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As spring beckons, you should have the urge to attend shows with soldier-like dedication in hopes of mingling with comrades, both old and new. March is the perfect opportunity and this here is your guide to shine. Follow along, kids….
• For only five dollars, kick this month off right with hometown Chief Boot Knocka Sir Mix-a-Lot at the Showbox on March 2. Mix has been active in the local community as of late, contributing to a number of benefits for tsunami aid, and one can only assume he’s gearing up for some new projects.
• During the following weeks, plan to divide your cash between two clubs: Chop Suey and Berbati’s Pan (I see you Portland)! On the 3rd, there will be crazy talent at 14th and Madison: Busdriver, 2Mex, John Tsunam, Posing as People, Alpha P, Gabriel Teodros & Belladonna and Cyphalliance. Got that? Busdriver (of Project Blowed) is part of the Cali creative wellspring that we have not only come to appreciate, but to expect. His last album, “Cosmic Cleavage,” was originally conceptualized as the soundtrack to a film he never got around to making. If one were unaware of that fact, you’d picture him on stage anyway, freaking the lines between some heavy spoken word and delivering a hyped, cartoonish weather report, all with a jazzy backdrop. 2Mex is touring to promote his upcoming release (under the alter ego moniker SUNGODSUNS), “Over the Counter Culture,” which drops April 19. His crew, the Visionaries, received the Zulu Nation membership card last month along with Jurassic 5, so it’s pretty much a done deal. The remaining artists on the bill all rep for the Northwest, many of whom are preparing to make some moves for this region. The funkily serious Gabriel Teodros and throwback-meets-new-school Cyphalliance are both beatin’ the streets.
• You’ll be heading back to Chop Suey on March 9 for KRS-One, Boom Bap, One Be Lo and the ever-dependable B-Mello. The teacher/blastmaster needs no introduction, and heads will recognize One Be Lo as part of Binary Star. After splitting from his other half, Lo continued to use his MC name, OneManArmy, but later changed to avoid confusion with a punk rock band of the same title. The lyricist just dropped his official debut album, “S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M,” which will likely be available at the show. Despite the long wait, Boom Bap Project is finally dropping their newest album after being absorbed by the tornado-like vacuum that is the Rhymesayers. The LP features some exciting guests, including Dilated, Blackalicious, Vin-Roc, the big ass Oldominion crew and Quannum’s Lifesavas. Boom Bap brings an energized show, and since they allude to some growth on this project, showing up for a gander couldn’t hurt. For the Portland peeps, er, peep the show on March 12.
• Berbati’s Pan is the first host to Gift of Gab (from Blackalicious—this will not be repeated again), Lateef the Truth Speaker (of the Maroons and Latyrx) with Ayinde Howell. Blackalicious will be releasing a new album entitled “The Craft” sometime early this fall, so if you’re lucky, Gab may spit some new verses or at least hint at what’s to come. Lateef has been busy pumping out the bumpable hits and this performance should get your head to rock right. And if you attended Bumbershoot last summer, perhaps you caught Urban Scribes co-founder/author/local spoken word artist Ayinde Howell dropping knowledge like it was hot. Having worked with damn near every acclaimed wordsmith, Howell is one to listen for. Check the show three days later on the 22nd in Seattle.
• Are you tired of frequenting the same clubs in your pursuit of hip hop vibes? Just in time arrives The War Room, near Pike and Boylston. It’s too early to tell if live hip hop will be a mainstay, but there is a stage being built and the perennial favorite remains—an outside deck. The club opens this month, and will probably hit full swing by April.
See you out there....
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