First off, I'm way overdue to send some thoughts and love out to the whole Island Trybe family; in the last couple months, the Tacoma crew lost two of its members, Les "Les'sonz" Alo and Doug "Kuzzin Pizzo" Norris Jr. Peace to everybody whose lives were touched by these two. RIP.

Speaking of Tacoma, I just got ahold of that Milk on Wax album by EvergreenOne and Todd Sykes. Fiercely repping the Taco on tracks like "The Nicest," the two MCs bubble over classic-sounding, jazzy boom-bap (provided by MC/producer Sykes), sharing a singular goofy wit and music-loving everydude sensibility, but with contrasting flows and personalities. Just starting out and sounding it, there's something both refreshing and familiar in their loose-to-slightly-shambling brand of Grit City shit-shooting and charm. Hella talent brewing in the 253 scene these days—Fice, Doughkain, Leezy Soprano, and John Crown all come to mind, and we need new tunes from Jay Barz and Spaid—and these two are definitely among my favorites. Download Milk at www.evergreenonetoddsykes .bandcamp.com.

Speaking of Evergreen, yuk yuk, looks like Dead Prez are returning to Olympia on Friday, September 10, hitting downtown spot the Vault with Sista Hailstorm, Savage Family, and DJ B-Girl. This is their first appearance as a group in our state's capital since the infamous 2008 Valentine's Day melee that went down after a DP show at the Evergreen State College and ended with students attempting to liberate a man detained by campus police, an uncoordinated police response captured on tape (with the OPD escalating the situation), and a flipped-over cruiser. Look forward to police presence (and dope hiphop). Speaking of hater cops, our own SPD is not to be outdone, recently fatally shooting a man who had the gall to whittle in public. I'm gonna use my crystal ball here and make a prediction: Absolutely nothing will happen about this.

Here's another prediction: D.Black will keep making music. I really shoulda told y'all this last week, but his new EP with B.Brown, The Blackest Brown

, is dope—easily some of his best work. Black is still making overtures to retire in the near future, so as to better serve the Lord—but I still don't believe he's quite done (and, personally, I think he can serve quite well making music). Brownfinds him at his most lyrically fluid, lapping away at the shore, speaking on the spiritual but pairing it with a self-consciousness and humor not as abundant on last year's Ali'Yah. There's the heartfelt, acoustic-guitar-backed "My Mitzvot"; there's the world's first clubby, Auto-Tuned rap take on Judaism, "Shabbat Table Cloth"; and there's some just plain beautiful hiphop music, "Loyalty," "Make It Brighter," and "The Light." Short and very sweet, with stellar guest shots from SK, Spaceman, Grynch, Fatal Lucciauno, and J.Pinder, Blackestis up for free download now at www.dblack.bandcamp.com.

Oh yeah: People Under the Stairs hit Neumos on Sunday, September 12, with Helladope, Gran Rapids, and Dev from Above. The night before, Saturday, September 11, Big World Breaks are doing their Summer Classic at Nectar with a slew of talented guests. If it's really still summer, squeeze out those last few drops. Just don't act so thirsty.