What is Sweatsuit & Churchshoes? It’s not just the title of late summer 2010’s must-have 206 hiphop LP, it’s the traditional-
issue wardrobe for your unk—your mama or daddy’s playa-ass brother way too cool for you to just call Uncle—the one who had you mix his drank (and might let you sip it every once in a while), who always had a different bad one on his arm, who spoke to his patnas in his own language, a funky swamp of slang and game you were too young to navigate until a little older.
When I first got to Seattle in 1992, my playa-ass unk (in true ghetto fashion, we weren’t really related, he was just my aunt’s—well, technically, my cousin’s—boyfriend) drove me around town, from the Esquire Club to Ms. Helen’s, showing me what the lay of the land was, giving me some jewels over a plate of catfish and grits. Similarly, Candidt—a stylish, insightful, and endlessly quotable MC with a standout voice—spends Sweatsuit‘s hour-plus running time steering a big gas-gurgler through the hood, showing you the good, bad, and ugly things his people go through, but making sure to hit every barbecue and cookout on the way (and taking away a stacked plate every time). He’ll let you see the funk and dramas (peep “No Stadic” or the Macklemore and T-Love–featuring “Cinnamon Nights”), but he’ll also have you in the sun basking in the “Goodtimes” (a DJ Roc’Phella–laced banger that flips Fat Albert‘s schoolyard chant of “naa-naa-naa-gonna-have-a-good-time” into a mantra). His “b-boy soul” is an instantly recognizable Seattle vintage, funky as pot liquor but never too salty.
Even though he’s retired his beloved two-year-strong monthly hiphop variety show, The Corner, Candidt personifies its mission, providing the missing link between hood vets like his CrazedDawgz clique (which includes Tacoma boss Wojack, T-Love, DMS‘s Dee.Ale, and others), the NW rap superpower Oldominion (whose members are all over Sweatsuit and are enjoying a great run of releases this year), and a new crop of young MCs like State of the Artist (who appear on the two-parter “Super Rappers”). His proven recent classics “Voodoo” (produced by DeeJay) and “Imaginary Stereo” (laced by Tay Sean) are tweaked and remixed here, made even more hale and heavy than before. The wardrobe from Vitamin D, Kuddie Fresh, BeanOne, MTK, Smoke, and Pegee 13 suits “Dizo” to a tee—letting him move smoothly from the block to the club to the function—street, slick, and sanctified.
Now to business: It’s that time once again, kids—the Red Bull Big Tune is here! Thursday, September 2, at Neumos, the head-to-head producer battle you know and love goes down, with Seattle Legends Vitamin D, J. Moore, and Jake One hosting, the one and only DV One on the tables, and featuring no less than DJ Toomp, the ATL who helped crown T.I. with “What You Know About That,” and Nottz, one of the illest slapcrafters in the game—Dr. fucking Dre called him one of his favorite producers, for Christ’s sake. Come through, yell for your faves, boo the wack ones (or just the ones going against your friends)—and then argue about it later! That’s half the fun. See you there. 
“Hard bottoms and rayon all day you’re promo in our city and anywhere planes fly too I love it and u”
– Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces
“Checkthisshitout ur album has some crackin jamz.”
-White Pepper
“Listenin to album (with miles ha!). What a fantabulous finished product!!!!!! Its got all the levels ya need, and speaks for everyone! Good job!!!! All the little details and all that r perfect. Tasteful and u know wft ur doin. Pow!”
-Maya Jenkins
“This shit is filthy i been waiting to slap these cuts”
-Jerm of Hella Dope
“You are FILTHY bro! Been bumping the cd in the whip so I haven’t had a full 75 min listening sesh yet. But everything that i’ve heard is CRAZY! Rhymes, beats, hooks, content. Everything. Be proud man. You did it!”
-Macklemore
“Album is straight heat so far sir much respecta”
-TH of SOTA Boys
“We been bumpin the album at the office all day, love it homie! We just made a big submission of content but we’ll be submitting this soon. Hell yeah man. So many bangers. Bobbleheads has been on repeat, but there’s a lot!”
-Abadawn from Camobear Records
“On the real Candidt, congrats on the superb release! I’m mad that it took me so long to give this one a listen (especially considering this is probably one of the best Summer releases this year), but on the real I’m feeling this one all the way through. 21 tracks of pretty much pure hip hop… I’m lovin it. Really stoked to hear Snafu on a new track. “Bully” and “All In My Way” are immediate standouts but what I love is that I can just let this one play all the way through. No filler! And a really sick uplifting vibe. This sounds like it would make for a great live show. Props.. chyea!”
-badeau
“Forreal Candidt, this shit is bangin! Thanks for streaming it for us poor folks who need to save their cash for the physical copy when it drops! Whole thing’s really solid, which is super rare for an album this long. Practically broke my neck bobbing it to “Don’t Worry,” you and Vitamin D went in hard on that track – can’t wait to bump that one in my car full volume with the windows rolled down! Love “All in my Way” too, Onry really murked his guest spot on there. Cracked up when he opened with “I could have written ‘The Secret’ when I was 9 years old” hahaha.”
-E. Literate
“Been four days straight now, and I’ve gotten atleast 2 full plays through each day… can’t get enough of this one! When will we get a physical CD?!
And on a random side note… I wouldn’t be mad if the physical copy happened to have a different cover. No hate – but I just think more could be done with it.”
-badeau
“Your album is FILTHYYY!!!! And it will continue to spread an grow in these upcoming months!”
-macklemore
“Hard bottoms and rayon all day you’re promo in our city and anywhere planes fly too I love it and u”
– Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces
“Checkthisshitout ur album has some crackin jamz.”
-White Pepper
“Listenin to album (with miles ha!). What a fantabulous finished product!!!!!! Its got all the levels ya need, and speaks for everyone! Good job!!!! All the little details and all that r perfect. Tasteful and u know wft ur doin. Pow!”
-Maya Jenkins
“This shit is filthy i been waiting to slap these cuts”
-Jerm of Hella Dope
“You are FILTHY bro! Been bumping the cd in the whip so I haven’t had a full 75 min listening sesh yet. But everything that i’ve heard is CRAZY! Rhymes, beats, hooks, content. Everything. Be proud man. You did it!”
-Macklemore
“Album is straight heat so far sir much respecta”
-TH of SOTA Boys
“We been bumpin the album at the office all day, love it homie! We just made a big submission of content but we’ll be submitting this soon. Hell yeah man. So many bangers. Bobbleheads has been on repeat, but there’s a lot!”
-Abadawn from Camobear Records
“On the real Candidt, congrats on the superb release! I’m mad that it took me so long to give this one a listen (especially considering this is probably one of the best Summer releases this year), but on the real I’m feeling this one all the way through. 21 tracks of pretty much pure hip hop… I’m lovin it. Really stoked to hear Snafu on a new track. “Bully” and “All In My Way” are immediate standouts but what I love is that I can just let this one play all the way through. No filler! And a really sick uplifting vibe. This sounds like it would make for a great live show. Props.. chyea!”
-badeau
“Forreal Candidt, this shit is bangin! Thanks for streaming it for us poor folks who need to save their cash for the physical copy when it drops! Whole thing’s really solid, which is super rare for an album this long. Practically broke my neck bobbing it to “Don’t Worry,” you and Vitamin D went in hard on that track – can’t wait to bump that one in my car full volume with the windows rolled down! Love “All in my Way” too, Onry really murked his guest spot on there. Cracked up when he opened with “I could have written ‘The Secret’ when I was 9 years old” hahaha.”
-E. Literate
“Been four days straight now, and I’ve gotten atleast 2 full plays through each day… can’t get enough of this one! When will we get a physical CD?!
And on a random side note… I wouldn’t be mad if the physical copy happened to have a different cover. No hate – but I just think more could be done with it.”
-badeau
“Your album is FILTHYYY!!!! And it will continue to spread an grow in these upcoming months!”
-macklemore
“Hard bottoms and rayon all day you’re promo in our city and anywhere planes fly too I love it and u”
– Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces
“Checkthisshitout ur album has some crackin jamz.”
-White Pepper
“Listenin to album (with miles ha!). What a fantabulous finished product!!!!!! Its got all the levels ya need, and speaks for everyone! Good job!!!! All the little details and all that r perfect. Tasteful and u know wft ur doin. Pow!”
-Maya Jenkins
“This shit is filthy i been waiting to slap these cuts”
-Jerm of Hella Dope
“You are FILTHY bro! Been bumping the cd in the whip so I haven’t had a full 75 min listening sesh yet. But everything that i’ve heard is CRAZY! Rhymes, beats, hooks, content. Everything. Be proud man. You did it!”
-Macklemore
“Album is straight heat so far sir much respecta”
-TH of SOTA Boys
“We been bumpin the album at the office all day, love it homie! We just made a big submission of content but we’ll be submitting this soon. Hell yeah man. So many bangers. Bobbleheads has been on repeat, but there’s a lot!”
-Abadawn from Camobear Records
“On the real Candidt, congrats on the superb release! I’m mad that it took me so long to give this one a listen (especially considering this is probably one of the best Summer releases this year), but on the real I’m feeling this one all the way through. 21 tracks of pretty much pure hip hop… I’m lovin it. Really stoked to hear Snafu on a new track. “Bully” and “All In My Way” are immediate standouts but what I love is that I can just let this one play all the way through. No filler! And a really sick uplifting vibe. This sounds like it would make for a great live show. Props.. chyea!”
-badeau
“Forreal Candidt, this shit is bangin! Thanks for streaming it for us poor folks who need to save their cash for the physical copy when it drops! Whole thing’s really solid, which is super rare for an album this long. Practically broke my neck bobbing it to “Don’t Worry,” you and Vitamin D went in hard on that track – can’t wait to bump that one in my car full volume with the windows rolled down! Love “All in my Way” too, Onry really murked his guest spot on there. Cracked up when he opened with “I could have written ‘The Secret’ when I was 9 years old” hahaha.”
-E. Literate
“Been four days straight now, and I’ve gotten atleast 2 full plays through each day… can’t get enough of this one! When will we get a physical CD?!
And on a random side note… I wouldn’t be mad if the physical copy happened to have a different cover. No hate – but I just think more could be done with it.”
-badeau
“Your album is FILTHYYY!!!! And it will continue to spread an grow in these upcoming months!”
-macklemore
Candidt “Sweatsuit & Churchshoes” selected as a staff pick on cbbaby.com!! POW! http://www.cdbaby.com/StaffPicks IT DONT STOP!!