That’s riiight, haters and swag-lackers: Fearce Vil, S.E.V., and Brainstorm—the total dudes known as Dyme Def—are back like they never left this bitch, which, judging by the dozen-odd leaks that they’ve dropped in the last couple months, they didn’t. And while those leaks ranged anywhere from decent to great, they’re not coming close to fucking with what you’ll find on their new EP, Panic.
Panic, at a mere seven tracks long, is Dyme Def’s strongest
statement and without a doubt the best work they’ve yet put
in—as it should be. The three MCs have grown even more
distinct in voice and style, while at the same time refining their
hot-potato pass-offs to a sweet science. Haters should also note that
DD are no mere swag panderers, obsessed with flash, work snatching, or
ego buffing—Panic finds DD at their most topical, bringing
forth some much-needed real talk on the title track: Busy playing
golf while they leavin’ niggas stranded/Talking about abortion ’cause a
young girl pregnant/Find love in the streets ’cause they never felt
cherished/And slap they mom and dad for never being good
parents.
Then there’s the production—so certifiably bananas there
should be a damn Dole sticker on the cover. BeanOne has elevated
his already-dominant game to someplace else entirely, strapping a
three-stage NASA rocket to his Space Music style, flipping the
familiar on its ass, flooding its nostrils with Peruvian raw,
reprogramming it Patty Hearst–style, then shoving it
through the bank’s front doors with the double-barrel. Just peep the
neoclassical swinger “Get off Me,” or “Pick Up Ya Flow,” which not only
sports a locked-in verse from our favorite Brooklyn hard rock/Prodigy
puncher/Entourage star Saigon (who’s soon hitting the road for a
tour with DD, cosigning to the fullest: You said your man got some
shit hotter than this Dyme Def joint, you a lie!) but also a beat
that goes Nip/Tuck on the very familiar theme to
Ironside. Red Bull Seattle champ Brainstorm steps up crazily as
well, delivering his best shit behind the boards to date. Block beaters
“Not That Dude” and “Foot up on the Gas” bang disgustingly, with
a downright Mannie Fresh twerk. To say Brain is coming into his
own is an understatement.
The release party for this EP is Saturday, April 25, at the
Crocodile, with the Saturday Knights, One Be Lo,
D.Black, and Spaceman—a super-official lineup and
the first hiphop show at the remodeled Seattle rock ‘n’ roll landmark.
So out of respect to my dudes’ event, I’m not going to speak on the
bullshit… yet. Which reminds me: On Friday, April 24, go
check out The Corner—now a year old and always peaceful—just down the block from the Croc at the lil’ ol’
Rendezvous, with the town’s best up-and-coming crew Helladope,
J-Mar, Speedy, and hands down one of the most
raw/talented/humble motherfuckers in Seattle, Fatal Lucciuano,
the author of the 206 classic The Only Forgotten Son. Are you
listening? 
i’ll get it!