Pay attention: It is so necessary I give a huge SWAT-team-bullhorn shout to the homie Nathaniel Seven, King of the Freaks. The Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestling cofounder and well-known local treasure is currently laid up in the hospital, unfortunately just as SSP's annual Chronic Pain event is going down (Wednesday, April 19, at Consolidated Works). Featuring the considerable talents of 206 Rhymesayers Grayskul (currently putting the finishing touches on their next official album Bloody Radio), the mufuckin' Mind Movers massive, and of course the brutish, senseless violence of SSP's own brain-damaged wrestlers. If you're a friend and wanna support Nathaniel in his hour of need, or just need some thrills on "Chronic Eve," fall through Consolidated Works and get you some this evening, friend.
Somewhere between Pootie Tang, Humpty Hump, and Don "Magic" Juan you'll find MC/producer/promoter/entrepreneur/cowboy-boot enthusiast Sonny Bonoho, who's headlining an all-star show at Chop Suey on Wednesday, April 26, in support of his debut long player, Life of a Backup Singer. The album's a real piece of work—quite like Sonny himself. The hilarious "boi-ya-yoing" hook and go-fuckin'-dumb beat of "Gibberish" make for a timely hyphy track that begs to be his next single. There are several songs here that I can in fact see doing well on the radio; the entire album sounds top-notch, with glossy, upbeat production and slick R&B vocals—and, of course, Bonoho's fearlessly eccentric delivery and persona are bound to win over a gang of people. I admire Bonoho's hustle, and his true dedication to originality. Cop his album and you will, too.
Sadly, Detroit just lost another of its favorite sons: Deshaun Holton, better known to the world as Proof, was fatally shot in an after-hours club located on 8 Mile Road. The murder suspect, a bouncer at the same club, turned himself in; an anonymous source told Allhiphop.com that Holton got into a heated exchange with security. The altercation then escalated, leaving a bouncer critically wounded and the 30-year-old MC dead. Besides his best-known roles as a member of D-12 and hype man and confidant to Eminem, Proof was a beloved and pivotal member of Detroit's hiphop community. Peace to his family and friends.
In much happier news, Blackalicious, touring relentlessly after the release of their superb fifth album, The Craft, are touching down at the Showbox, Thursday, April 20, with their Quannum fam in full support: PDX reps Lifesavas (whose highly anticipated Gutterfly LP is permanently affixed to my wish list), as well as the irrepressible wit and goofiness of Pigeon John, and the charismatic candor of Pharcyde expat/walking cautionary tale Fatlip. The next night, truck out to the Rainbow to peep the witty vitriol of ex-Demigod, Elemental Magazine columnist, and underground bell ringer Louis Logic, touring with Frisco's own Hiero Imperium–endorsed degenerate Z-Man, as well as Cali underground stalwarts LA Symphony and upstarts Deux Process (whose dope cut "The Process" somehow found me on MySpace, which I usually never visit). To paraphrase ya boy El-P: independent as heck.
