Fuckin’ who gave Ricky Pharoe my email address? Until I find out, I definitely won’t be posting any more of his videos, least of all this series of one-offs where the rapper punches dope lines like you do clocks at your worthless day job. Fuckin’ amateurs (Walter Sobchak voice).
Insert coffee to begin.
NEW(ISH) MUSIC: The Fresh Start – Shelton Harris & Tyler Dopps
Shelton Harris’ 15 minutes have officially begun. He played the lead role in Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ video for “Same Love”; XXL recently named him one of Seattle’s “15 hip hop artists you should know”; and the budding MC landed himself on the bill for the much vaunted Sasquatch festival last month. Not bad for a dude barely out of his teens.
206UP finally took time out to spin through The Fresh Start, a six song EP with producer Tyler Dopps. The release definitely feels like an appetizer for what could be a satisfying main course. The Macklemore influences are apparent which comes with certain drawbacks: Much of TFS suffers from a saccharine sweetness that would wear thin if drawn out over an LP’s length.
But Shelton has a confident, pure flow reminiscent of fellow Town rappers Sol and Grynch. Tyler’s production trends toward the buoyant, pop end of the spectrum and it feels right paired with Shelton’s unassailable positivity. While he isn’t as immediately thrilling as some of Seattle’s other young new guard (Dave B, Raz, Porter Ray, et al), the potential is all there for a breakout star in the making.
NEW MUSIC: Between Saturday Night & Sunday Morning – Ka.lil
So this came out today and although we (Royal, The) haven’t had a chance to hear it yet, 206UP.COM is super-gassed over the drop because it’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Ka.lil, one of the most important musical components of this here still-budding experiment in Town bloggery.
As Khingz on his 2009 From Slaveships to Spaceships, the do-or-die South End representative bridged gaps between hardcore street hood and sensitive sci-fi nerd, thereby blasting sets of preconceived notions to smithereens. FStS fit somewhere between DPG’s Dogg Food and Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a spectrum that, when examined more critically and with a fully open heart, is not nearly as broad as we’re led to believe.
Anyway, Ka.lil is the shit, and I’m guessing his new album is, too. Go here or listen below if you need to ask somebody.
VIDEO: “Bambaataa” – Farid Xan (dir. by Steve Curran)
Farid Xan reps the Bay Area and Puget Sound in equal measure — if I’m not mistaken he’s from SF originally but attended college in Tacoma. Anyway, “Bambaataa” is a video he shot while visiting NYC (my current home) for the first time. Blak Mic and DJ Semaj contribute studio work and Steve Curran hopped behind the lens. Watch for Farid’s upcoming Prerolls & Carryons.
NEW MUSIC: Of Love And Lust – Turtle T
He of the Nu Era crew (go here for the accomplished Sink Or Swim from early last calendar), Turtle T goes for dolo on Of Love And Lust.
NEW MUSIC: Self-Portrait – Havi Blaze
Former Washington Husky and eloquent street diplomat Havi Blaze released his new solo album last week. Click here to purchase and preview Self-Portrait.
THE TRACKMEET: 5.31.13
CLICK :: LISTEN :: VOTE
206UP.COM’s The TrackMeet is a regular feature here on the blog that pits three relatively new or up-and-coming local hip-hop artists against each other in a battle-of-the-songs style competition. It’s easy to participate if you’re a reader: Just listen to the three featured tracks and then vote for your favorite in the online poll below. Voting lasts for one week. Each winning entrant will be featured on an upcoming TrackMeet Mixtape (the first edition of which you can download here). If you’re an artist looking to submit for an upcoming competition, click here for submission guidelines.
It’s been a minute since we’ve gassed up a fresh set of newbies. For your voting consideration over the first weekend in June are: T.E.A.M. (Tell Everyone About Me), Swaggy Long Legs, and Soultanz. Get to listening, fam.
LANE 1: “5%” – T.E.A.M.
LANE 2: “Boom Go That Dynamite (Code We Keep)” – Swaggy Long Legs
LANE 3: “Child’s Play” – Soultanz
NEW MUSIC: “Smells Like Lean Spirit” – Nacho Picasso & Avatar Darko (prod. by Clams Casino)
Mmm, Clams and Nachos…
(Vampsterdam coming June 10.)
VIDEO: “These Kids Throw Rocks” – Raz Simone
The video for “These Kids Throw Rocks” was directed by Raz himself. Simple, elegant visuals for a track that stands tall without such embellishment. Get the MC’s Solomon Samuel Simone for free here.
NEW MUSIC: “Fuck Rio” – Nacho Picasso (feat. Rio)
Not that Rio. Rather a (presumably) scorned, former lover of Nacho Picasso‘s named Rio. This is dirty laundry (and dirty punchlines) aired out for your listening pleasure. If you’re into that sort of thing, anyway.
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 