Dave B with a new drop in his Loosies series: “Do That” is a fresh, upbeat track by Portland’s producer of the moment, Stewart Villain.
Category: Audio
AUDIO: Wheels Up – Kublakai
Underground rap hero Kublakai has a new EP out called Wheels Up. It is, by far, his most personal piece of work and, probably not incidentally, his best.
Over the course of nearly a decade, the rapper has become proficient at riding a beat — technically he’s on par with the best in town, dropping earnest bars that fall in line with the Grieves and Macklemores of the region. He does similar things lyrically on Wheels Up, but the difference here is that nothing sounds forced. In the past, some of Kubi’s Golden Era-influenced boom-bap was formulaic: one part 16 struggle bars, one part break beat, one part sticky hook.
It was his fun-loving persona, sense of humor and outright dedication to the hip-hop craft that kept Kubi from sinking to the middle of the backpacker pack. Not to say 206UP doesn’t fuck with the classic formula, but things were generally predictable, musically, when it came to a new Kublakai joint.
With Wheels Up, the MC allows his affinity for jazz to rise more prominently to the surface. It shows in the freewheeling nature of “Moan” (named for the artist’s all-time favorite song, “Moanin’,” by Charles Mingus). Likewise, the vibe on the standout party starter “Morning Light” is looser. Kub’s still in the pocket, but he’s letting out — emotionally, physically — more than he’s drawing in. Call this his Waiting to Exhale moment.
AUDIO: Under The Sea – Keyboard Kid
The Thraxxhouse collective finished off 2014 with a roundhouse of dank, nocturnal uppercuts. Listening to these releases feels like being gently knocked in the head by a brick wrapped in hot wet towels and fragrant lemon peels. Check the turnt somnambulance of Keyboard Kid’s Under The Sea.
AUDIO: Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2 – Raz Simone
You’ve probably seen Raz Simone lighting up this and other online outlets with his song drops over the course of the last ten weeks. It all culminated yesterday with the official free release of his Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2, the sequel to last year’s initial foray into a major label partnership with Lyor Cohen’s 300 Entertainment.
Taken in its entirety, CD2 makes for an even greater cinematic listening experience than its predecessor. Things sound a little bleaker this time around. The record finds Raz holding more folks at arms length, and he’s often acting out with impunity against enemies both real and perceived. Might this have something to do with hard lessons learned in the proverbial rap game?
Maybe; maybe not. As with hip-hop’s other great narrators, sometimes the most formidable enemy is the one encountered within, and Raz’s greatest asset as a writer remains his ability to remain brutally honest not only with his audience, but himself. His dedicated Black Umbrella family (that would be Sam Lachow, producer Jake Crocker, and a grip of other behind-the-scenes capos) is also on hand to provide backup.
Stream Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2 below, or grab the download here.
AUDIO: “Thanks For Asking (Won’t Get Fined Remix)” – Spekulation (feat. Marshawn Lynch)
Consider these the motions then…
Again, from the region of socked-in cloud cover, emerge heroes bedecked in blue and green,
Statements of purpose made in bygone Roman procession (XLVIII).
The royal legion. The taciturn pivot-er.
If insanity is the repetition of action with recapitulated stead, then let us suffer again as ignoramuses,
Of Spekulation and Marshawn. Of Seahawks and Champions.
AUDIO: Sirens – 88 Ultra
88 Ultra (also known as Kingston) is one half of production duo Blue Sky Black Death, the outfit responsible for some of Seattle’s most memorable hip-hop of late (see: Nacho Picasso). BSBD has a knack for churning out atmospheric and nefarious digital soundscapes, building off certain on-trend production values in a way that channels the oft gothic-like cloud cover of the Pacific Northwest. Sirens continues in that mode albeit reigned by 88’s hazy sensibilities alone.
AUDIO: “Smoke Pt. 1” – C. Ray
Channeling the meanest of the Death Row-era SoCal rap artists, Tri-Cities MC and producer C. Ray conjures the anti-hero we need in these trying times in “Smoke Part 1.” Thanks to Shao Sosa for putting 206UP onto C. Ray. The Tri is a little outside the perimeter, but then again so am I. Ha.
AUDIO: “The Lights” – Raz Simone (prod. by Raz & Jake Crocker)
The final episode (number 11 if you’re counting) in Raz Simone’s lead-up to the release of his Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2, is a quiet moment. “The Lights” reminds me of Wyclef Jean’s best ballads: half sung, half rapped, with a spiritual heaviness and weary resilience that conjures rap music’s mighty forebear, the blues.
AUDIO: Trap Alien – Steezie Nasa
Profoundly weird and exceptionally profane, Moor Gang foot soldier Steezie Nasa’s new album, Trap Alien, is a buzzing obelisk hovering over the Six. Steezie’s vocals are unabashedly auto-tuned, which makes for a cold sense of isolation throughout the record. That is, until the final track where he finally shouts out “My Dogs.”
AUDIO: “Night Is Over” – Kevin Lavitt (feat. Sam Lachow)
Kevin Lavitt is a Seattle-based singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His debut EP Planets will arrive shortly we’re told. “Night Is Over” is the first drop and it features frequent collaborator Sam Lachow. Kevin reminds me of ’90s R&B crooner Jon B — do with that assessment what you will. In any case, blue-eyed soul is here to stay.
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 