I woke up early on my born day, feeling very blessed, thinking about this column and why I do it (it’s the money). This position is a blessing and a curse, much like Jay-Z‘s seventh album; just like that joint, at least half of the experience is tiring, predictable bullshit, but the other half is pretty damn good, better than you remember, even. (Also: the first time most of us ever heard Kanye West rap, right before he changed everything, which is sorta like… yeah, this metaphor needs to be retired. Again, much like Jay-Z.) Basically, for every asshole who sees me as part of “the establishment” of this tiny hiphop community, that tells me I’m holding the scene back or whatever (because of something I failed to do for them or their homies), there’s somebody I don’t even know on the street thanking me, showing me hella love, calling me the voice of the town. Now, I’m not at all “all that”—but those are still the moments that stay with me the longest, that keep me grounded and thankful I have the chance to serve the music I love in the city I’m so proud to live in. I guess—and this was unavoidable—I can’t leave writing alone. The game needs me; all you little dunns can keep watching the throne, ’cause I ain’t never there, I’m literally on the beach with my lady. No chancletas.
Now: the shows. Wednesday, July 20, the Wichita MC XV makes his way back to Seattle to rock Neumos. “Vizzy,” longtime blog and fan favorite, traffics in an almost goofy but lyrically thorough regular-dude rap, referencing video games and porn. Kind of a diet Lupe Fiasco, extra idiosyncratic, hold the politics, if you will. He’s performing with LA’s Casey Veggies, a young spitter both swagged-out and wavy—and our own Logics, whose Vintage Flow tape is out now. You might just see XV’s brother Mic Phenom up there, too—and he’s allegedly actually finished his first mixtape. About fucking time.
Soulful Detroit native Zo!, whom you might know from his work with Phonte and Nicolay (aka the Foreign Exchange), is coming to town. Two crucial Zo! projects would be the lovely, righteous SunStorm and Zo! and Tigallo Love the 80’s, an album everybody needs to have in their life. On Wednesday, July 20, hit Lucid (in the U-District) for happy hour (5 pm), and catch a listening party for Zo!’s latest album and meet the man hisself; the next evening, the Foreign Exchange hit the Crocodile. Also on Thursday, July 21, LA’s Open Mike Eagle, who boasts a Project Blowed pedigree and a couple brilliant albums—particularly his latest, Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes—hits Chop Suey. On Friday, July 22, Type plays at the Crocodile; his songs of love and heartbreak—I mean, poop and dick jokes—have entertained an awkward nation.
Lastly, I want to honor my uncle, Alphonse “Fonce” Mizell—a true legend in music and a beautiful, laughing, kind soul who passed away last week. I miss him, and will keep his memory and lessons close to my heart, and my head forever Sky High. 