The Flavr Blue get moody on their latest single and video, “We Can Go Blind”, directed by Jon Jon Augustavo. Here the trio remain still — relatively for them if you’ve ever seen one of their live performances — and allow ballerina Kate Chamberlain to interpret the electronic ballad.
Insert coffee to begin.
VIDEO: “Who I Am” – Steezie Nasa
Moor Gang soldier Steezie Nasa with a new clip. “Who I Am” was produced by HDxMulla and featured on Steezie’s latest, Lucky 7.
VIDEO: “Two Sides” – Rockwell Powers & DJ Phinisey (dir. by Yusuf Word)
“Two Sides” is the first track from Rockwell Powers and DJ Phinisey’s Build record to get the video treatment, courtesy of Portland’s Yusuf Word. Behind-the-scenes staging and live performance footage of the duo’s albums release party last fall are interpolated nicely.
VIDEO: “On 1” – Ricky and Mark
Ricky Pharoe and Mark Gajadhar are “On 1” (see what I did there?) in their new video. Shot on Orcas Island (a brief whale ride away from my hometown of Lopez), I like how the off-beat hip hop track re-fits into the context of the outdoors. Shot by Griff J.
VIDEO: “Slugs Around” – BenadriLL & Mo’ Money (dir. by Roof Dogg)
Fresh from the LakeHouse Ent. collective is their new video for “Slugs Around” featuring raps by BenadriLL and Mo’ Money, with the loyal RoofDogg behind the lens. The Lake crew is best known for its free-thinking ways, a willingness to let blind creativity take the reins that often results in a see-what-sticks-against-the-wall type dopeness. I think that’s hella cold.
For a behind-the-scenes look at this particular video, click here for LakeHouse’s first “Street Lectures” entry which follows Keith, one of the music video’s accidental stars, on his way to traffic court in San Francisco. “Street Lectures” is an experimental series that endeavors to dig deeper into the particular quirks and tics of the neighborhoods in which the Lake shoot their videos.
NEW MUSIC: “Alpha” – Paid Roza
Here then is a brief snippet from Underworld Dust Funk’s latest purveyor of dark rap matter, Paid Roza. The rapper-producer works a bit of numerology into the bleak proceedings as well. From his upcoming NFLM.
NEW MUSIC: “Turn On Us” – Xave Zelda (feat. Thaddeus David & J Byrd)
This gif has exactly nothing to do with the song “Turn On Us” by rapper Xave Zelda, and was simply brought to you by the magic of Google image search.
An unknown (to me anyway) rapper by the name of Xave Zelda sent me this track a couple weeks ago. It features Thaddeus David and J. Byrd and was produced by Genesis. I thought it was kinda dope so I decided to run it today. Better yet, it gave me an excuse to post the gem of a gif you see above.
“Turn On Us” – Xave Zelda (feat. Thaddeus David & J Byrd, prod. by Genesis)
NEW MUSIC: Start Here EP – Janae Jones
MC, singer, producer, and photographer Janae Jones quietly released this atmospheric two-piece about three weeks ago. The Start Here EP is a brief electronic whisper featuring Janae’s esoteric musings and a promise that “This is only the beginning”. Self-produced with a little help from GMK; check for it below.
NEW MUSIC: “Mold You” – Luck-One (feat. The Good Sin & Dizz)
This breezy, battle-of-the-sexes summer anthem was the first entry of Luck-One’s #WeeklyWonders series — a new track by the MC posts every Thursday on 2Dopeboyz. It cruises along on the strength of Tmak’s R&B-tinged beat, with Dizz on the hook and the Six’s most recent NYC relocatee Sinseer on the guest bars. Stream “Mold You” below and, in case you missed it, check for 206UP’s exclusive interview with Luck below that.
206UP EXCLUSIVE PREMIER: “The Bizness” – Kublakai
Fresh for your viewing pleasure — and purely exclusive here on 206UP — is the premier of Kublakai’s new music video for his track, “The Bizness”, directed by Eric Burritt.
Sometimes the rap game reminds me of the…garage sale game? The fleecing of artists at all levels of the “industry” is based on the same damn principles. Kubi goes in against it with characteristic levity over a Bean One slapper.
Go grab Kubi’s Kubi Zoo for this song and other rap excursions by one of Seattle’s underground favorites.
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 