Can’t achieve a garden if you never water your crops/If you never paid your dues, then you don’t get props…
Kudos ain’t just a candy bar, people, and I got a lot of ’em to pass out in this column. Seattle represented lovely this week, getting props abroad and at home. Seeing all these official 206 heads getting their shine does my heart good—and I’m a 28-year-old black man, so my heart needs that shit; statistically speakin’, that clock is ticking!
First, I wanna send a fat shout to B-Mello for winning West Coast DJ of the Year at the DJ Power Summit held in the Dominican Republic. This is a major look for Mello; the Shadyville/Core DJ and host of Street Sounds is a true Seattle original since before you newbooties knew hiphop happened ’round these parts. Recognize the West Coast Tape Master!
The Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip Hop also went down recently; the Pioneer (DJ and Music Historian) Award went to the legendary Mr. Supreme, a true pioneer and fixture on the 206 set since always—and an internationally respected digger and in-demand DJ. From Conception Records to the Sharpshooters to his current duties as part of the Soul Gorilla revolution, the dude is official as it gets. The Media (Television Producer/Host) Award went to the OG Gordon Curvey, who’s long been putting in work chronicling Seattle hiphop with his Music Inner City program. Lastly, the Unsung Hero (Community Leadership/Activism) Award went to my man King Khazm of Hip Hop 101/MAD Krew/206 Zulu. If you ain’t in the know, Khaz and I go back like Archer & Armstrong, and his resumé of selfless community work and unwavering allegiance to this hiphop shit make him more than deserving of the shine… congratulations, family.
I can’t forget one of Seattle’s strongest brands: the mahfuggin’ Massive Monkees, who once again crammed Seattle in the mouths of haters worldwide. Recently jetting out to London, hungry to rock the PS2 UK B-Boy Championships, Massive made an impression, as always; while the crew itself didn’t make it past the semis, MM’s powerhouse Juse Boogy took second in the solo b-boy contest, proving once again that Massive is one of the world’s premier crews.
Before you think the local scene is all high fives and shared smoothies, though, allow me to hip you to No More Mr. Nice Guy, the new mix tape just out from local mic mangler Livio. In said mix tape, Livio spits a lot of real heat, and calls out names; Liv’s chief target is Neema of Unexpected Arrival. I know jaws are flapping about this one; sure, we all talk shit about one another out here, but hardly ever does anyone go as far as to make a dis track. I think a bit of competition is healthy—if you guys are going at it, then give us something to remember… just keep your eyes on the prize (Seattle as a successful unified front), and of course, remember that old rap-battle chestnut: keep it on wax.