THE BLUE SCHOLARS @ Mercury 2/15

Seattle rap duo bring the neo-Northwest sound to NYC this Friday at the Merc and it is your opportunity to see what the buzz is about. By championing a new high intellectual scene in Seattle with fellow contemporary rap groups, the Blue Scholars manage to produce socially conscious rhymes and groovy beats that can work on several levels for their listening audience. By the close of 2004, the duo had pressed their own debut album to sell at shows and with help of local Seattle media such as progressive radio station KEXP and alternative press Seattle Weekly, The Blue Scholars LP was named the album of the year in Seattle. Come out this weekend to see the self proclaimed "true-school" hip hoppers in action.


RIYL: Jurassic 5, Hilltop Hoods, Gangstarr, Common

This is the Scholars opening for Kanye West in Seattle:

DALEK @ Mercury Lounge – 2/27/07

Combining elements of shoegaze, trip-hop, ambient noise, and poignant rap lyrics, Newark’s Dalek are forerunners in the newest wave of underground rap, challenging their listeners both verbally and musically. While many critics claim that contemporary rap has reached a lull, DJ Oktopus creates sprawling ambience not typically associated with rap or hip-hop; the type of music that hearkens back to early Sonic Youth, Radiohead, or later Brian Eno. To top this off, MC Dalek, flows with an intense tone that would not be out of place for the likes of Mobb Deep or Talib Kweli. They have already won plenty of critical acclaim and it shouldn’t be long before the rest of the music world takes notice. Look for the newest release, Abandoned Language, on Mike Patton’s label, Ipecac later this month.

RIYL: TV on the Radio, Glenn Branca, Gang Starr, Tricky, Blackstar

Krs-One @ S.O.B.'s - 12/11 - 8pm - $20

Native New Yorker, Kris Parker, also known as blastmaster KRS-One is taking it to the S.O.B.’s this Tuesday...a rowdy and uplifting affair you won’t wanna miss. Hailed as “the teacher”/metaphysical philosopher in the hip-hop world, his appearance signals that class is in seshion. Unlike the majority of rappers, KRS has never hesitated to address social issues regarding faith, American culture and the current state of hip-hop. For those in attendance at his show, KRS is gonna challenge you to perceive hip-hop as more than just a source of entertainment. “You are not just doing hip-hop, you are hip-hop/like if you have a badge and a gun you are the cop/like if you practice medicine you are the doc/you just forgot that rappers rap about cars a lot.” Despite his lack of commercial exposure, KRS’s unrivaled longevity in the rap game (’87-today) is a testament to his underground appeal and lasting substance as an emcee. Go see how Knowledge.Reigns.Supreme-Over.nearly.everyone aka KRS-One breaks it down.