Kazy D has ties to the south, the bay area but all of his earliest releases were released while he spent time in the Northwest. More notably known for his first album “A Letter From Tha Grave” which is considered by many fans as a classic. Rewind back only a few years and it seemed like rap was in a whole other world. This was before gangsta rap really hit the scene and everyone looked up to some of the early pioneers of the genre. This tape dates back to 1992 on Just Cash Records and was produced by Alcatraz & DJ Razor Ray.
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Squeek Nutty Bug is what you can call a OG of Seattle rap as his album was one of the first hardcore rap albums to hit the town of Seattle in the mid nineties. The album was the start for Ryan Croone and his production label Cidewayz Productions which is now one of the more respected production companies in the Northwest. The albums executive producer happened to be James D Croone who was a early pioneer in the Seattle music scene and had also had earlier success with another group called Darkset. The album features D Ale (DMS), Young K, Lil Mafia(Skuntdunanna), ROK, BG Bari, & Kevin Gardner.
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The members of Clockwork have three very different personalities and musical styles that they each showcase in their own creative way from song to song. Known for their high-energy stage show, the group has a unique Northwest sound that is derived from multiple different musical influences including Funk, Reggae, Soul, Rock and Pop. Clockwork strives to show their versatility and creativity in everything they do. As a group their styles compliment each other to create an unforgettable blend of music and as individuals, their characters are filled with complexities and simplicities that match the flow of their songs.
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MC is a term that instantly reminds you of the origins of hip hop/rap with many of the forefathers of the culture using the term. What is a MC? Master Of Ceremonies is the dictionary term but it also has been dubbed as Mic Controller, Mic Checka, Moves The Crowd all which easily relate to what a performer is.
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The Central District is one of Seattle’s most racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. It is an area that has rich history and has played a part in the lives of many of today’s stars. From actors, sports players, to musicians the Central District was once part of their lives.1996 was one of the best years for rap as it holds accord to being the year of many classic rap albums to date. It seemed like it was a year that if you dropped an album it was sure to be destined to be talked about as a classic years later. Central Dynasty was a group from Seattle Washington  and their debut album “Why Does Everybody Want To Be A Killa” features 14 tracks with production from Kevin Gardner, Funk Daddy, & Skills, & Mike Wingo.
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These days most people only know the Seattle area code as 206 but in the early 90’s all of western Washington was under the 206 area code. One of Tacoma’s earliest known rappers at the time was LA Stone who repped the 206 to the fullest. his tape featured two tracks. The main track a diss track to Sir Mix A Lot who at the time was probably one of the biggest rappers not just in the northwest but in the nation. Check out some northwest history!
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Every region has its history even the great rainy city of Seattle, Washington. MC Overdose and the NW Posse is one of the early groups to release music from the region. This tape dates back to the early era of hip hop being released in 1991 on Posse Up Productions. It features two tracks “What Up Black” produced by the legendary George Clinton and “Hot Mama” produced by local producer Todd Brown.
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