D/L the track.
“This a fly love song…” to weed. The first advanced drop from La’s third album, SEALAB 2012. The technically proficient Filipino MC gets better on every track he drops. Zelot on the guest vocals, Jester on the beat.
Blue Scholars just premiered the short film/music video for the track “Slick Watts,” the first clip from the group’s third full-length album, Cinemetropolis (dropping everywhere on June 14). Enjoy the visuals courtesy Geo, Sabzi, the Sonicsgate team, and a very special and not-so-conspicuous guest (hint: the song is named after him, dummy).
Click image to D/L the track.
A lot of nice MC’s are putting in work in the Pac NW these days, but very few sound like actual stars. Tacoma rhymer John Crown is one of those. To me he sounds a lot like Kanye West if Kanye could actually rap; or Freeway if Free had a voice that you could actually listen to for more than three songs at a time. On “Like This” he gets some help from Queens MC Action Bronson and a nice rugged joint by producer Mike Weed. “Like This” is off Crown’s forthcoming Coffee and Beats.
Click image to D/L the track.
Fresh off their debut album, Cereal Box Superheroes, Saturday Morning Cartoon and 206UP.COM bring you the exclusive premier of the crew’s new single, “Run & Tell Dat.”
Blending new and classic styles, this posse cut connects dots between Northwest hip-hop artists Jonnie Storm and Nitro Fresh of SMC and the venerable flows of veteran MC’s Silver Shadow D, Dee.aLe and DeRoxs. As Nitro himself tells it:
Silver Shadow D, Dee.aLe (DMS) and DeRoxs (Wolfpakk) are like brothers. As you can hear lyrics by Silv, they have been knowing each other for nearly 20 years. But, according to Silv, this song is actually the first song he had ever recorded with Dee.aLe. Jonnie had known these guys when he used to be known as Jon Doe, at the freestyle ciphers, shows, etc. I, personally, got a chance to first meet Silver Shadow D and Dee.aLe at RC tha Trackaholiq’s CD release party. I was mesmerized by their energy on stage, and immediately decided to work with them. I met DeRoxs about 2 years ago, at the show. I gave him my beat CD, and about a year later he contacted me, saying he wanted to work with me for his upcoming album. Now, his upcoming album “Checkmate” is due June/July 2011, produced by myself, Silver Shadow D, and few others. It was truly my pleasure to have all these veteran MCs on one of my tracks.
Catch Saturday Morning Cartoon at the Arts In Fusion show at Rendezvous this Friday (5.27.11) at 9:30 pm. Click the flyer below for more details and download the track below.
Click flyer for more info.
Back from the 416 and in a Toronto state of mind…
The Weeknd’s hazy, diffuse, electro-R&B sounds like The-Dream on mescaline. The trio’s erotic, thugged-out, borderline sociopathic lyrics are a combination of R. Kelly’s perverted machismo and Odd Future’s depraved sex fantasies. Still interested? If so, click here to download the group’s free EP, House of Balloons.
I’m in Toronto, hanging out with Drake and The Weeknd. Be back soon. KTHNXBYE.
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