This video is riding on training wheels. Training wheels with 23 inch rims, but trainers nonetheless. Don’t blame Neema (who seems like a genuinely good dude) for the shots that linger just a little too long. Or the close-ups of Eighty4 Fly’s face that are just a little too close. Regrettably this song also features Lace Cadence, quite possibly the Seattle rapper (term used loosely here) that 206UP.COM appreciates the least. (Okay, go ahead and blame Neema for that one.)
Category: Video
VIDEO: “The Basics 2” – Kublakai
Kublakai is big in Japan, under-appreciated in Seattle. The Basics 2 coming soon in its entirety.
VIDEO: “This Shit” – Sol (dir. by Stephan Gray)
New visuals for “This Shit,” by Sol. Read what I said about the track here. Here’s what Sol says:
Shot entirely on Super 8mm film, my music video for “This Shit” (directed by Stephan Gray) captures the timelessness of summertime music and barbecues. “This Shit” is the single off of my free EP Dear Friends, Vol. III now available on www.solsays.com & iTunes.
VIDEO & DOWNLOAD: “Gary Payton” – Sam Lachow (feat. Sky Blaow & B Skeez)
Seattle and New York affiliate Sam Lachow’s recent video and single, “Gary Payton,” isn’t exactly an adequate representation of the rest of the music on the do-everything MC/producer/director’s debut album, Brand New Bike (available now on iTunes). That’s a shame, because the somewhat amusing but mostly inane frat boy rap of “Gary Payton” might turn some heads off before giving the rest of the LP a fair shake. Don’t let the Asher Roth-lite stylings of the video turn you away.
Brand New Bike is a lighthearted, breezy ode to weed, summertime leisure, and the DIY rap lifestyle. It’s impressively capable, especially the production which features live instrumentation and a refreshing simplicity that never over-complicates matters. As for the artist, Sam Lachow will never be a threat to immobilize a competing MC (his delivery is like a more robust version of State Of The Artist’s Hyphen8d), but what he lacks in God-given aesthetic, he counters with a quick wit and above-average technical skill. BNB might just suit your needs for that Saturday night deck party, an event Lachow would be happy to crash.
VIDEO: “Up Up and Away” – Tilla V
Tilla V (of the District Money camp) reminds us kindly that Seattle rappers haven’t forgotten how to floss. “Up Up and Away” is enough to make any skater kid trade his North Face Hot Shot joint for those second-hand Gucci shades his cousin may or may not have acquired on the level. Visuals by The Note.
VIDEO: “Green” – Dumbfoundead
#OutOfTownShit. Weeded trap music from LA-based Dumbfoundead. Knocksteady camp keeps SoCal moving. In other news: Koreans can rap.
VIDEO: “Against The Bottom” – Grieves & Budo
This is either an add for Gap clothing or footage from a party in Brooklyn I attended last weekend. I’m not entirely sure. In any case, it’s the closing track on Grieves & Budo’s recent Together/Apart, an album which represents the duo’s best work, by far.
You may hate and call this clip corny, but we’ve all had days just like this when every girl you met was your dream girl and it felt like the sun would never set.
VIDEO: “Spell On You” – Black Stax
This is hella filthy. Watch the members of Black Stax transcend yo’ earthly ass through movement, music and good old-fashioned home cookin’. Simple but so complex. Directed by The Note.
VIDEO: “Focused” – Logics (feat. Geo & Adrian Sims)
If I were a rapper who appeared in many music videos (which I’m not and I don’t), I’d have trouble finding ways to bide my time in the background while waiting for my turn to spit. What do I do with my hands? Do they give lessons on proper rap posturing? Is it uncool to make bunny ears behind the dude who’s letting me guest shot on his track? These are the questions that would keep me up at night. Neither Geo nor Logics have these problems and this is why they are rappers and I’m not.
(By the way, “Focused” is one of my favorite local tracks of the year and I featured it on the 206UP.COM Town Movement mixtape that you have already downloaded and shared with all of your friends. Right?)
VIDEO: “Wings” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Prepare for a bunch of old news. The 206UP.COM staff* is back from its fabulous European vacation and ready with a fistful of #LatePasses. First one gets spent on Macklemore’s epic video for his equally epic track, “Wings.” Direction duties by Stranger Genius Zia Mohajerjasbi.
* And by “staff” I mean, “me.” We are only one. The royal we.
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