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Jose
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It’s been a long time…Yeah, I know what’s
up. I shouldn’t have left you, but the Dilly Yo has the 411 on
what’s goin’ down son!
AUGUST 2002 ISSUE:
*Cougs comin’ to Seattle
*Vin Baker’s Gone
*Jarramy Stevens and The Seahawks, Holding Out or Holding On?
*One Famm Doin’ It Real Big, Real Often at The HI-5 in Kent
*The Limelight Club In The O(lympia for those who don’t know)
ONE FAMM DOIN’ IT REAL BIG, REAL OFTEN…
Northwest Hip Hop has always been a mysterious product of
sorts…get a little attention…get none. ‘It beez like that
sometimes’ to quote Carlito’s turncoat homeboy Pachanga, but
with the emergence of Northwest-based record companies like
Noc On Wood, Pak Pros, Ocean Records, LJ2 Recordings, K
Records, Way Out and Bow Wow it appears that the NW music
scene is inching its way toward national recognition.
In the door steps Theo “Mr. Network” Hall of Famm Music
Superstore and One Famm Records. You may or may not be
familiar with the name, but with his cunning business sense
and a little luck on his behalf, you will. Not only has Mr.
Network been doing it big in the Hip Hop community, but he
continues to explore new levels of the game.
Based in the heart of Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood at 1504
Martin Luther King Way, Mr. Network has expanded his role in
the NW from a Portland, OR promoter in the early to mid-‘90s
to a NW executive and owner of Next Level Promotions, Famm
Music Store and One Famm Records. His efforts have touched Las
Vegas, Los Angeles, Spokane, Boise, Vancouver, B.C., but with
a nonchalant grin, Mr. Network says “it’s all a part of the
plan.”
“What I want to do, is going to happen – we’ve got the studio,
Famm has just signed some excellent talent, including this new
female MC to look out for named Ms. Devious, and we are always
at a club near you,” said Network when we spoke at his store
on The Hill. He added that Famm is also about to change the
game in a few other ways that are undisclosed at this time…but
we’ll be back with that.
And oh, yeah aside from being a successful “minority” business
entrepreneur – I don’t know how, but Mr. Network owns his name
by continuing to bombard the DJs with exclusive west coast
independent artist material…Mac Dre, Andre Nickatina, C-Bo,
Mac Mall, RBL, Wolf Pac Records…must I continue? Do the damn
thang mayn!
www.onefammrecords.com
FREEING YOUR MIND ONE POEM AT A TIME
Spoken word is nothing new to the urban culture, but it has
made a unique renaissance with the emergence of Russel
Simmon’s Def Poetry and more locally, the talent pool often
seen and heard at the Verbal Tea nights in Seattle, but the
game is also being laid down in the T-Town by Stella
Haioulani’s efforts at Free Ya Mind, Inc.
Free Ya Mind signed a blockbuster deal earlier this year with
coffee industry giant, Tully’s to provide a once a month
poetry event at their cafes in Tacoma and the results have
been quite impressive. Standing room only attendance,
diversity of poets from slam, to Hip Hop, to
classic/renaissance, to singers and bands complimenting the
words of writers.
Haioulani says that the event is more than words and sounds.
“It’s such a blessing that Free Ya Mind can impact people and
inspire them…the events have been so positive and people leave
us wanting more and participation in the event is ever
increasing,” said Haioulani when Seaspot met her at Downtown
Olympia’s Limelight Citrus Grill. “Our contract with Tully’s
is about to be over, so FYM will be negotiating a new deal
soon.”
Additionally, Haioulani, a former radio producer and manager
for Los Angeles based Street Pride Records, recently opened
the doors for FYM Consulting, which provides a variation of
consulting services to radio producers, community/political
activists, strategic marketing and artist management in the
entertainment industry.
freeyamind@attbi.com
THE LIMELIGHT…NEW LOOK…SAME CLUB?
On June 1st, a new era began in the Northwest Club scene. And
you know how the clubs can be. They a-ight, you probably say
when you hear about a spot that you’ve been to ten times or
more, but Limelight Owner/Manager/DJ Joey Larocque believes
that image, although not everything, is a lot of the thing
that makes a club the place to be.
So after he witnessed the doors close to Olympia’s premier
spot, Thekla in May. He decided to reopen the doors with a
citrus twist. Within 45 days Larocque acquired the building,
spruced it up and added some dimensions reminiscent of his
days in the southeast U.S. club scene. “I DJ in Atlanta and
Florida a lot, so I wanted to do something different and add
more of a diverse dimension to the Limelight, than I believe
Thekla had.”
The results: a dress code, a new menu, a new vibe, less
violence (for now) and the reviews are mixed. “Man, you gotta
dress up and can’t wear any jerseys or hats – I ain’t goin,”
says one fellow clad in a jersey and hat peeking in through
the café doors outside the Limelight. After all, jerseys and
hats are a stereotypical scapegoat of violence in the clubs,
while club owners tend to think that a more ‘classy’ or
‘dressed up’ person is less likely to fight, but that all
depends on the scope of one’s experience. Fools fight in suits
too…pleasbelieveit! “It’s off the hook…and the ladies…Mayun!!!,”
says a successful entry bound cat.
Overall, The Limelight is new, it’s different, it has a
foreign twist on it and it’s worth a look see.
Downtown Olympia (5th and Franklin)
Thelimelightclub.com
KUBE 93 WEEK OF PRE AND POST PARTIES
KUBE 93 FM recently held its annual Pre-Summer Jam Party with
DJ Quik Headlining and Central Intelligence and Unexpected
Arrival lighting the stage up as well. Quik entertained with
his Compton road dog, Hi-C from OGPPC fame and ripped up the
stage as only a rythmalistic Compton OG can, but the main
event to most was the Summer Jam.
Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Nappy Roots, Nelly and more put it
down for the usual rowdy 22,000 Summer Jam fans, showing skin
and committing mad sin.
Unfortunately some cowards always have to spoil the fun.
Someone shot into a crowd of reportedly innocent and
unsuspecting people, killing one man and injuring two other
people at the campsite after the concert. What’s the deal with
that?
VANCOUVER, B.C….THE NORTHWEST HIP HOP CAPITAL? SUMMER JAM IN
VAN CITY
Man (Woman), there is something to be said about doing it real
big, real often. Vancouver’s The Beat 94.5 FM has been doing
it real big. From a playlist on the air consisting of 33%
local artists to their innovative programming, including maybe
the Northwest’s most talented DJs on the radio mixshows, DJ
Supafly and Flipout.
But to add to the invaluable support for local artists that
independents know is key, The Beat is kickin’ off their first
Summer Jam on August 9, 2002. The lineup reads like this:
N.O.R.E., R.O.C., JD and The So So Def All-Stars, City High,
DJ Quik and more surprises. But it don’t stop. In September,
The Beat is throwing a back to school party with a reunited
West Side Connection (Ice Cube, Mack 10 and WC), Biz Markie
and DJ Kool. Don’t forget to check for DJs Supafly, Ali Baba,
Jial 14, Blizzard and Luvva J at The Funky Planet on
Wednesday’s and Saturdays.
thebeat.com
HIGH ALERT STATUS…looking for talent
When New York City producer, Drayton moved to Seattle about
six months ago, he had not a clue what he was going to do
here. He had witnessed the falling of the twin towers on the
morning of September 11th, 2001 and all he knew was he was ‘outtadere.’
So the well-traveled beat maker touches down in Seattle…and
drops anchor on the city with his current project, Degree of
The Streets. “It’s a compilation of artists and a showcase of
my productions skills, I’m looking for artists right now.” I
had a chance to hear some of his music in a sit down on
Capitol Hill in uptown Seattle.
The beats are solid, ranging from James Brown influenced
tracks to his melodically bangin’ guitar riffed originals. So
everything is present…except the vocals.
A unique thing about Drayton, is that he claims an old-school
background and seeks those of like mind or at least lyrics. He
put an add up outside of Mike’s Pizza on Broadway listing
model MCs as Afrika Bambaata, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and others
in that vain. If you’re qualified to satisfy call high alert
status studios at:
highalertstatus@earthlink.com
OCEAN RECORDS…Compilation in the works
What is this the San Francisco Bay? Everybody’s dropping a
Comp. Naw really, Steve O and his Vice President and Ocean
artist Azarel are planning an Ocean Records compilation
entitled, This Is How It Should Be Done.
Ocean Records follows the release of products from the
legendary group, Criminal Nation and Azarel’s self-titled
debut, which seemed to receive lopsided support from the east
coast more than the west.
The project, which is in the production and selection stage,
features appearances from a who’s who of underground groups
from the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. For more
information check them out at oceanrecords.com.
Oceanrecords.com
SEASPOT COMPILATION TO DROP IN 2003
The Seaspot compilation, which was to drop in this summer, has
been pushed back to the second or third quarter of 2003.
Seaspot.com
SEATTLE SAYS GOODBYE TO VIN BAKER and LA CLIPPER ANTICS
Seattle has depressed another pro athlete. Vin Baker was
traded away from Seattle, where he experienced weight gain and
sub par seasons comparatively speaking to his double-double
all-star days as a Milwaukee Buck. Anyway, the former Hartford
star was traded to the resurgent Boston Celtics with the
neglected talent of guard Shammond Williams for Vitaly
Platenko, Kenny Anderson and Joseph Forte. Wow…what a deal.
Let’s analyze this.
The Sonics have Gary Payton, who if he wants a chance to win a
title will have to leave with the current Sonics roster, but
they pick up Kenny Anderson who is NOT a backup guard. Where
will Anderson play? Who is the big man in the middle? How will
they compete with the Lakers, Kings, Portland for the Pacific
Division race.
This deal makes about as much sense as the Clippers giving up
Darius Miles. Harold Jamison…yeah, he can go but Miles is an
integral part to the new Clipper culture. Sure the Clips get
L.A. native and NBA standout point guard Andre Miller from the
Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Clipper mystic as a loser is so
obvious now. No more two-fisted head taps for Quentin “Q”
Richardson and “Miles.” Those days are done.
JARRAMY STEVENS IS A TRAINING CAMP NO SHOW
Everyone says, Jarramy Stevens should feel “lucky” to have
even been drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. No. Luck is winning
the 30 million dollar Washington State Lotto. Stevens has
accrued his life’s wealth with talent, effort and yes some
mistakes. Critics are saying that Stevens, who like many other
young people erred in his youthful ways, should report to camp
and not hold out, because it will only add to his reputation
as a “troubled athlete.” How typical.
Jarramy Stevens is doing what any intelligent man or woman
would do. If he is injured at camp without a contract, who
will care for his injury in the long term? Not the Seahawks.
How will he sustain food on the table for himself and/or
family? Not the Seahawks. It is typical of judgmental people
to hold past errors over the head of those who make ‘public’
errors as ‘public personalities’, but Jarramy Stevens doesn’t
owe any writer or fan anything. How many of his critics have
committed similar or worse acts than his, yet are without a
magnifying glass on their head. Stevens is a grown man, who
has earned his right to negotiate a contract and with that
title of grown man comes responsibility to his life and those
around him.
This writer refuses to go along with popular opinion that
Stevens owes the Seahawks something simply because they
drafted him. A player who is drafted is not guarantee
anything. Until a contract is signed, guaranteeing his health
benefits and income, Stevens can afford to exercise contract
negotiations to his level of satisfaction. Could Stevens
benefit from early practice? No doubt. Could he get injured
without a contract? No doubt. Has this happened before and the
safety net was pulled from beneath athletes? Check the history
books.
With so much adornment of athletes in the current social
climate, I assert that it is a positive to see that athletes
are mindful enough to reasonably negotiate their contracts.
Thus proving that athletes are more than high performance
bodies, but also highly skilled minds and business
people...after all sports has been shown to be a business.
Don’t play yourself for a fool. Would you risk or your child’s
injury a year after a major ankle/leg injury and almost NOT
getting drafted? Think.
Live your life homeboy and be careful investing in the rob me
rich stock market.
COUGS COMING TO SEATTLE
With a top ten ranking in some college football publications
and a Heisman Trophy candidate, the Washington State
University Cougars invade Seattle for an August 31, 2002 match
up against the Nevada-Reno Wolfpack at Seahawk Stadium.
The contest will be the first college football event in the
new Seahawk Stadium next to Safeco Field in Downtown Seattle.
The game features All-America Candidate Jason Gesser at
quarterback, who threw for more than 3,000 yards last season
and is poised to assume most if not all of the cougar passing
records this season…if he can stay healthy. Gesser broke his
leg at the end of his sophomore season, but came back with a
monster season in 2001, leading the cougars to a 10-2 record.
Gesser has also had a large Heisman campaign poster in his
likeness draped from the water tower in Dusty, WA, a small
villa that one must pass through en route to Pullman, WA
coming from the west.
jose@seaspot.com
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