(Click here or above for the download link.)
When folks in this country think about the future, the privileged and well-to-do have the luxury of considering shiny spacesuits, hover-cars, and freeze-dried meals of prime rib and asparagus tips. The working-class, poor, and other marginalized groups of people, have other future fish to fry, however. Like contending with disparate opportunities when it comes to education, health care, and housing.
The title of Grynch’s new mixtape, Rapping About Rapping, is probably an allusion to the most common criticism The King of Ballard suffers: that he spends too much time rapping about rapping. And not enough time — I don’t know — talking about his jewels (which he doesn’t sport — dude is too sensible for that), bragging about his female conquests (which also doesn’t fit his character — he’s too genial), or talking about how gangsta he is (I mean, he’s from Ballard — ’nuff said).
There are two things certain about Grynch. One, he seems like such a nice guy that, regardless of what you think of his rap’s subject matter, he’ll eventually wear you down with charm. Two, he’s one of the most technically proficient rappers in Seattle, blessed with a voice that commands a stage and a mic. It’s a fact Grynch will win most emcee battles. The hardest battle has been the one he fights with his critics, of which I consider myself one. Always critical, yes, but still one of his most optimistic fans.
Click here or below to download (via 2Dopeboyz).
A great look from J. Pinder. “Later On” is a breezy ode to l-o-v-e, just in time for Seattle’s early Spring weather. Click here or below to download.
Yet another remix of a Fresh Espresso track, this time courtesy of local electro wizards Viper Creek Club. “The Lazerbeams” gets VCC’s special distortion treatment. It’s beautifully, refreshingly, grimy. Something akin to rinsing your mouth out with minty thumbtacks — which might sound bad, but really, it’s not. Best FE remix I’ve heard so far, fam. Click here or below to download.
Photo jacked from VCC's Myspace page.
(Click here or above to download.)
Any group that’s interested in properly representing Left Coast hip-hop should first take a trip down I-5 to the Golden State, the place where the West Coast sound was originally developed, nurtured, and fully realized. Something about the combination of fresh Pacific Ocean air, perpetually sunny weather, and other (ahem) “natural” remedies, fuse to get the creative juices flowing something proper.
Fresh Espresso are currently Seattle’s most remixed hip-hop group. From the FileJerks’ hyperactive remix of “Diamond Pistols” to Thrills’ house music redux of “Big or Small” and “Vader Rap”, FE aficionados have club heads bleeding-out all over dance floors across Seattle. Rik and P are even making it mercifully easy for these producer nerds with the acapella release of Glamour — it’s all about ready…set…REMIX! And I appreciate them dudes for encouraging the DIY spirit.
The most ambitious undertaking, however, comes courtesy of do-it-all production virtuoso, OC Notes. His Coffee Beans…The Glamour ReWorks is a complete and utter re-imagining of FE’s now seminal debut. Listening to it is like stumbling down a dimly-lit hallway, high off weed and alcohol, where every room you pass is a doorway into trip-hop psychedelia and fuzzed-out experimentia (?) of FE’s original Glamour sh*t. It’s worth the trip, readers. And best of all, it’s free. Click here or below to download.
Cat and Stas draw inspiration from a vast and varied group of recording artists. This mixtape is the first in a series of tributes these ladies are paying to their creative muses. Click here or below to download the mixtape. My thoughts coming soon…
Watch THEESatisfaction get busy at the Ladies Night show at Neumos:
(Video jacked from THEESatisfaction’s blog, Black Weirdo.)
Golden Mic King in the Golden State:
I guess we can’t be too mad at Cali for stealing our rappers, as long as they keep producing sonic sunshine like this.
A young local cat looking to find his voice and place in Seattle’s crowded hip-hop market, Antbeezy, and fellow baby brethren like Brothers From Another, are looking to go straight from high school to the pros.
Success will probably be fleeting at first, but it should be interesting to see who emerges an All-Star. Download the first track, “The Becoming” off Antbeezy’s forthcoming mixtape of the same name:
(UPDATE: 2.18.10, 8:40 am) Antbeezy and BFA linked up for this track, “Holla.” A little something to look forward to at the 80’s Babies show tomorrow night. Click below to download:
BFA have already rocked a few shows around Town, but this one might be their best look yet. Catch Breez and Goonstar (and ‘Beezy, too) at the 80’s Babies benefit show in the U-District. According to this flyer, Macklemore and Blue Scholars will be there. Oh, word?! Check it out this week on the 19th!
Download “Moonday School (Intergalactic Church)“, the first track from their forthcoming mixtape, THEESatisfaction Loves The Sa-Ra Creative Partners.
Who says in space no one can hear you sing?…
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 