Strait From The 206 – Emerald City Street Life

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The bay area has laid fame to many styles over the years but the early nineties were magical with the makings of mobb and funk music. Still somewhat accustomed to today it was what started nearly two decades ago that makes fans reminisce. While the bay was pumping out now considered classics, up in the rainy 206 artists were feeling their own kind of way ready to put Seattle on the map. Slapping the city on their back like they owned it a group called Strait From The 206 was one of the first from the Northwest to start making mob music. Most likely a precursor to their future because the group would later become known as Mob Related and drop the classic “Mob Related Funk” in 1998. Singles were pushed like actual albums during this time with group members Cashflo, NV1, and Mac Pimpin, releasing this single “Emerald City Street Life” on even then Triple Gold Records. Simple as the artwork might be fans might rejoice as it was done by famed Phunky Phat Graph-X.
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Cassow – Mixtape Off To Mars

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Every artist has his preferred medium. Cassow paints his pictures with words, flavoring his vivid tales with clever euphemisms and exceptional timing. Much like the great painter from which his name was derived, Cassow has demonstrated extraordinary talent at a young age. Fellow Northwest rap artist Luck-One went as far as to call Cassow “the future of Portland rap”… and rightly so.Far from flashy, yet remarkably confident, Cassow is not your average rap guy. Not one to focus on his hardships, he often spends his free time pushing and pulling breaths through the reeds of his beloved harmonica. Again, not your typical rap guy… but a relationship may in fact exist between his remarkably effortless rap style and his atypical harmonica playing. Pulmonary specialists have long recognized the use of the harmonica as one of the best possible respiratory exercises as the action of inhaling and exhaling forcefully against resistance increases both diaphragm strength and lung volume. Imagine that.
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Empathy Records – Soul Of Seattle Compilation

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The battle royal of thinking you know what is going to elevate a region musically is always the keynote of expression especially in that of limited success. Rappers are rampant in the region and frankly it’s becoming less of a forte with more of affluence of disinterested fans. Honing vocal talent and being able to sing on the contrary takes actual skill which X’s out a lot of the hobbyist’s. Why nobody thought to do this sooner is already at a loss but Empathy Records has lobbied together some of Seattle’s best for their debut release “Soul Of Seattle”. A compilation of the city and surrounding areas best R&B/Soul artists really is a no brainer because the talent level is attainably high even when compared nationally. The album almost features like a showcase with most artists making double appearances and by far no shortage of contemporary, classic, and soulful R&B tunes. Dually this is a great first effort from Empathy as the oblivious will realize that this region really is talented and for those who are already fans they get a share of their favorite artists plus a chance to learn about some new ones. Hoping this is just volume one of many but for those looking to support volume one you can pick it up digitally on I-Tunes, Amazon, and in retail form at Silver Platters as well as Easy Street Records.
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Fli Boi Moe – Fresh Fli & Fat

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Every year artists yelling its my year but 2012 seems to be the year where artists are stepping out the sidekick role and wanting their own solo shine. Once known as Young Mo Da Kid now running with Fli Boi Moe he has been around for awhile running with his guy Mikey Vegaz. While Mikey was kind of head lining the Fli movement Moe was letting his presence not be forgotten with every feature on the series of mixtapes that the Fli movement released. While being fly is the new swag these guys were ahead of their time years ago as they had the absolute combination of being able to mix trendy, party, and street. Its most likely one of those instances where location being in the Northwest actually hurt something that could have been bigger. All that’s the past now we flavin to the future and that brings Moe’s first release a street album titled “Fresh, Fli, & Fat”. Always seen as that artist on the features you were wanting to see a solo from this is long long overdue and its no let down as Moe shines with a good mix of songs plus features like Aaron O’Bryan, Mikey Vegaz, Barbie Bait, as well as King Future.
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Thaddeus David – Maven

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Rap is that genre where most likely even though you are considered a quote solo artist you still came from a group, crew, click, or whatever you like to call it. While the game is competitive by itself being in a group takes the un-needed stresses of being a solo artist away and allows competition to be agree-able within your own circle. The comfort does subside at some point and while he has been Young TH of SOTA or Thadwick Tristen Of Helluvastate we now have the matured solo artist Thaddeus David. From what we have seen we know Thad is a good rapper though its been respectably non-chalant at times with aim at catchy music or playing alter-ego in other instances he seems a bit more personified on his debut mixtape “Maven”. Going solo is always the best interpretation when gauging an artist and Thad seems to find semblance in trying to make music with a lasting effect verses just now. Smooth with swagger but intelligent with some thought is how Thad structures his rhymes and while buried to most in a hip hop form you do hear some hidden west coast habitry in style. As clever as points on “Maven” can be it is more like a oasis in the distance as songs are few and tidbits are many. Feature heavy not so much as Onry Ozzborn and Parker Joe are the only features while the original cuts are supplied by Tele Fresco, Kuddie Fresh, Jester, Ski Team, plus Tacoma’s DJ Semaj.
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Know Choice – Bridges Between Us

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Music is a form of expression which has allowed all nationalities to express themselves but bridging the gap culturally has not always been so easy. Asian Americans have the ought from their parents or elders to be successful which can sometimes be overwhelming as the constant calamity of comparison overbears your decision making. Know Choice can relate as he is one of the many new artists traversing the obstacle of trying to be sound to his roots but still dignified to those who want the best for him. Few singles plus projects now released the latest leak “Bridges Between Us” has Know hooking up with two artists with alike struggles in Hollis (Canary Sing) and Nam. Each chronicles their own narrative that of which a single song could allow but those who are in similar shoes can easily relate.
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Good Biz – Sound Investment

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Emering during an age in which indepenet hip hop is an industry within itself, many new artists are putting their cites on the map. Good Biz took this model to a new plateau, “The World Is our Stage” says KP, feeling right at home on stage next to veteran MC and business partner Boobie Fine. The dynamic duo has a large catalog including songs with industry heavyweights such as Bun B, Illmaculate, X-Clan, YZ, Vursatyl, DJ Wicked, just to name a few. Along with their vast musical catalog, their ability to connect with the audience is what sets them apart from the rest. Remaining humble and diligent is very apparent when you are in the presence of these two talented musicians, friends, and entrepreneurs. Good Biz has been growing city by city. Bobbie Fine, New Jersey born and raised, now Houstonian, has roots that run deep in the industry having penned major label deals. Now teamed up with KP, a Portland native, this combination of musical connections with business knowledge is the recipe for success. Their focus has always been to make quality music and it shows with this latest release “Sound Investment”, which was seven years in the making. With fifteen tracks that cover a multitude of topics from love, hate, list, to simple enjoying life and living everyday to its full potential. This is truly a ground breaking effort that shatters the genre boundaries. The exceptional production includes The ARE, Trox, Chase Moore, Apex, and KP. Goodbiz Music Company is the new sound of quality hip hop including artists such as Risky Star, Saages, and Al-One. The GMC team is making their presence felt in the world of hip hop in a major way!
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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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