Mac Vicious – The Hotbox

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From the OG’s of yesterday to the goons of today Tacoma is still seen in that grimy light when it comes to its music scene. Though more credible artists are noted from the city today the young talent seems to have found a common balance of swag and the favored hood sound which really is indicative of what Tacoma is about. 2 Thumz Up Entertainment is one of the young camps coming from the city and there associated with a few other movements from the city. Together they have been pretty active as of the past year highlighting artists from the crew with the latest being Mac Vicious and his “Hotbox” mixtape. Your going to hear a few swagged-out tracks, maybe even the occasional make it clap jam but the meat of Mac Vicious is dominant with smoke filled lung appetites’ along with that street natured Tac-Town euphemism’s. While its some jacked beats on here a lot of the originals were done by Gotham beats with features by Shoulderz, Ian G, Batman, Lil D@ze, Crew Necc Carter, L.H., Quicc Savo, and many more.
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Terminill Presents – Flatline Studios Volume 1

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As a engineer or producer your that cog in an artists music but being behind those boards is like seeing history being made. Unless you’re a credits fiend most of these guys go un-noticed but surely being there for the moment of classic records being made is worth more than a little reassurance. What started out as home based studio for Terminill has now become a full fledged business with “Flatline Studios” and a go to spot for Portland and surrounding based artists. Having his hand in so many artists projects Term has decided to put together a compilation of songs that have been released or are coming from future releases with what is sure to be the first of many in Flatline Studios compilations. No shortage on talent here as artists like Cassow, LMC, Serge Severe, Jon Belz, Quiz Zilla, Mac Smiff, Phattwater, Kenny Mack, Local Star, Vamp, Luck One, Krispy Hendrixx, and many many more make appearances.
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Nu Era – Sink Or Swim

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Yes it is the music business which brings the serious aspect of things into play but it seems to have allowed the fun of making good music disappear. Feeling like you have to meet a certain criteria to belong kind of takes away from the creative process. Daily were ushering in artists with each claiming to be the next big thing in hip hop so the Northwest collective calling themselves “Nu Era” easily construes itself. Pieces of other puzzles at one time or another Andrew Savoie (Def Minds/Hush Puppies), Turtle T (DynoJamz/Hush Puppies), and 5 Flat (Tuition Mixtape) have come together with alike minds but diverse skills with their debut group album “Sink Or Swim”. While the group is indeed new their era of music feels like something from the past but not in a negative sense of needing to keep up with the times. These three got you feeling like it’s the nineties again where the raps feel live as a cypher and while conscious to personal at times the energy of the given track has your head bobbing. Like most releases these days it’s short only clocking in at ten tracks with all the production handled by Andrew Savoie. Extended features come from Cheifs Of The Theoretics, Ray Dalton, Kung Foo Grip, and Camila Recchio.
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TxE – We Get It In True

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You hate to do the comparison factor when it comes to major cities in the northwest but its always kind of been a pit against each other in a friendly competition. Seattle has kind of had the upper hand as far as known artists and up until a few years ago you could name most of the major players in Portland. These days it’s a new era and the amount of talent coming out of Portland is on par with other major cites not just in the Northwest. TxE is not a brand new group as they kind of gave us false hope a few years ago with talks of a full release but they did drop a EP. In the end it was probably for the best as all involved have done several projects in between and is that much better for the groups debut “We Get It In True”. Two members are artist/producer combos in Tope and Calvin Valetine aka G_Force who stays on the boards as part of the crew but don’t count Epp out as he is the accent of the two with a bit more gas in his flow. G_Force is on all the beats besides “Layin Low” produced by Stewart Villian and it’s a pleasant mix of soul meets west coast almost like a smokers delight meshed with some classic west coast g funk. Tope and Epp are the perfect offset one with the laid back but surpass-able to others with the same style and Epp who favors a more traditional strong brashed hip hop flow. Content is favorable to expectance and you get your fair share of good songs with apperances from Phil The Agony, Illmaculate, young X, Caitlin Cardier, and Sam Trump.
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Blaze – Room & Board

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No matter how pure your talent is the rap game is strictly a game of chance and while some see it as a barrier others see it as a hurdle. You cant tell Blaze (pronounced Blahzay) anything different as he thrives on the fact that he is going to come hard whether the stars line up in his favor or not. Recently hooking up with the Livewire camp who already has a star in the R&B department with Jove why not add the lyrical tenacity to the roster and hit them at all frames of the game. The two labelmates seem to have that chemistry to incur good songs and all the leaks have been crowd pleasers which makes Blaze’s debut mixtape “Room & Board” that much more eventful. Blaze is not even at full potential yet as a rapper but would already be classified as one of the better artists coming out of Portland if not the Northwest. A lot of the key original songs have leaked in promotion for the release but the rest is just that of the title a mixtape in which you are able to see what the potential future product of Blaze can potentially be. Look for features from Luck One, OMG, Manny Fresh, and Cassow.
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George Zelaya – My Business

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Rap is no longer a maintainer it once was but no matter how serious we take any given artist’s music it’s a personal affair not taken lightly. Its been a fast forgettable five plus years since we last heard from George Zelaya when he released his “All Business” mixtape but the long talked about solo finally arrives. One time running with the title “The Grunge Rap King” the long promised “My Business” finally sees release with a expanse amount of features including a few bigger names like Tech N9ne, Petey Pablo, and Kola Of Doggy’s Angels. To easily describe George on his debut solo album in one word would be intense due to the fact that he can double tap rap his ass off on top of his already commanding voice. A fusion ball of all the types of music that make your adrenaline rush George does not let down when the occasion allows for him to show off. While the gruff tempered style is legit you also get attempts at harmonizing and the serious songs show his enmity of writing about his life’s inner struggles. Anyone should be able to come away with liking a song on this release and with the wait between projects George has allowed the project to be available for free but you can also show support by purchasing the digital version on I-Tunes, Amazon, or your preferred digital retailer.
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Quiz Zilla – The Day Before 2morrow

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Those perceptive enough to stay on the heels of freshmen worthy artists coming out of Portland should have Quiz Zilla in their lists. If your partial to early work you should recall Quiz from his part in the group Free agents but last years “Candyman” single and video really opened some eyes. In the pandemonium of free projects Quiz is releasing “The Day Before 2morrow” kind of his pre-teaser as a solo artist which includes a free online version but a deluxe physical edition for the hard copy heads. Like a lot of buzz worthy artists Quiz exemplifies the traits of likability and this release shows he can make music. He vibes off a cosmic sound which goes from dark to loud but covers a lot of the types of songs you as a fan want to hear. No straight structure as far as songs and though it may feel scatterbrain like a mixtape you get your share of adrenaline movers, head nodders, club bangers, as well as radio aimed material. You feel for anyone really trying to make it in today’s rap game but Portland’s got some young movers who wont let obstacles get in the way of their success.
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MGD – The Hated EP

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Getting the northwest to prominence is something every artist says they want to do and being first makes the competition even that much more fierce. Musically the northwest is on right now and though it might not be bubbling past the region just yet those vying are ready. While most artists play the game like the lotto binging on the one in a million chance of mocking other hit songs in hopes of stardom you wont get any of that from the new group MGD. Like the taste of the hood favorited beverage MGD is a pairing of MAR, Mike G, and Born To Win’s Dirtay. Years ago a group like this would be the story of exemplar you know three hungry non-chalant rappers, against the grain beat structure, and just hard work making your underground sound nationwide. Too bad we have to fast forward to the present and now a group like MGD is no longer the norm instead replaced by what TV exemplifies is how every rapper should be or sound. Good thing MGD does not care and the title of their debut EP “The Hated” gives off that you with us or against us mentality. Those who oppose get the tall finger and while the EP exemplifies that it also has its share of serious songs as well as the groups own flavor of club songs and lady pleasers. You can get your copies around town and on the groups bandcamp for a affordable $5.
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Sheena G – The First Class

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Sheena G’s music is best described as a combination of Fusion Urbana, Reggaeton, and Hip-Hop, all with a distinct Latin flavor. When asked about the title of her album, Sheena G explains the double meaning: “It’s first class because I remain a student, and this is my first of many albums. But also we put everything into the quality of this album; the musicians, the studio, and all the marketing is first class.” The First Class is being released by SGM Records. The First Class is a record that celebrates the power of women everywhere. Take track 4, Alegria (Happiness). “It’s about feeling stuck, and finally through it all being able to move on and feel free. This song pertains to love, changing careers; any real issue that requires you to let go.” Then there are fast paced Zumba and dance club favorites, like boom boom boom, which translates simply, “get close to me when you feel boom boom boom.” Sheena G is a powerful and creative American/Latina woman with business savvy to boot. She is a natural born leader, and credits both her El Salvadoran mother and her German father for her drive. Shortly after being born in Portland, OR, Sheena moved to El Salvador, attending La Escuela Americana and enjoying the Central American lifestyle. Eventually her family was forced to move back to the states. Upon arriving in America when Sheena was just 11, she suffered a life threatening sickness: Kawasaki disease. The experience changed Sheena forever, and she vowed to “never give up on living life to the fullest.” Even during high school, Sheena was starting her own ventures. After dancing and modeling for local magazines, Sheena opened a flower shop and an espresso stand, and by early 2000′s she had a successful chain of Clubs in Portland. In 2009 she released a track with E40 called Smell the Money, her anthem to the women of the Night, and in 2010 she released a mix tape entitled The G-Files. In 2012 she is scheduled to release her Debut Spanglish Urban Fusion Album “The First Class”. This album is sure to open up the marketplace allowing room for a all new sound for the new growing spanglish Urban Latino audience. You can order a copy of the album or digital if preferred at Sheena’s Bandcamp!
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The Good Sin – The Story Of Love x Hate

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While local hip hop is getting better its also finally at a point where artists are staying relevant instead of playing catch-up. Your handle as an artist is like your appearance and “The Good Sin” is one of the most adept titles you could come up with. Sin’s latest project “The Story Of Love X Hate” will be the project that really starts getting him substantial acclaim but its really his third project to date. The compliments come early as everything is well put together from the great production and a added feature set of some of the best local artists including appearances from Felicia Loud, Alisha Roney, Blakk Soul, Sean Carson, Mario Sweet, Luck-One, Fatal Lucciauno, Dizz, as well as Dice. As a listener we easily have to ability to feel where an artist is coming from but Good Sin makes music more on a personal relatable level. He does not hide the fact that he is knowledgeable with that spokesperson type flow where he could rally the streets with a message and people would follow in support. Like the title reiterates this project really is a story of The Good and The Bad. It weathers in between several topics from love, relationships, some political form factor, betterment in life as a person, to simple-ness of Seattle living. Good Sin doesn’t do what most artists intently try to do which is force themselves into a lane instead taking the planned route, why not just to be yourself and make truly good music. You can get the album for free but for the ones who want to support its available on I-Tunes & Amazon as well.
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