In the second installment in our “Music that Got Me Blogging About Music” series (first), we’re going to be covering most of the West Coast. The only part we’re not is The Bay Area, which’ll be covered in Part 4 (out of 5). In Part 2, however, we’ll be going from the Pacific Northwest all the way down to SoCal.
The SoCal picks you may know, if you know your West Coast hip-hop, but my Pacific Northwest choices are some of my most prized. Take a look at ‘em and tell me what you know, I bet you’ll find something you’ve never heard before – and if you don’t, hit me up, I may have a blogging gig for ya.
With the passion of their deep African roots, AbCreole puts a fresh perspective to the Pacific Northwest hip-hop movement. Love their more recent solo projects, but AbCreole’s Sexy Beast is their sexiest beast yet.
Gabriel’s Lovework is also worth checking out.
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When I think of Seattle hip-hop, Blue Scholars is what comes to mind. Seattle may not be known for their hip-hop like The Bay or SoCal, but they’re well on their way. Keep an eye out, I’m about to move out there just for this scene.
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Who would of thought Canada could come out with shit this hard? Their beats and rhymes may remind me of The Bay, but these Battle Axe Warriors have something all their own. It’s not just their music that sets them apart, it’s the whole experience. It’s like the Insane Clown Posse, only good.
Watch out for their new album, which drops April 12 – hope it’s like their new shit.
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Some of you may know The Pharcyde by their most popular album, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. It’s what got me into them initially, but they really have so much more overlooked music. If you’re into that jazzy rap, you’ll love the rest of their work. They really were ahead of their time.
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I use to put PUTS on replay for hours on end. My roommate wanted to kill me, but I loved listening to certain tracks of theirs on repeat – specifically Acid Raindrops, The Breakdown & San Francisco Knights.
An interesting point a friend brought up to me was that they didn’t end their tracks very well. This may not apply to every track, but of their most notable ones we listened to, it just didn’t sound right. Check it out on “San Francisco Knights”.
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…and part 2 does not disappoint. Great choice with Pharcyde, who along with Souls of Mischief got me into the West Coast scene in the first place. Blue Scholars and PUTS have been regulars on my playlists for some time now too. I hope you find some more good talent in Seattle, might be a sleeping giant out there.
I never really got into AbCreole, I think it’s about time I gave Sexy Beast another listen though. Only heard a few songs in the past from Swollen Members, but I was deaf to anything outside Minneapolis back then, good thing I still have a copy of Bad Dreams.
Good stuff though man, got me remembering talent I had passed up in my more closed minded days. Always appreciated.
I Love the Picture on the heading!
Really love the lay out. I once saw Blue Scholars open for Gym Class Heroes who opened for Murs. That was way back, and damn were Blue Scholars on the same level.
@Good Vibes, yea check out AbCreole & Swollen, pretty different styles, but since you like the other three you’ll probably like them. My favorite Swollen cds are Heavy & Black Magic, but Bad Dreams is definitely what got me into ‘em. Hit me up with your thoughts later.
@SFCritic, I’m always jealous of you West Coast folk. I need to get out there, great fucking scene.
never heard of AbCreole…thank you! love it. Blue Scholars, Pharcyde, Swollen Members and People Under The Stairs are some of my top favorite artists. common market is another one of my favorite west coast hip hop groups. i assume you have heard em, since you like Pacific NW music. if not…i highly recommend.