I'm just a simple man
I like funny things; I like cheap things...
So says the Grouch, so says me. I don't need much—well liquor and a good show is usually more than enough to recharge my battery (or at least deplete it in a highly engaging fashion). So for starters this week, go catch Living Legends' own Grouch (who, it should be noted, also likes beans and rice—but who doesn't?) at Nectar on May 22. He's performing with Olympia's gravelly voiced Oldominion/Step Cousins rep Xperience, Project Mayhem stalwarts Mind Movers, and DJ WD4D.
The Rendezvous has a nice li'l night of local dopeness going on May 23, courtesy of the Silent Lambs Project, Larue, Yirim Seck, Mr. Hill, and the one and only Specswizard. Specs recently dropped a brand-new full-length, Green Lover & the Northwest Hits; hit up www.myspace.com/specsone and order one for yourself so you can be up on the latest from a down-since-day-one Seatown legend. Just be sure and get your boxes out, 'cause the first 50 copies are on cassette. Some would hate on that—me, I love it, because I love everything about tapes. Everybody's nostalgic about the media of their youth, I guess. 'Cept maybe eight-tracks or laser discs. That said, come on out and party with this handpicked lineup of vets and up-and-comers—and do buy Specs a drink for his birthday!
Check Chop Suey the night of May 24 for Young Soprano's "Already Platinum" CD-release party for his debut album, Top of tha Coast, featuring no less than Aftermath's Atlanta soldier Stat Quo (drop the fucking album already) and Harlem's heat seeker Jae Millz. Also on this bill are Neema, Mr. Von, Sammy "P," and DJ MoneyD.
Big ups to Soprano—I haven't heard his album yet, but the radio-ready street raps on his MySpace page sound very promising, and when I saw him at Nectar a couple months back he definitely did his thing.
The next night at Chop Suey is seriously an incredible lineup for hungry hiphop lovers: Blu, One Be Lo, Macklemore, and the Physics, with cuts from proud Garfield alum DJ Marc Sense. If you've been hitting all the shows I've laid out in this here column today, make sure you save some ducats for this one, it's a must-see.
If you read my column every week like I know you must (jokes), then you already know I felt Blu & Exile's Below the Heavens was a refreshing concoction of straight-up hiphop, definitely a contender for best of 2007. The word on The Piece Talks, the new album by C.R.A.C. (that being the combination of Blu with Detroit expat Ta-Raach) is very positive as well. All I know is Blu was an unbilled performer for last year's Lifesavas CD release and he rocked it. Add that to sure-fire shit-starters like the Physics, Mack, and revered honorary Seattleite Lo and you got yourself a show, dunny! 
