More noise please! Not just for me either—the Noise for the Needy benefit shows are raising that scrill for Rise n’ Shine, an organization that helps children and teens affected by HIV and AIDS. They’re not skimping on the hiphop, either. June 9 sees Common Market, Grayskul, Sleep, and djblesOne all rocking Chop Suey; June 7 NFTN is bringing rocksters Shim and Key Note Speaker to the Sunset Tavern in Ballard (as well as Cancer Rising). Speakin’ of djblesOne, the man stays busy—he’s getting ready for the June 7 CD release of his rappin’ alter ego’s solo debut, The Greatest Fuckin’ Adventures of Bruce Illest: Streaks & Blurs & Shit.
On June 13, Bay Area turntable legend DJ Quest is bringing his dopesick routines to Chop Suey. Don’t sleep—a lot of y’all awkward mufuckas first learned to scratch with his world-famous Hamster Breaks, the very first record designed for scratch/battle DJs, crumbs. Quest is joined by his man Eddie K, SF’s Gurp City veteran. Also in the mix are Cancer Rising, Rik Rude, and DJs Niros and Indica Jones. High gravity hiphop, charcoal filtered—aaah!
This year is slowly shaping up to be the best year for dope local releases since 2005—the Saturday Knights, Dyme Def, and Blue Scholars just to name a few—and now, a new crew I’m all too glad to put you on to, the Physics. A two-man crew comprising MC Thig Natural and DJ/Producer Jus D’Amato, the Physics make homegrown, everycat rap in a classic Seattle vein; their debut, Future Talk, is pretty much dope from jump. D’Amato’s production is all warm, sun-peeking-through-the-trees organs, and Natural is just that—with his great, engagingly conversational delivery and voice, you kinda feel like he’s there splitting a Vega in your living room. Crucial! The record has a couple brief sluggish points, but overall the album’s pace is admirably kept moving. For the most part, it’s a high-quality strain of Seattle funk that you should not deny yourself; I fully expect these guys to be doing their thing ’round here soon. Hit www.myspace.com/realphysics and tell me what you think.
Als, were you aware the Best Rapper Alive, Lil’ Wayne, is ’bout to be in town? June 10, from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m., America’s favorite pill-popping nonsensical rapper will be at Langston Hughes. The extravaganza also features the legendary Chief Rocka Busy Bee and our guy Asun (aka Suntonio Bandanaz), he of Alpha-P. Go and see if you can spot any streetwear-wearing Pitchfork enthusiasts trying to get Weezy Wee to sign their bootleg of Da Drought 3. Don’t forget to say the Baby!
Since we’re talking mainstream, is it just me or is Rihanna’s “Umbrella” the best song ever?!? Pardon me, give me my late pass, whatever. I never listen to the goddamn radio, so occasionally big, sleek pop joints like this just accidentally sideswipe me—usually when I’m midconversation—making me leave midsentence to crowd the speakers. I’m saying tho, even Jay-Z came with a half-decent eight-bar verse… well, it’s okay, I only like it because he says “NO CLOUDS IN MY STOOOONES!!” I mean, who can’t relate to that? 