On Thursday, February 17, Shabazz Palaces return to Neumos—the last time they headlined there was almost a year ago, and it's safe to say that show changed the landscape of the Seattle music scene (whether it's your thing or not). That show, a bunch of melted faces, and two EPs of genius tunes led to a linkup with Seattle's most storied exporter of homegrown sounds, Sub Pop Records. Joining SP at this show are Stas and Cat, best known as THEESatisfaction, which you likely also know unless Chase Bank recently foreclosed on your sleepin' rock. Like SP, THEESat's brand of defiantly weird blackness strikes more than a few observers as startlingly relevant and thankfully threatening to corny motherfuckers of all types; their vibration as a tandem surprised no one paying attention. Pardon my bluster, but this is basically the dawning of the Age of fucking Aquarius. Hate it or love it, go for what you know; haters stay home, lovers come celebrate.
On Friday, February 18, Nectar hosts the return of the dysfunctional unit the Let Go, which, if you believe MC Type, have been virtually cursed to stay together by the demand of their perhaps-even-inexplicable-to-them fan base, here and overseas. (Moving units in Japan will certainly motivate.) Opening are LBS, consisting of Billy the Fridge and "[his] fat friend Timm Konn." This show is the release party for their corpulent Lunch Box Soldiers EP; also performing are That 1 Show (Ripynt, Notion, Know Choice, and producer Shast) and the Gnu Deal.
This week is also the seventh anniversary of 206 Zulu—seven is a heavy number, jack! The Zs are getting down Friday, February 18, with free all-ages events. First is the Seattle Youth Arts and Resources Fair starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Vera Project, then the Zulu Jam at Washington Hall later that evening. The Jam will feature Suntonio Bandanaz, JusMoni, Neema, Endr Won, DJs Seabefore and Gumbeaux, and—oh yeah, Bronx legend Percee P, OG flow innovator and inspiration to no less than MC Pharoahe Monch himself. Saturday, February 19, brings the b-boy/b-girl Thunderdome known as the Octogon at the Cirque Events Center, with such names as Alien Ness, Trac2, and Fever One, plus DJs Soul One, Tecumseh, and Sureal. Big, big shouts to the good folks of 206 Zulu, throwing down and raising up hiphop since 2004.
Come Wednesday, February 23, Detroit double-threat Black Milk hits Nectar like a hammer on an MPC pad, rocking joints off his 2010 LP Album of the Year. Joining him that night: Candidt, plus a special combo set from Grynch and Sol. And there you have it. Now, armed with all this knowledge, if you have determined an appropriate (and consensual) place for you to fit in—proceed to get in there posthaste. 
