Northwest Hip Hop Reprazent

I don’t know what it is about Northwest Hip Hop, but there’s a distinct feel that comes with that region that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not as recognizable as East vs. West, ATL rap, or even the Midwest scene, but it’s there, underneath the surface of the hip hop records coming out of that area. 

Maybe it’s the relaxed flow? As if the rain and the coffee make it clear that there’s not hurry to get anywhere in particular? But despite that laid-back style, the lyrical content is all there – more present than much of the braggadocio found in other regional scenes, even.

Anyway, a friend recently (re)introduced me to Common Market, a group I’d only heard one or to tracks from before. The track that really caught my ear is the synth-horn-heavy “G’dang Diggy”, a hometown anthem that doesn’t pull any punches. It has an undeniable Seattle/Northwest feel to it for whatever reason, and it’s just a great tune overall.

Common Market – G’Dang Diggy (YSI) (filesavr)

In my recollection of NW tunes, I also stumbled across this cool little ditty, a collabo remix of a KRS One and Buckshot track featuring rhymes from Talib Kweli and Geo of Blue Scholars. Worth a listen, I’m glad I found it in the old archives.

KRS One and Bucksot – Oh Really (Remix f. Talib Kweli and Geo of Blue Scholars) (YSI) (filesavr)