Indeed, Pinder was developing his "particular sensitivity" to a fine point right before he left. "Three Words" and his verse/chorus on "Tougher" were career highs, IMO. A sad loss for the scene. I mean this in the best possible way, Pinder never fit in. His own individuality is becoming the central theme in his work, and I love watching him explore that more bravely these days.

Leaving Seattle is the best way to jump to the next level.

You can always come back.

I am from around H-town(Houston) and when I told my friends about rappers leaving Seattle their response was "there are rappers in Seattle?"

The NW trying to produce rappers is about as funny as the whole where to find good fried chicken syory a while back. Tisk tisk NWers find your own food and music and leave the south's alone.

@3 - Hip hop and fried chicken didn't originate in the South either. Sure, Seattle isn't Atlanta for either, but things can change, new locations mean new perspectives, which keeps it all alive.

I've only heard of this guy, never actually heard his music or even seen him play a show, so I think @5 is probably on to something. Put out your material yourselves and throw your shit in the van for a national or even just a quick West Coast tour. It'll be hard, but nothing worth having ever came easy. You'll probably play some shows to less than 10 people, but at least you'll be getting your name and your music out there in the real world. You have to earn success in the music business now more than ever, and it isn't just going to land in your lap without a solid work ethic.

Hell, the arrogance plaguing the hip-hop scene isn't unique to them. A number of non-hip-hop bands in this city just play the occasional local show and hope some label will notice them and put out their album (I'm looking at you, Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground and Wild Orchid Children...love both bands but they've seriously been sitting on completed albums for over a year). For all the shit The Stranger gives them, at least Minus The Bear has been consistently stepping out of the Seattle comfort zone for the last 10 years while still cultivating a loyal fanbase at home.

I also have to take issue with Meinert's claim that Seattle can never have a high-end music industry. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy when he's advocating talented folks picking up and heading for supposedly greener pastures. That runs counter to the very idea of what a community of artists should be.

I love you cuddy make that dream happen

that's asking a lot of MassLine...they're not the FEMA copter

"You know, he left us. Now he left J. Moore. But from what I can tell, and I'm looking from the back end, some artists get a little antsy. If you want your stuff to work, you have to follow protocols. You have to play by certain rules. And certain veterans know what to do, and sometimes the youngsters need a little patience." = TOTAL BULLSHIT! Good for him he got the fuck out of dodge and avoided being dragged down by these depressing hippie-hoppers and biters. Seattle hip-hop will never be nationally recognized (i.e., beyond college radio).

photo credit should go to Andrew Mark Snyder, who shot this for and at KEXP!

Seattle has become the place to go for music careers to die. That, or to receive pointless adulation from a small and insignificant base. There are bands and musicians here who sell out constantly at any given venue that couldn't even get arrested outside the Northwest. Take a page from Hendrix and Nirvana's books. Get the hell out of Dodge while the gettin's good.

Sorry, but "Three words" does not display Seattle at all. You wanna see Seattle? Watch Minus the Bear's "Throwing Shapes" video.
The "Three Words" song is pretty lame, as well. No beat, no hook, and I don't want to hear about a guy sleeping around with a bunch of sluts, and then whining about it.