The rapper Kublakai — long time friend of the blog and perpetual move-maker in the Six (and beyond) — has found himself rejuvenated with March’s Kubi Zoo, a collection of previously released tracks and a handful of new ones. New energy means new videos and 206UP will happily feature the exclusive premier of his latest clip for “The Bizness” this Tuesday. Stay tuned, fam.
School Daze is the new collaborative project between young Seattle upstart Dave B and the quickly-approaching-venerable-producer-status Justo (of The Physics). Its nine tracks blend breezily together thanks to Just’s boom-bap meets new school soul production and Dave’s effortless observant charm. School Daze is one of the most worthy 206 releases of the year and it’s available for free, dammit. Preview three of the EPs songs below and click Dave’s flashing head above to get it via Dropbox.
Sounding like the ’70s, Avatar Darko tries on a suit of a different color. This flow, this (gasp!) conscious lyric sheet, this throwback production (courtesy of Billy Patron and Apoulo), it all fits Av like a custom Glock holster. “Murda Murda” is off the rapper’s upcoming Soviet Goonion 3.
“Goosebumps” is the latest from Underworld Dust Funk’s Dizzie Slick. It wins the semi-annual Song That Sounds Like a Nacho Picasso Song But Isn’t Actually a Nacho Picasso Song award. If nihilism was something you could smoke we’d all be repudiates.
We’re four days late on the uptake here, but OTOW Gang’s Massiah and Ka.lil dropped this ode to moms (including Salma Hayek and Monica Bellucci) last Sunday, and we thought it deserved a late mention. This is the first single from the duo’s upcoming Kush & Yo Mama Jokes, undoubtedly a deadly combination. Uce Wayne behind the boards.
Moor Gang hustle builder SneakGuapo with a new clip for his track “No Sleep (From The Streets)” off his Lighthouse On Jupiter EP. Ralph Dozer on the beat.
The Physics’ Digital Wildlife was 206UP’s top Seattle hip hop album of 2013, and the slick “Play It Off” was one of the major reasons why. Now, director Stephan Gray has blessed the track with an equally lubricious video. Thig Nat (and his stunning co-star) look like the major players from a Michael Mann film.
“Drug life made me better.” Caz Greez celebrates the harmony and dissension wrought by pills and powder with his Underworld Dust Funk brethren. Watch for a UDF joint album project coming soon.
The Bar
Barkada
Beatrock Music; 2014
Score (Potholes In My Blog scale): 4 / 5
Prometheus Brown and Bambu are brothers musically, socially and ethnically. Their Barkada is party music with a revolutionary spirit. Check out my review for Potholes In My Blog.
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 