Northwest hip hop
Encyclopedia
Northwest hip hop is hip hop
or rap music and dance that originates from the Pacific Northwest
, encompassing major cities such as Seattle, Vancouver
and Portland
.
. For many years the rap scene in this region existed mainly as an underground genre, but recently Northwest hip-hop has seen more and more mainstream acceptance, with artists such as the Blue Scholars
, Macklemore
, gaining nationwide attention.
Although hip-hop culture has been developing separately in the Seattle and Portland
areas, as well as Spokane, Washington
, Eastern Washington, and Vancouver
, each region has a similar style in being socially conscious, and radio friendly.
, Rainier Valley
, and Central District areas started to perfect early hip hop forms of dancing in the northwest defined as bopping. Many of the local underage clubs and high schools in south Seattle held formal contests called bop-offs where dancers would compete against one another.
In the early 1980s, soldiers positioned at Tacoma's
military bases provided the foundation for a growing hip-hop fan base in the Northwest
. This increased demand for hip-hop coincided with some of the first hip-hop dances in Seattle
, which were held at public-housing recreation centers and featured the Emerald Street Boys and Anthony "Sir Mix-A-Lot
" Ray. Simultaneously, “Nasty Nes” Rodriguez launched the Northwest's first all-rap radio program, Fresh Tracks, and soon Nasty Nes began airing self-produced tracks by Sir Mix-A-Lot, as well as the Emerald Street Boys, MC LeRap, PDQ, and Andy Hamlin. As Seattle's music scene evolved, so did the Seattle breakdance and graffiti crews, including B-Boy groups like Silver Chain Gang, Circuit Breakers, and Breaking Mechanism, and graffiti writers such as Spaide, DadOne, and Spraycan.
In 1985 Nastymix Records, the Northwest's
first hip-hop label was founded with the local release of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Square Dance Rap", which sold approximately 75,000 copies. Nastymix Records gained national recognition with Sir Mix's 1988 "Posse on Broadway
", and reached its peak in 1993 with Mix's Grammy Award
for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Baby Got Back
." Unfortunately this award came after Nastymix's last release, Criminal Nation
's 1992 album Trouble in the Hood.
(referred to in Seattle as "The CD".) In 1993, Jonathon "Wordsayer" Moore of Source of Labor
approached Caroline Davenport of Tasty Shows, who was responsible for booking a popular Seattle venue called RCKCNDY.
The alternative/grunge
music scene soon dominated the Northwest's musical image, and in both Seattle and Portland
this contributed to the troubled adolescence of local hip-hop. The Teen Dance Ordinance
, which had been in effect since 1985, made it almost impossible for most Seattle venues to book all-ages shows. The social turmoil of Seattle during the late 1990s (The World Trade Organization Protest
), the city's outspoken political opposition to President George W. Bush
, and the despised Teen Dance Ordinance characterized the socially conscious style that defined Northwest hip-hop after 1993, a style that was continually strengthened as the hip-hop culture was attacked and labeled as violent and disruptive. In 2002 the Teen Dance Ordinance was lifted and replaced by the less draconian All-ages Dance Ordinance
and hip-hop began its Northwest resurgence.
in 2002 meant small Seattle venues could afford to host local hip-hop shows. Currently, the Northwest maintains a self-perpetuating underground hip-hop movement
, a culture that is maintained almost entirely by word of mouth, local interest, and internet exposure.
The Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers Entertainment
, a quickly growing record label, has signed multiple artists from Seattle such as Boom Bap Project
, Grayskul
, Jake One
, and Vitamin D
, which also contributes to its growth. Blue Scholars
and their label Massline Media are also beginning to receive national attention.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
or rap music and dance that originates from the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, encompassing major cities such as Seattle, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Musical style
Northwest hip hop music is a very diverse genre, owing to the high cultural diversity in this region, mixing elements from various genres of music to form a sound unique from its southern neighbor, West Coast hip hopWest Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music that originates in the westernmost region of the United States, as opposed to East Coast hip hop, based originally in New York alone...
. For many years the rap scene in this region existed mainly as an underground genre, but recently Northwest hip-hop has seen more and more mainstream acceptance, with artists such as the Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
, Macklemore
Macklemore
Ben Haggerty, known by his stage name Macklemore, is a hip hop artist based in Seattle, Washington. Macklemore works with Ryan Lewis Andrew Joslyn , Owour Arunga , Zach Fleury , and Noah Goldberg...
, gaining nationwide attention.
Although hip-hop culture has been developing separately in the Seattle and Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
areas, as well as Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, Eastern Washington, and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, each region has a similar style in being socially conscious, and radio friendly.
Pre 1993
During the late 1970s, high school kids from the Rainier BeachRainier Beach, Seattle, Washington
Rainier Beach is a set of neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington that are mostly residential. Also called Atlantic City, Rainier Beach can include Dunlap, Pritchard Island, and Rainier View neighborhoods....
, Rainier Valley
Rainier Valley, Seattle, Washington
The Rainier Valley neighborhood in Seattle, is located east of Beacon Hill; west of Mount Baker, Seward Park, and Leschi; south of the Central District and First Hill; and north of the city line...
, and Central District areas started to perfect early hip hop forms of dancing in the northwest defined as bopping. Many of the local underage clubs and high schools in south Seattle held formal contests called bop-offs where dancers would compete against one another.
In the early 1980s, soldiers positioned at Tacoma's
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
military bases provided the foundation for a growing hip-hop fan base in the Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. This increased demand for hip-hop coincided with some of the first hip-hop dances in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, which were held at public-housing recreation centers and featured the Emerald Street Boys and Anthony "Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-a-Lot
Anthony Ray , better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the Nastymix record label, he debuted in 1988 with Swass...
" Ray. Simultaneously, “Nasty Nes” Rodriguez launched the Northwest's first all-rap radio program, Fresh Tracks, and soon Nasty Nes began airing self-produced tracks by Sir Mix-A-Lot, as well as the Emerald Street Boys, MC LeRap, PDQ, and Andy Hamlin. As Seattle's music scene evolved, so did the Seattle breakdance and graffiti crews, including B-Boy groups like Silver Chain Gang, Circuit Breakers, and Breaking Mechanism, and graffiti writers such as Spaide, DadOne, and Spraycan.
In 1985 Nastymix Records, the Northwest's
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
first hip-hop label was founded with the local release of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Square Dance Rap", which sold approximately 75,000 copies. Nastymix Records gained national recognition with Sir Mix's 1988 "Posse on Broadway
Posse On Broadway
Posse on Broadway is a Hip Hop song first recorded by Sir Mix-a-Lot on his 1988 debut album Swass.The Broadway in the song is not New York City's famed thoroughfare, but the Seattle street of the same name in the Capitol Hill district .The geography of the song is quite specific, going north up...
", and reached its peak in 1993 with Mix's Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Baby Got Back
Baby Got Back
"Baby Got Back" is a 1992 Number One single by hip hop artist Sir Mix-a-Lot, from his album Mack Daddy. The song samples the 1986 electro single "Technicolor" by Channel One. The song's title originates from an urban slang term used to express a favorable opinion about a woman's buttocks...
." Unfortunately this award came after Nastymix's last release, Criminal Nation
Criminal Nation
Criminal Nation was an American hip-hop group whose members included D-Rob, Spade, Bumpy, Wojack, MC Deff, Clee-Bone and Eugenious. The group was active from 1990 to 1992 and then briefly in 2000, originally they were signed to Nastymix Records, but the 2000 incarnation were signed to Ocean...
's 1992 album Trouble in the Hood.
1993 to 2002
Seattle hip-hop culture was confined to the only venues that would play hip-hop, all of which were in Seattle's traditionally African-American neighborhood, the Central DistrictCentral District, Seattle, Washington
The Central District is a mostly residential district in Seattle located east of Cherry Hill, west of Madrona and Leschi, south of Capitol Hill, and north of Rainier Valley...
(referred to in Seattle as "The CD".) In 1993, Jonathon "Wordsayer" Moore of Source of Labor
Source of Labor
Source of Labor was a rap band loosely associated with the female rap act Beyond Reality, both of which performed at the all day Rap Festival...
approached Caroline Davenport of Tasty Shows, who was responsible for booking a popular Seattle venue called RCKCNDY.
The alternative/grunge
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music scene soon dominated the Northwest's musical image, and in both Seattle and Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
this contributed to the troubled adolescence of local hip-hop. The Teen Dance Ordinance
Teen Dance Ordinance
The Teen Dance Ordinance was a controversial Seattle law which severely curtailed the ability of concert and club promoters to hold events for underaged patrons. During its existence from 1985 to 2002, it was routinely criticized for its severity and its effects on the local music scene and industry...
, which had been in effect since 1985, made it almost impossible for most Seattle venues to book all-ages shows. The social turmoil of Seattle during the late 1990s (The World Trade Organization Protest
WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity
Protest activity surrounding the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which was to be the launch of a new millennial round of trade negotiations, occurred on November 30, 1999 , when the World Trade Organization convened at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington,...
), the city's outspoken political opposition to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, and the despised Teen Dance Ordinance characterized the socially conscious style that defined Northwest hip-hop after 1993, a style that was continually strengthened as the hip-hop culture was attacked and labeled as violent and disruptive. In 2002 the Teen Dance Ordinance was lifted and replaced by the less draconian All-ages Dance Ordinance
Teen Dance Ordinance
The Teen Dance Ordinance was a controversial Seattle law which severely curtailed the ability of concert and club promoters to hold events for underaged patrons. During its existence from 1985 to 2002, it was routinely criticized for its severity and its effects on the local music scene and industry...
and hip-hop began its Northwest resurgence.
2002 to present
The departure of the Teen Dance OrdinanceTeen Dance Ordinance
The Teen Dance Ordinance was a controversial Seattle law which severely curtailed the ability of concert and club promoters to hold events for underaged patrons. During its existence from 1985 to 2002, it was routinely criticized for its severity and its effects on the local music scene and industry...
in 2002 meant small Seattle venues could afford to host local hip-hop shows. Currently, the Northwest maintains a self-perpetuating underground hip-hop movement
Underground hip hop
Underground hip hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed toindependent labels or no label at all....
, a culture that is maintained almost entirely by word of mouth, local interest, and internet exposure.
The Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment is an independent hip hop record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, co-founded in 1995 by Sean Daley, Anthony Davis, Brent Sayers and Musab Saad....
, a quickly growing record label, has signed multiple artists from Seattle such as Boom Bap Project
Boom Bap Project
Boom Bap Project is an underground hip hop group formed in Seattle, Washington, currently signed to Rhymesayers record label. The group recently relocated to the San Francisco Bay area after lifetimes spent in the Pacific Northwest. The group's core members are Karim, DJ Scene, and Destro. Karim, a...
, Grayskul
Grayskul
-Formation:In 2003 Onry Ozzborn and JFK, both members of the Pacific Northwest hip hop collective Oldominion, teamed up with bassist Rob Castro to form Grayskul. They recorded about 55 songs in eight months at ATB Studios; these would eventually become Creature, Thee Adventures! and Deadlivers...
, Jake One
Jake One
Jacob Dutton, better known as Jake One, is an American hip hop record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Biography:Dutton grew up in Capitol Hill and moved to the North End of Seattle when he was 15. He started making music on a Casio keyboard in 1992. He attended the University of Washington and...
, and Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
, which also contributes to its growth. Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
and their label Massline Media are also beginning to receive national attention.
Notable Northwest hip hop artists and groups
- Abyssinian CreoleAbyssinian CreoleAbyssinian Creole is a hip hop group based in Seattle, Washington. The group consists of MCs Gabriel Teodros and Khingz, DJ WD4D, and producer Kitone...
- Blue ScholarsBlue ScholarsBlue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
- Boom Bap ProjectBoom Bap ProjectBoom Bap Project is an underground hip hop group formed in Seattle, Washington, currently signed to Rhymesayers record label. The group recently relocated to the San Francisco Bay area after lifetimes spent in the Pacific Northwest. The group's core members are Karim, DJ Scene, and Destro. Karim, a...
- Common MarketCommon Market (band)Common Market is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington with members RA Scion and DJ/Producer Sabzi. The two members were individually active hip hop artists in the Pacific Northwest since 2002, but collectively combined their talents in 2005 to form Common Market.Sabzi started his career as...
- Criminal NationCriminal NationCriminal Nation was an American hip-hop group whose members included D-Rob, Spade, Bumpy, Wojack, MC Deff, Clee-Bone and Eugenious. The group was active from 1990 to 1992 and then briefly in 2000, originally they were signed to Nastymix Records, but the 2000 incarnation were signed to Ocean...
- Dyme DefDyme DefDyme Def is a hip hop group based in Seattle, Washington. The trio consists of MCs, Brainstorm, S.E.V., Fearce Villan and DJ/Producer Bean One.-History:...
- Gabriel TeodrosGabriel TeodrosGabriel Teodros , is a hip hop artist and a member of the group Abyssinian Creole. He is of Ethiopian, Scottish, Irish & Native American descent, and was raised on Beacon Hill, Seattle, Washington...
- GrayskulGrayskul-Formation:In 2003 Onry Ozzborn and JFK, both members of the Pacific Northwest hip hop collective Oldominion, teamed up with bassist Rob Castro to form Grayskul. They recorded about 55 songs in eight months at ATB Studios; these would eventually become Creature, Thee Adventures! and Deadlivers...
- GrievesGrieves-Career:Laub released his first album, Irreversible, independently in 2007. In 2008, Laub teamed up with multi-instrumentalist and producer Budo, with whom he would release his next two albums: 88 Keys & Counting in 2008, and Together/Apart in 2011. Laub, along with Budo, performed at South by...
- GrynchGrynch__NOINDEX__Grynch is a rapper based in Seattle, Washington. Grynch is popular in his native Seattle and surrounding areas, having played at many local venues and collaborating with established Seattle rappers such as Blue Scholars, Macklemore, and national artists such as Nas. Grynch has also been...
- Jake OneJake OneJacob Dutton, better known as Jake One, is an American hip hop record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Biography:Dutton grew up in Capitol Hill and moved to the North End of Seattle when he was 15. He started making music on a Casio keyboard in 1992. He attended the University of Washington and...
- LifesavasLifesavasLifesavas are a hip-hop group from Portland, Oregon. Jumbo the Garbageman is an MC/producer and Vursatyl is an MC. DJ Shines has also been involved in much of the production and DJing on their albums.- Discography :* Spirit in Stone...
- MacklemoreMacklemoreBen Haggerty, known by his stage name Macklemore, is a hip hop artist based in Seattle, Washington. Macklemore works with Ryan Lewis Andrew Joslyn , Owour Arunga , Zach Fleury , and Noah Goldberg...
- No Nonsense (Rapper)No Nonsense (rapper)No Nonsense Stacey A. Jones, better known as "No Nonsense," is an American rap artist from Olympia, WA. He is known for his tenacious thug-style delivery and penitentiary physique, as well as for his numerous appearances and performances with acts nationwide...
- Shabazz PalacesShabazz PalacesShabazz Palaces are a Seattle-based hip-hop collective, led by Ishmael Butler aka 'Palaceer Lazaro' and multi-instrumentalist Tendai Maraire, son of Mbira master Dumisani Maraire...
- Sir Mix-a-lotSir Mix-a-LotAnthony Ray , better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the Nastymix record label, he debuted in 1988 with Swass...
- Sweatshop UnionSweatshop UnionSweatshop Union is a Canadian hip hop collective formed in 2000 when four politically minded rap acts—Dirty Circus, Pigeon Hole, Kyprios and Innocent Bystander —came together "to create a powerful, distinctive voice", and to produce their first album, which was published in 2001.Known for an...
- Swollen MembersSwollen MembersSwollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada consisting mainly of the duo Mad Child, and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only and producer Rob the Viking, an official group member since 2002...