So here I am listening to that new Lil Wayne mixtape like
it’s three years ago and “Prom Queen” never happened. Seriously though,
get that No Ceilings shit, DatPiff prowlers. Unless it
offends your delicate sensibilities (in which case, go watch your
fucking stories, grandpa). Or stop bitching, and do something for the
kids: Hit up the Seattle Children’s Hospital benefit Symphony of the
Superhero over at Benaroya Hall on November 6, featuring your favorite
(formerly) hesher-haired maestro Cut Chemist, soundtrack
composer Mateo Messina (Juno), and the Northwest
Symphony Orchestra. Cultured, right? Feel it.

November 7 is the release party for Larue‘s Larue or the
Streets mixtape at the Vera Project, also featuring Diggz
Dime (whose Diggz Dime Iz da Illest tape is also floatin’
round here), Quarter After (Justis and Big Tune Seattle
champ Marcus D), and Tactown jerk squad Team
Avengers (hey, you kids in the funny pants—I ain’t mad at
y’all, do you!). Haven’t heard
the quite soulful Larue‘s
tape yet, but hopefully it’s up to the standard of leaked single
“Footsteps,” a “Mercy Mercy Me”–
sampling joint chronicling
the MC’s unexpected fatherhood and the turmoil he felt striving to not
leave his child in the same lurch his pops did him. Real shit, real
well done.

Rascally Vancouverites Swollen Members are swangin’ through Neumos
on November 8, finishing out the American leg of their tour, which
they’ve been doing with hometown boys Common Market (shouts to
RA and DJ Dev from Above, damnit), Subnoize soldier Big B, and Aussie hiphoppers Bliss N Eso. Hmm, I
wonder if motorcycle-enthusiasts Swollen like Sons of
Anarchy—cool show.

Speaking of: Swoony, soulful Swedish electropopsters Little
Dragon will be at Nectar on November 10, with awesome support
THEESatisfaction (welcome home for now, ladies) and DJ
Topspin. That’s bound to be all kinds of sweet! On November 11 at
El Corazón, you’re looking at a tour put together by PacSun,
home of the most awesome bro gear! It’s packed with mall-emo bands, as
to be expected, but it’s also an excuse to go see P.O.S. again,
just so you know.

You shoulda been known about Caskets and Funeral Homes, the
debut from Tacoma’s own Second Family, but let me help you out
here just this once. The Hilltop-(and Oakland-?) bred duo of
Element and NoQuezt blend contrasting vocal tones and
styles—the latter’s higher-octave bounce meeting the former’s
beastly lower notes and coldly calculated bars. Skirting synthy mobbery
and waterboard G-funk, Caskets has an almost down-South G-lean;
I might wanna hear them on some different types of production, but they
know what they’re doing—and what they don’t like, as they riff on
tight clothes and store-bought cool (as on the Jay Barz–assisted
“Bout a Swag”) the way many pick on invisible “sucka MCs.” Fuck with
your down-south neighbors, Seattle scene—safe to say they got
some shit down I-5.