Album Spotlight: Daichi Diez – The Reason and the Rhyme

"From the Land of the Rising Sun to the Emerald City comes an artist who understands what it means to rhyme with honor. For anyone familiar with what’s cracking in 206 (Seattle Hip Hop), the name Alpha P is synonymous with quality music, ridiculous skill and a commitment to consciousness. In his international offering The Reason and the Rhyme, Daichi Diaz does not fail to hold that banner high. Not even a little bit. Daichi has a classic approach that embraces both his Japanese and Seattle heritages. If balancing the two was supposed to be a challenge for him, I couldn’t tell."
From the Hip Hop Congress Blog, view full article here.
Purchase the Album Here

"Boogie Up the Block"

Written, performed and produced by Suntonio Bandanaz, Andrew Luck and Sleepyhead. Hook sample written and performed by Unique Son. Mixed by Knowa KnowOne. Video directed and produced by Asun. Video executive produced by Heidi Jackson. Dedicated James "Talk Sick" Sullivan. From the forthcoming "Alien Technology" album.

B Girl Media from Vancouver at the Final UTV 2010

Under the Volcano Festival of Art & Social Change celebrated its 20th anniversary on August 8, where us at B Girl Media had the honor of rocking. In an interview with a Vancouver paper, Meegan Maultsaid said this year’s festival in Deep Cove’s Cates Park is also the last. “It’s from a combination of things,” Maultsaid told the Straight. “For 20 years we’ve been a noncorporate festival, our admissions have always been by donation, but expenses go up. We like to bring international artists, but it costs money to do that. We’re maintaining an accessible community event, but it’s difficult to reconcile those two parts.”

More pictures are available at the B Girl Media Blog. She wrote, "Sista Hailstorm, Julie C. and I had the pleasure of performing together at the 20th Annual Under the Volcano Festival of Art & Social Change in Vancouver, B.C. on August 8, 2010. Also performing was Rogue Pinay & May Tawa Sa Lahat (SEA), Olmeca, Militant Child (SEA), Cuauhtemoc, Abrstract Random & Ayo Leilani, Cristina Orbe (SEA), Delhi 2 Dublin and many more! Seattle was in the house! Shout outs to Lulu, Stephany Hazelrigg, Gabriel Teodros, Khingz and Jillz, and Sozan, who was a great hostess! There are no future Under the Volcano festivals being planned at this moment. So for right now, this was the LAST one! Thanks to all of the staff and volunteers for putting together a fantastic event!"

Collabs from across the Pacific: SensualizMusic

PROGRESS + NUDE + CREW from Japan just released their brand new album SensualizMusic, featuring two tracks with myself, as well as one from Suntonio Bandanaz, and another from Daichi Diez.

With a wide breadth of styles and a diverse line-up of artists, this 1st album from PROGRESS + NUDE + CREW seeks to smash paradigms on Japanese Hip Hop and break international borders. Instrumentals from Hiro AKA Melodiverse of PROGRESS + NUDE + CREW range from dramatic to mellow, light and jazzy to painfully emotional, but all are deeply introspective and beautifully composed.

Enjoy the previews of the album on these videos and purchase the album by clicking the link above. Support the international Hip Hop movement, and be on the look out for more collaborations between myself and Hiro. In the meanwhile, check out the track below called "Beautiful Tragedy." We do it global baby!

"Boogie Up the Block!" Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Come join us for a fantastic show that promises to be the best three dollars you've ever spent! Suntonio Bandanaz, Shamako Noble, Dox, and Julie C tear is up at the Rat and Raven Public House on 55th and University Way in the U District, Friday, April 2nd.

Only 3 bucks!

21+

Special Guests will be present. ;)

Album Spotlight: Contrary to Popular Belief

When Graves Hansen asked me to write a few words on his new album, Contrary to Popular Belief I was more than happy to oblige. Graves is a notable Seattle Hip Hop vet, with supreme grind and the only artist I personally know with their own Iphone app. The album, from Seattle’s Black Lab Productions, is a testimony to Graves’ contemplative, sophisticated sound. Filling a much needed gap in Hip Hop today, Contrary to Popular Belief takes listeners on a reflective journey, urging us to look deeper into our world, our lives, and ourselves. Powerful, complex, and at some points painfully critical, the album is anything but light listening. Despite the heavy content, Graves has a way of delivering even the most melancholy message in a way that makes you bob your head and yearn for more. The album features contributions from some of Seattle’s best little-known artists, such as Jewels Hunter, Cheo Lopez, Phreewil, and Cin7, as well as 206Zulu’s favorite beatboxer AudioPoet. Several tracks also feature the legendary guitarist Randy Hansen, best known for his work with Jimi Hendrix. Click here for track listings and to purchase the album, and definitely look forward to more exciting releases from the emerging Black Laboratory, which has much more up its sleeve.

Ahki James "TalkSick" Sullivan Passes

"James "TalkSick" Sullivan, 28, returned to the essence October 14, 2009 due to complication from the H1N1 virus. Proud to originally hail fom San Francisco's Hunter's Point neighborhood, he resided in Washington since 1988. A fierce lover, advocate, and defender of hiphop culture, TalkSick was a proud member of the Universal Zulu Nation's Seattle chapter who dedicated his time to community service. A recognizable, friendly, gregarious fixture at NW hiphop shows, TalkSick was also a reknowned hiphop historian with an exhaustive wealth of musical knowledge few could rival. An MC, show promoter, and blogger, TalkSick's favorite MCs of all time were Kool G Rap and KRS One, yet he held a particular affection for rap from his native Bay Area and from Seattle. He was also known for his big sense of humor, big thirst, and blunt, all-too-rare rare candor--and, on occasion, his own deep rhyme skills. Even bigger and deeper than all of that, as anyone who ever met TalkSick will attest, was his heart. His passing is a blow and deep sadness to the Seattle-area hiphop scene, but his life will forevermore be celebrated. Rest In Power, Ahki." -By Larry Mizell, Jr. and Ashley Goggins.

Note: It's been a year since your passing, and I wanted to revisit and say we love and miss you family. We're learning from you constantly, and you are always in your heart and thoughts.