It’s been a hot minute since Seattle got to sit back and celebrate the unique, as-yet-mostly-undiscovered hiphop universe that we’ve made for ourselves here. Of course, there’s always Shabazz Palaces and Black Constellation—but look a little closer and you’ll find an even deeper, exponentially expanding universe, with unconventionally creative hiphop scenes flourishing in Tacoma, Everett, South Seattle, the Central District, and Ballard. How do you keep track of it all?
Seattle transplant and avid hiphop fan Gary Campbell formed the label Crane City Music as a way to do just that. He’s releasing Solar Power, a 14-track compilation of local hiphop artists, including Guayaba, JusMoni, Raven Matthews, and ZELLi (set to drop Saturday, June 17, at Block Party at the Station, where many of the artists on the comp are performing). You can also find the album at Spin Cycle on Capitol Hill and from the artists themselves, who will be selling the album at their upcoming shows.