TWO DOPE SHOWS

If this last week is any indication of what the summer is going to be like in terms of Hip Hop shows in the Seattle area, then we are in for a long, fruitful journey. I attended two shows this last week and both of them were significant and dope as hell, each for different reasons and in their own ways.

The first show I went to was the Grieves & Budo "Together/Apart" release party at Neumos on 6/20. This was a GIANT event for our local scene seeing as how it's Grieves' Rhymesayers debut. And it lived up to the expectations for a show of that stature. Lots of people (especially for a Monday), dope opening acts (Sapient, Type & Mr. Lif), and a general good buzz in the air. This was an accomplishment for our city and you could feel the warm fuzzy feeling spread throughout Neumos that night.

All of the acts killed it, but the one performance that stuck out to me the most was Mr. Lif's.. This is a dude that I have seen once before, I think during a Perceptionists set, and a dude that I have had lots of respect for in the past, but I've never been a hardcore like I gotta buy all of his records day-one type of fan.. This performance changed me. Music to me is about evolution. I feel like artists that have long, successful careers are the artists that are conscience of evolution. Artists that let themselves evolve. You can't keep putting out the same tracks year after year, eventually we are going to catch on. This was a different Mr. Lif than the Mr. Lif I saw a few years back. His energy level was through the roof and he mixed it up nicely at the end with a couple of jams that featured a live drummer, bassist and a lady that played piano and sang. Those songs were amazing and he said that they were working on a project as that group which gets me excited. I am now a Mr. Lif Super Fan and will probably buy all of his new stuff day one. Great performance!!!

Mr. Lif - Phantom




The next show I went to was the Heart Shaped Beretta Tour featuring Ecid, Carnage & Span Phly at the Lo Fi Performance Gallery on 6/25. This show is of special significance to me because I got to finally meet a long time musical acquaintance of mine, Span Phly, who produced most of "Right Where I Belong" and a good chunk of my latest record "Hero(in) Music". I first talked to him a few years back when MySpace was the hot way to network with other musicians. It was around the time I was just getting serious about doing music. A time when I was new and ignorant to everything and didn't know how to make beats (or where to get them) and didn't have the equipment to record or do anything myself. Span was a pretty dope, established producer whos hard hitting melodic beats caught my ear. We talked a few times via email back and forth and have since established a pretty consistent working relationship. It has been great to work with him over these last couple of years but it was an even greater pleasure to get to meet and talk with him in person this last weekend.

Everyone at the show killed it. On top of being a dope producer Span Phly is also a murderous Emcee who's set blew me away. Carnage provided some nice variety with a beatboxing set that featured tributes to many of raps fallen heroes, with an especially awe-inspiring performance of Star Destroyer, a tribute to Eyedea. Local support was provided by Graves33 who did a nice job performing as well as bringing out the troops to support the touring acts. There was a decent crowd that night at the Lo-Fi and a great time was had by all! Props to Araless for rolling out with me and to my girlfriend Whitney for being the dopest designated driver in our domain!

Span Phly - Save Me



Carnage - Star Destroyer



Sorry about the crappy quality of the Carnage video, it was super dark in there!!