I first caught wind of Def Dee as the centerpiece of the 96 Pickup crew, a loose-knit collective that creates vintage NYC headphone hiphop grime in Seattle. Inspired by such seminal New Yitty gospels as PeteStrumentals and UN or U Out, Dee’s classic vibe belied his young years and West Coast pedigree. Dee produced and arranged one of 2010-or-so’s absolute best local-rap offerings, Gravity—an album full of subway head-nod candy anchored by the braggadocio of MC Language Arts (now just La). Now Dee brings forth Cheap Heat, a humble “beat tape,” but really a perfect, mostly instrumental mix for boomin’ in ya boomin’ in ya boomin’ in ya Jeep. The beats hark back like a vintage Sonics jersey, analog as they wanna be, jumping and jittery, strongly evoking the masters but with Dee’s own unmistakable top-left tilt. My best advice: Google, download, play, shut up, vibe out.
Check this, though: Ever since Dyme Def first changed the scene’s trajectory back in 2008, heads were asking for a solo project from DD standout MC/producer Brainstorm. “The game’s Malt-O-Meal, had to get my cream up/And try to go solo, so I could help my team up,” Brain rhymes on the seething “Shadowboxing,” the opening salvo from The Celestine Prophecy, the seven-track solo step-out from Brain (aka Michael Celestine). Purely showcasing his spit game (he produces only one of the tracks—Soleternity, Trox, Rob Bates, and Kuddie Fresh ably handle the rest), Brain gets off with a vengeance, bringing a couple years of pent-up venom and the trademark clever cockiness that made him such an instant favorite. This is exactly the straight drop needed for those DD fans alienated by the radio gloss of last year’s Sex Tape LP (I hope you’re catching their twice-monthly PayDay leaks as well). You can catch Brain, and the rest of the reinvigorated Dyme Def, at Neumos on Wednesday, April 20, in a free show headlined by Lisa Dank, along with Sap’N, OC Notes, and Concourse d’Elegance. Joe!
Also, a quick tip: Go back, get that Nate Dogg double disc G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2, and enjoy some of the late great’s best, most heartfelt, and likely least-heard work. Dogg was more than hiphop’s greatest hook-man. Celebrate his life and work at the Crocodile, at the Nate Dogg Tribute and Cover Show, featuring some of your favorite townfolk, on Wednesday, April 20—4/20, if you somehow missed it while lost in my oh-so-subtle wordplay. Half the proceeds from the door go to the Nate Dogg Foundation, which it should be noted, does not love hos.
In other news: Actor/comedian Donald Glover (Community) is playing a sold-out show at Neumos on Thursday, April 21, as Childish Gambino, his nom de rap. So, honest question: Is he dope, or have the blogs (and the lowered expectations they instill) spoken yet again? Also, you should welcome home road dogs Champagne Champagne as they return from touring with Starfucker on Saturday, April 23, at Vera. (Make it a point to welcome home your traveling acts, kids, as they’re putting on for your town.) 