The "Tall Homie," AKA Seattle sound architect Vitamin D, is back at it again. July's edition of his Power Bill monthly at the War Room brings us "Big Tunes," a live beat battle featuring local sound providers on Wednesday, July 20. The inaugural Big Tunes challenge features a great cross section of 206 talent, all playing their hottest tracks, submitted for your approval... Specs One is the spectral Seatown beatsmith and MC who's been down since before you (and me) knew there was hiphop out here; I first heard Specs as part of the Crew Clockwise on the very necessary 14 Fathoms Deep (for which he also laced the cover art). His über-dusty knocks are pure basement, with a flair for understated soul. You may also be familiar with Big Tune contestant Kuddy from his extensive work with Candidt, or from Sons of the Ghetto, whose CD The Whole Thang featured he and partner Brother Brown dropping tales of life as it is in Jet City. Kuddy's sound is bassy, West Coast funk with slinky live instrumentation. Other Big Tuners include Tribal Music cofounder Topspin, a venerated veteran DJ and mix-tape maker (don't sleep on his long-running 101.1 KTOP series) who's also one half of Sinsemilla alongside H-Bomb. The jazzy, meditative boom of the tribal sound stands as perhaps the truest reflection of the Seattle hiphop experience. Last but not least, the Trackheadz are a young beat crew consisting of local fixture J-Promo, Just Cause, and Scott D. Their sound is big and contemporary, sporting hard drums and choice soul chops. You'll be hearing plenty of the 'headz soon, as they've laced up joints for the Blockburners, Byrdie, and Tre Kings.
In addition to all this, look for a couple live Big Tunes performances. Key, from the crew Central Intelligence, is set to take the stage. If you ain't up on CI, go find their self-titled album from '98, a definite heater from the local catalog. Key is dropping his solo debut Therapy on SeaLevel Entertainment this fall, which features the hot Bean One–produced single "B-Boy Funk." Key is a true lyricist and veteran performer so he ain't gonna disappoint. Preview some of the upcoming cuts at www.myspace.com/key206. Also appearing are NW RBG reps dRED-I, who adroitly combine message and medium, bringing upbeat energy, powerful spoken word, and crunk production that doesn't temper their revolutionary rhetoric. Peep their stuff at www.myspace.com/dredimovement.
It's real important you support these local goings-on; we are in the midst of a hiphop renaissance lately and it badly needs your patronage. Seattle crowds and media have had a habit of picking one act to love and praise before tiring of them, if they show any real love for their own at all. Well, time to cut that shit out. There's too much good stuff out there (go cop that Framework album, fool), and too much good shit coming to ignore.
Lastly, a huge RIP goes to mufuckin' Luther Vandross. We all need the Power of Love these days. ■
