“Am I free to go, or am I being detained?” is a question with macroscopic implications even though it gets asked in singular occurrences across the country. Black Magic Noize affiliate Araless peels back the layers and finds nothing but “Rotten Fruit” on his latest track.
A musical sideways glance from THEESatisfaction’s SassyBlack. Just because it’s velvety don’t mean it ain’t venomous.
The Central District’s Avatar Darko has never been afraid of embracing his emo. But it’s the L-word particularly that got him stuck on the rapper’s latest album, Evol (word to the dyslexics). No matter which way you flip it love will fuck you in some way or another, and Av covers this in his trademark hardcore, honest manner.
Rapper Thaddeus David and producer Aviel Ben Yamin set out to craft a cohesive, singular statement with their latest five-song release The Rise: White Summer. Check for yourself below to see if the duo met their creative goal. In any case, much of this bumps quite satisfyingly.
What was it that Drizzy said? “Know yourself, know your worth?” Seattle rapper Wizdom sticks to that adage with his new output, “Rec League,” his first track in 13 months after declaring retirement from the music game. Here, Wiz realizes that he can’t actually leave it alone and makes peace with himself in the semi-pros. Produced by Reminiss.
Rapper Dex Amora feels all the feelings in his new single with producer Goldenbeets.
Established industry beatmaker MTK with a new round of instrumentals for your wanting-ass. Budding rappers go forth and be mediocre over the very non-mediocre Sophisticated Slap 2.
Donte Peace has carved out a nice lane for himself in the Seattle rap scene: a little offbeat and streetwise, his self-admitted “conscious” track “Black Jesus” is for nighttime riding and reflecting. Produced by Basquiat.
10.4 Rog, the producer behind a grip of quality hip-hop and electronic music out of Seattle, dropped a new collection of instrumental tracks called The Vibe Continuum back in July. Worthy of unwinding while you twist that good, play at a reasonable volume as the sun sets on an amazing Seattle summer.
Tracing Kung Foo Grip’s rise from entertaining rap cypher scene-stealers to their newest — and most accomplished — album, The New Flesh, is to witness the veritable growth arc of a duo of uber-talented MCs right before your very eyes. It’s like one of those fast motion scenes in a nature documentary: the caterpillar emerging triumphantly from its cocoon. Or something.
The New Flesh finds KFG making stylistic musical turns without losing its lyrical style which remains deeply embedded in the acrobatic. Once part of the new guard themselves, Kung Foo Grip now helps set the pace for the kiddos coming up behind them.
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 