28HUNDRED PRESENTS: Jake Crocker


206UP and Jae Changehave collaborated to form 28Hundred, a new media company dedicated to producing original video content and in-depth, personality-driven interviews with some of your favorite artists. Stay tuned here for the latest 28Hundred productions.


In 28Hundred’s latest exclusive interview, we sat down with producer Jake Crocker in New York City to discuss the Seattle native’s earliest days hustling beats on the internet, to getting linked with Raz Simone and his Black Umbrella team. Peep game above. Also check out Jake’s most recent project, the American Dreams EP featuring rapper Ronnie, Dylan below.

 

206UP Exclusive 28Hundred Interviews

VIDEO: “Natural Resources” – Raz Simone


The video for Raz’s “Natural Resources” was filmed over the course of the rapper’s trip to SxSW, both at officially sanctioned festival performances and a series of pop-up/guerilla-style shows in the streets of downtown Austin. Given the heavy subject matter of the track — the get-busy-living-or-die-from-exposure industriousness of this country’s marginalized people — at first glance the concept for the video doesn’t seem to fit the lyrics. But given the rapper’s own diligence and perseverance within the amalgam of humanity and cultural free-for-all that is SxSW, the backdrop for the video comes into greater focus. There’s nothing more natural here than Raz’s own charisma, and few things as resourceful as his live band, PA System, setting up their gear in the middle of the street.

Get Raz’s Cognitive Dissonance: Part One for free, here.

Video

VIDEO: “They’ll Speak” – Raz (dir. by Stephan Gray)


Raz Simone has commandeered this blog’s RSS feed over the course of the last week or so. On the heels of the release of his Cognitive Dissonance: Part One, the team at Black Umbrella let loose with the video for “They’ll Speak,” directed by Stephan Gray. Seattle looks like the set of I Am Legend as Raz roams the streets, alone except for his thoughts.

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NEW MUSIC: Cognitive Dissonance: Part One – Raz Simone

Raz Simone - Cognitive Dissonance cover

Surprise! Raz Simone just released his new album Cognitive Dissonance: Part One a full three days earlier than expected, and he made the whole damn thing available for free. The early jump did not allow for industrious bloggers like myself to complete a proper album review, but no matter: my first thoughts were imparted last Thursday after I had the fortune of attending the 300 Entertainment-sponsored NYC listening party. More words to follow, but I suggest just going ahead and bumping the shit to form your own opinion.

Audio Downloads

THOUGHT BUBBLE: On Raz Simone’s Cognitive Dissonance New York City Listening Session

Raz Simone - Cognitive Dissonance

Seattle rapper Raz Simone held his first-ever private listening session yesterday at Terminus Studios, a glistening recording space in midtown Manhattan. The occasion was to preview his upcoming album, Cognitive Dissonance, in front of a couple dozen industry people, a select group of fans, and a smattering of music writers and bloggers. Through what felt like an egregious error in guest listing, the homie Jason Chen and I found ourselves among the people standing inside the recording room, formed in a loose semi-circle around Raz as he introduced the ten tracks on his soon-to-be-released LP.

Features Op-Ed Thought Bubble

NEW MUSIC: American Dreams – Ronnie Dylan & Jake Crocker

Ronnie Dylan & Jake Crocker - American Dreams

Jake Crocker is an up-and-coming producer who has done beats for Raz Simone and RA Scion. Ronnie Dylan is his partner-in-rhyme. (Note to self: never use that term again). Together they are: “Ronnie Dylan and Jake Crocker”… C’mon guys, you couldn’t have come up with something better? I keed, though. Their American Dreams EP is a worthy collection of raps and refined, soulful boom-bap. Especially check for a super-lyrical Fatal on “Day Dream”. It’s free to stream and download below.

Audio Downloads

NEW MUSIC: 5 Good Reasons – Sam Lachow & Raz Simone

Click album cover to download.

Here’s something worthwhile: Sam Lachow (NYC by way of SEA) and Raz (one of the Town’s finest new voices) collaborate for 5 Good Reasons, a pentagonal collection of wide-ranging party- and street-life numbers. Sam is a legitimate musical force to be reckoned with and Raz is worthy of all local hype bestowed thus far. Together they’ve crafted a remarkably thoughtful EP that I would count among the region’s best this year. Get it for free here.

UPDATE (1:15 pm PST, 9.24.12): The duo just dropped the latest video from the EP. “Coyotes” was directed by Sam Lachow, Raz and Avi Loud. Peep game below.

Audio Downloads Video