206 Zulu

LOCAL RAPPERS C-DOGG and RAZ SIMONE TEAM UP “AROUND the WAY”

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

 

While we’re currently here on Earth, inhabiting these physical vessels, it is each individual’s responsibility to be the architect for the life they desire. As such, one has the power to actively choose to manifest and live the life they want – whether an individual chooses to thrive and live in their light or succumb to the comfortable complacency of their darkness is solely that person’s decision to make. But, based on the thoughts, words and actions you consciously or subconsciously decide to put out into the Universe, the Universe will return to you exactly what you send out.

So take your power back.
Far too often, people surrender their personal power to exterior forces – be it money, relationships, jobs, environment, dis-ease, etc. Despite all the “darkness” that seems to be taking up space around the world today, we are living in extremely auspicious times. And now, perhaps more so than ever, is the time for each and every being on this planet to take back, embrace and recognize just how absolutely and limitlessly powerful we are.
With “Around The Way”, Raz Simone links up with Clayton “C-Dogg/B-ragg” Bragg to demonstrate the power of using your time and energy to build up another individual while simultaneously putting on display how recognizing your own power can help to inspire and influence those around you. In doing so, “Around The Way” allows both Simone and C-Dogg to play their hand in making this world a better place.
At only 22 years old, C-Dogg has been surviving and thriving through all the obstacles God has placed before him, including a lifelong bout with cerebral palsy. And no obstacle is put in your way to stop you – they are only there to help your growth and help push you to recognize your own power. With 27 surgeries under his belt, 11 of which have been on his heart, the determination and the drive of C-Dogg has helped to inspire a number of people who have witnessed or heard his powerful story.
One of the people inspired by C-Dogg is Raz Simone. Although they don’t have the “same problems”, Simone and Clayton have both inspired each other with their ability to overcome adversities. In Raz’s own words, the two have the same spirit. And that spirit does not quit, does not surrender, and it certainly does not give up it’s power – it’s internal light – to exterior forces.
As Raz points out on “Around The Way” with a slick double entendre, his work is “always quality” and he never stretches it. Anyone familiar with Simone’s body of work recognizes the Black Umbrella founder has a catalogue abundant in both quantity and quality – he’s not cutting corners or laying down half-assed verses in order to get content out there. So, even when he’s helping out his people, Simone isn’t going to hop on a track just for the hell of it. According to Simone, he told C-Dogg he would only get on record with him if he was feeling it and, when it came to “Around The Way”, Clayton “slapped the mess outta [him] wit this one.”
A common theme when discussing Raz Simone is his authenticity and his realness. Being “real” does not always have to mean you’re “street” or “gangster” or anything along those lines – realness has more to do with an individual’s drive, dedication, heart and their authenticity. Realness comes from one’s ability to overcome even the hardest of adversities without getting trapped in the darkness. There are school teachers who are real, there are chefs and plumbers and cashiers who are real. Realness is about the individual in and of themselves, not the label placed upon them based on exterior factors.
In that sense, C-Dogg is real. And Simone is real.

As always, credit and praise must be sent to Simone’s go-to cinematographer, Jacob Hill. Feeling inspired by the energy of the experience, Hill went back to Black Umbrella HQ after shooting “Around The Way” and decided to edit and finalize the video that night. Instead of sleeping, Hill made sure the video was turned around in time for release overnight. That’s heart, dedication and sacrifice…that’s real. And not only did he come through with the quick flip of the video, but he cooked up a final product that gives off no sense of being rushed or half-assed. Ya’ll, there’s something to be said about work ethic

and it’s clear there’s a reason Hill is reppin’ Black Umbrella…

Much love to Raz, B-ragg and Jacob Hill for creating and sharing this beautiful message of acceptance and love. This that medicine the world needs a heavy dose of right now.
Experience “Around The Way” below and peep some older BTS footage of Raz and B-ragg in the studio here.
Originally Published at https://yeezytaughtmehappythoughts.blogspot.com/2018/01/raz-simone-around-way-feat-b-ragg-video.html

WEST SEATTLE GETS ANIMATED

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

mascot-split-david-toledo-2

October 19, 2016 – The Alaska Junction District of West Seattle is known as an Artist hub so it’s no surprise that it’s home to one of Seattle’s favorite cartoonists, David Toledo. David is the Program Manager for the Unified Outreach youth-arts program which has operated for nearly 2 decades and regularly teaches a summer and winter break day-camp with a focus on cartoon animation.

meet-the-mascots-cartoon-david-toledo-seattleDavid’s current project is called “the Mascots” which when completed will be a 30-minute animated feature scheduled to debut at the 2017 Emerald City ComiCon.  As with most 30-minute cartoon programming the time will be divided into 3 individual cartoon shorts averaging about 10 minutes each.  The first 10-minute episode titled “Join the Band” is currently viewable at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTUZ60sbfR8

 

 What’s the cartoon about?  

The Mascots are 4 friends dealing with peer pressure, girl troubles, and trying to make the “team”. It’s everything you’d expect in the lives of your average, all-American, teenage…. Animorphs?

the-mascots-cartoon-able-fader-meets-jelly_david-toledoDavid says “Everyone is familiar with the superstar mascots that strut their stuff through the world’s biggest sports arenas – bringing smiles to children and firing up the fans in the stands! But have you ever wondered about their lives outside of the spotlight? Life BEFORE they made it to the main stage?”

David Toledo is the Creator, Writer, Illustrator, and Animator of “Meet the Mascots” and also voiced multiple characters who appear in the Pilot Episode including the (4) Leads. Joining him for the pilot episode is a small group of voice-over talent that includes some very well known artists in Seattle’s hip hop community.

Meet the Voices featured in the Pilot Episode:

credits end MASCOTS

robert-anderson-dj-icemanRobert Anderson (DJ Iceman) has been a DJ for 33 years. originally from Brooklyn, New York; he’s been a staple in the South Sound Music scene since he moved to Tacoma Washington in 2007. He is a proud member of 206 Zulu and has been a Wu-Tang DJ since 2011. you can currently hear him on Wednesdays at 7 pm on www.wild1radio.com on his “Sure Shot” radio show.

 

c-dogg-clayton

Clayton Bragg (C-Dogg) is a rapper and video-blog host living in Edmonds, Washington (just north of Seattle).  Born in Des Moines and raised in Snohomish County, Clayton graduated high school in 2009 as a proud Panther.

Clayton was born with conical heart defect and cerebral palsy, but that has not stopped him from pursuing his love of music.  You can follow C-Dogg on twitter at handicapbragg, or at https://www.youtube.com/user/rappercdogg.

mz-music-girl2

Christina Virgillo-Emery (Mz. Music Girl) is a DJ at Zulu Radio and can be heard at www.kbcs.fm or on 91.3 fm.

Born and raised in Culver City (L.A.), California, Mz. Music Girl moved to Washington State in summer 1995, and became a member of 206ZULU in 2005. She enjoys music, turntablism, traveling,  arts & crafts,  sports, and many other things!

 

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Cinnamon Rosa the founder of Village Keepers; a youth-focused outreach program in Tacoma, Washington; and a  Food Equity Leader for the Puyallup Watershed Initiatives Just & Healthy Food System.  Cinnamon’s role within the “Meet the Mascots” project also includes script consultant and character development.

 

 

faderAble Fader is veteran Hip Hop DJ, Music Producer, Event Promoter, Mobile DJ, Graphic Designer, Web Developer and Recording Artist. Able has been creating art within Hip Hop culture since 1987 and DJing since 1994. He is founding resident of (((THE JAM))) a popular Hip Hop club night on second Fridays at Vermillion on Seattle’s Capitol Hill as well as HOME SLICE a monthly showcase of local NW Hip Hop talent at Seattle’s historic The Crocodile. Able collaborates actively with many of Seattle’s most respected artists and is a member of both 206 Zulu and the Filthy Fingers United producer collective. http://fade.graphics
Music/Mobile DJ Website: Thubba Thubba: http://thubbathubba.com

voices-staff

 

Additionally, there will be plenty of opportunities for local artists to partner on the project as it moves forward. There is a Facebook page where updates will post; as well as open-calls for voice-over artists, cosplay actors/actresses, and others interested in being part of the program.

FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/SeattleMascots/posts

VIDEO CLIP:

UNIFIED OUTREACH YOUTH ARTS PROGRAM

www.UnifiedOutreach.com

Donation Splash 3

If You Have One Of These Old Seattle Rap Albums It May Be Worth Thousands!

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

P. Lagiarist

ESBMay 29, 2016. Got old Seattle rap albums collecting dust on a shelf somewhere? Maybe you already reclaimed the space and they’re sitting in an attic long-forgotten. Hopefully you didn’t throw them out, though, as it turns out there might be quite the market for some old Seattle Rap records. Modern engineering practice for music releases and re-releases tends to include adding or editing the original playlist from the original album version. While some people (squares) don’t mind or even enjoy these changes, real Seattle OG’s believe the original cut is worth spending the additional cheddar.

This translates to listings on eBay for certain Rap records at astronomical prices. It’s unknown if these early Seattle Rap albums will reach the level of other Seattle musician’s such as Patrinell Staton’s “Little Love Affair” which sold for $3500; but we’ve seen several Seattle Rap albums such as original copies of the Emerald Street Boys early releases and Sir Mixalot’s early Nastymix singles regularly going for $500 – $1000. It is believed that Indie Seattle Rap records in particular might be valuable to collectors for other reasons. Local DJ and Hip Hop Icon JP Scratches says “Early Seattle Rap LP’s are a rarity. Finding an early eighties cassette tape from Seattle is hard enough; but finding records is nearly impossible.” Because of this, certain Seattle Rap collectors are convinced that these LP RECORDS are worth something.”

Seattle Rap Ebay

According to Seattle Hip Hop Historian and Legendary DJ Mr. Supreme, the “white-whale” of Seattle Rap is the rumored 2-copy pressing by Sir Mixalot contemporary “Baron Von Scratch”. If one of these copies was to ever surface there is no telling what sort of numbers the bidding might reach.

Chilly UPtownOn the hot investment list are pre-1992 LP Records by Seattle Rap Artists the Emerald Street Boys, Sir Mixalot (Nastymix label), Incredicrew featuring Chelley Chelle, Chilly Uptown, High Performance, Criminal Nation, Kid Sensation, and Moving Target featuring David Toledo/Dawny Toledo/Esera Mose.

While it’s possible some Rap records are indeed worth quite a bit, you may also be able to find some of the more heavily produced (aka successful) artist material (Such as Sir Mixalot, Edawg, and Kid Sensation) at a very reasonable price.

LIKE THIS? YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT “DEEPEST ROOTS, 30 YEARS OF HIP HOP IN SEATTLE

https://kingcountynews.org/2014/11/11/deepest-roots-30-years-of-hip-hop-in-seattle/

Hip Hop Royalty Theatrical Debute

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest
(Seattle, Washington) June 17-18, 2016 marks the highly anticipated return of Hip Hop emcee, producer, and organizer Danny “King Khazm” Kogita, with a double album release and theater production entitled “Diaries of a M.A.D.” The first show at the newly renovated Historic Washington Hall.

Diaries of a M.A.D. is an interdisciplinary installation, uniquely bridging music, cinema, and performing arts in an intimate exploration of struggle and perseverance. The album is laden with crisp snares, warm kicks, and dusty samples produced by members of Dev From Above, Third Eye Bling and Khazm and his beat crew, The Konstructicons. The soundscapes of this autobiographical essay paint a dark lacquer of social commentary.

The stage show produced by Olisa “Spyc-e” Enrico, is an artistic interpretation of how a biracial, disabled youth was able to overcome challenges in Seattle’s South end. An amalgam of Hip Hop, Japanese culture and disability awareness; the conceptual musical performances, blended with visual projections, dance and theatrical segments, push the boundaries of what is and what can be.

In 2003, King Khazm, along with his rap group- Cyphalliance, emerged onto the Northwest Hip Hop scene with exceptional response with debut album “Industreets.” A barrage of technological mishaps and life prevented the long awaited follow up album from seeing the light of day- until now.

One decade later, Living as a M.A.D. has been miraculously recovered, and after several months of extensive reconstruction, the album will finally be released. This sonically diverse project, recorded at Seattle’s renown Pharmacy, includes production by Jake One, Vitamin D, DJ Tre, Kitone, and others. The soundscape ranges from socially conscious lyrics to smooth melodic vocals.

Diaries of a M.A.D. and Living as a M.A.D. both release on Fresh Chopped Beats / MADK Productions and will be available at iTunes, Amazon.com and finer Hip Hop specialty stores.

For more information and announcements, visit www.freshchoppedbeats.com

King Khazm “Diaries of a M.A.D.” Theatrical Experience
June 17-18, 2016
Washington Hall
153 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Doors 7:00pm / Curtain 8:00pm
$25 General / $35 VIP / $5 Students 18 & Under
Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com

 

NEW HEAT ALERT:DRAZE UNVEILS THE “SEATTLE SWEETIES” MUSIC VIDEO

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

Originally posted by BigBoss ENT on November 15, 2015 at 2:59pm

draze hatSEATTLE, WA (November 13, 2015) – Seattle rapper Draze is proud to unveil the music video for his latest single “Seattle Sweeties,” here. Directed by Atuanya Priester (A Real Grip), this video celebrates the beauty and diversity of style, of women in the Northwest. Draze explains, “I know women from all over the country; and I can truly say there is nothing like a Seattle Sweetie. This is my own way of saluting them. I hope this video captures a little bit of their mystique.”
In true Draze form “Seattle Sweeties” is more than just a song or video, but rather a movement. Draze partnered with cafe and bakery giant, Cupcake Royale to create six new cupcake flavors that are available from now through November 22, at each Cupcake Royale location. Among the flavors are: Choco Latte, Lemon Cherry Blossom, Chai Cinnamon, Banana Cream, Caramel Delight, and Vanilla Dream. Draze expounds, “It is fresh to see my city buzzing about this song, these cupcakes and the entire movement. I am hoping that the video can be the cherry on top.” A portion of the proceeds from each “Seattle Sweetie” cupcake sold goes to benefit survivors of domestic violence through partners at “Runway to Freedom.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR DRAZE
With a ringing endorsement from Seattle native, Macklemore, Draze is bringing a wave of momentum into this musical fourth quarter. Recently Draze’s music was featured on Fox’s hit show, “Empire”, ESPN’s “Sports Center” and MTV. In addition, Draze’s hit street single, “The Hood Ain’t The Same” a song highlighting the effects of gentrification, was archived at the Museum of History and Industry during a ceremony lead by Mayor Ed Murray. Draze’s newest single, “Seattle Sweeties” is available online here as a free download. Draze is set to release his new Mixtape titled “Seattle’s Own” soon.
Draze Seattle Sweeties

How Macklemore Conquered Addiction and Teamed With Rap Royalty for New LP

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

By

Originally Published at http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-macklemore-conquered-addiction-and-teamed-with-rap-royalty-for-new-lp-20150910

Photo copyright rollingstone.com

September 10, 2015 – An hour before they took the stage at MTV’s Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on August 30th, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were sure their set was going to be a total disaster. The Seattle rapper-producer duo had just finished the final run-through of the performance — an ambitious outdoor version of their new single, “Downtown,” involving tricky choreography and multiple guest vocalists — and nothing was going right. “We watched the playback, and Ryan was bummed,” says Macklemore. “He was like, ‘Dude, this isn’t good. It’s going to be a s**show.'”

In the end, their first televised performance in more than a year went off without a hitch — but it was a high-stakes moment for more reasons than one. The last awards show Macklemore and Lewis performed at was the 2014 Grammys, where their platinum-selling The Heist beat out Kendrick Lamar and others for Best Rap Album. The backlash that followed was swift and brutal: Many fans saw them as symbols of the advantages that white artists have even in a historically black genre. Last fall, the rapper — who went sober in 2008, but relapsed into drug use during his sudden rise to fame — got clean again, and he says the 12-step philosophy has helped him deal with criticism. “There’s this tendency to be like, ‘Where’s the negative stuff? How valid is the criticism?'” says Macklemore. “But honestly, what people think of me is none of my business. If I live on the Internet looking for public approval, I’m going to be miserable.”

The day after the VMAs, Macklemore is calling from a mountain cabin in eastern Washington, where he and Lewis are putting the final touches on their follow-up to The Heist. “I’m feeling great about this album,” he says. “It has a diversity of sounds and textures and concepts. We’ve been able to take our time with it, and it’s a great feeling to get to that point.”

His relief at having gotten through the VMAs is audible. “It was intense,” he says. “You’re sitting in your seat, Kanye’s giving his speech 10 feet away from you, and you realize how many people are out there watching and commenting and judging and making memes. This Internet culture that we’re in feels so foreign and so strange sometimes. The VMAs, the Grammys, Twitter, Facebook — all of that is artificial. What’s real is creativity.”

The “Downtown” video has been viewed more than 11 million times on YouTube; the song is the result of an 18-month-long recording process that began when Macklemore and Lewis were on tour somewhere in the American Midwest. “Ryan made a beat called ‘Moping Around,’ and I thought it was about mopeds,” Macklemore says with a laugh. He began writing rhymes about the vehicles that he and Lewis had bought to relieve the monotony of life on the road. Lewis took this theme as a production challenge, building “Downtown” into a five-minute epic packed with stylistic detours into Seventies rock, show tunes and more. “We worked at whatever studios were available when we had random ideas,” Lewis says. “There was a long time when I didn’t think I was going to be able to capture what was in our heads.”

RISE OF THE ETERNALS ~ HIP HOP IMMORTALS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

October 8, 2015 – With the recent launch of the Legacy of Hip Hop exhibit at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) the city has been buzzing with debate about who should top the list of Seattle’s most iconic artists to have represented this genre over the years.

What was most amazing to me as I walked through the MOHAI exhibit was that I saw the names of Bboys that I knew about based on recent performances. Yet, the exhibit had information on them dating back to the early 1980’s.

Because of the vibrant history of NW Hip Hop there will always be heated debate about who was/is/will be the greatest in any one of the 5 elements (Breakdancing/DJ’ing/Rapping/Graffiti/Knowledge). Believe me, it is easy to get pulled into that conversation. However, for purposes of this article I would like to focus on something else; the eternals of NW Hip Hop.

This column lists 10 artists who I feel have never left the game. But have represented the genre for the past 4 decades. I felt like I needed to share the list; because there just isn’t anyone writing about Seattle Hip Hop that actually has any roots in the community.

So here is the list. These are the realest of the real.

Coolout crewNo automatic alt text available.
10. Gordon (Music Inner City) Curvey and Georgio (Coolout Network) Brown (1990 – Present)

Element:  Knowledge
Two hip hop historians documenting the going-on’s in the hip hop community for a quarter century. Definitely two different personalities; with Gordon engaging in semi-regular public arguments with just about everyone on Facebook. Meanwhile, Georgio Brown keeps it cool. Constantly building bridges and giving local artists stage time at his
annual Coolout events (the 25th of which will be celebrated in 2016!) Georgio recently helped design and promote the MOHAI event; while Gordon was less than impressed with acknowledgement of his contributions.

Image may contain: Gregory Buren, smiling9. Greg (Funk Daddy) Buren and Derrick (Vitimin D) Brown (1988 – Present)

Element:  DJ/Producers

Are these two the same person? Both broke out around 1988. Both hit the ground running; putting out some major beats and haven’t taken a break in almost 30 years. These two have to share the spot, because both are legendary producers in the Northwest. Funk Daddy (aka Greg B) from Seattle and Vitimin D from Portland.

Image may contain: 1 person 8. Ishmael (Butterfly) Butler (1988 – Present)

Element:  DJ/Producer/Rapper

Founding member of Digable Planets. Grammy winner. Currently performing with Shabazz Palaces.

 

7. Derrick (Silver Shadow D/Derrick X) Seals (1985 – Present)

Element:  DJ/Producer/Rapper

Member of the seminal Seattle rap group DURACELL. 30 year history of active performances and musical releases. Vast knowledge of Seattle’s music and hip hop culture from the 1990’s. Current member of 206 Zulu.

Image may contain: Terrell Johnson, hat and closeup6. Michael (Edwag) Johnson (1983 – Present)

Element:  Bboy, Rapper

Edawg was a founding member of the Gail Place Rockers (aka Horton hand-spinners) before launching his music career as a member of the Mixalot posse. Edawg has over 30 years in the hip hop game and is a platinum selling recording artist. Currently hosts E’s Way Radio and regularly preforms both past and current hits.

 5. Carter (Fever One) McGlasson (1983 – Present)

Element:  Bboy, DJ/Producer

Founding member of the 1983 Seattle Circuit Breakers as well as a current member of the legendary Rock Steady Crew. Fever still performs in Bboy contests and also currently DJ’s at multiple clubs in Seattle.

Image may contain: 1 person, standing, beard and outdoor4. Nathan (Sire One) Hivick (1990 – Present)

Element:  Bboy, Graffiti Artist, DJ/Producer, Rapper

One of the few artists to represent all 4 of the original elements; Sire One has over 25 years of producing music and visual arts that is as fresh today as it was when he began. Still competing in (legal) graffiti art competitions as part of BAM crew, and performing with both North City Rockers and 206 Zulu.

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people dancing, shoes and indoor 3. Dave (Pablo D) Narvaez (1984– Present)

Element:  Bboy, Rapper, Knowledge

Founder and current manager of the North City Rockers; a multi-generational breakdance group in North Seattle. Recognized as one of the Northwest’s most knowledgeable hip hop historians and widely respected for his photo documentation of the hip hop community over the last decade via Studio Narvaez. Currently working on music production with Specs Wizard and Sire One.

 

Image may contain: 1 person2. Danny (DJ Mr. Supreme/Supreme La Rock/Preme) Clavisilla (1983 – Present)

Element:  Bboy, DJ/Producer, Knowledge

DJ Mr. Supreme (along with RSC legend DV One) is the current DJ for the Seattle Seahawks. Founding member of the 1983 Seattle Circuit Breakers. Regularly produces music scores for movies & television. Widely considered one of the foremost experts on both NW music and NW hip hop in the world.

 

Image may contain: 1 person, closeup

1. Michael (Specs Wizard) Hall   (1979 – Present)

Element:  Bboy, Graffiti Artist, DJ/Producer, Rapper

Currently produces a line of comic books for Capstan Media/Healthy Bunch. Regular music releases and performances throughout 2015. Featured artist at the MOHAI exhibit.

 Thank you for taking time to read.  I hope you enjoyed the list!  Let me know what you think!  Agree?  Disagree?

SEATTLE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND INDUSTRY HONORS HIP HOP (here’s what I saw!)

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

Mohia 2September 23, 2015 – The Legacy of Hip Hop at the Museum of History and Industry (HOHAI) will run September 19, 2015 through May 1, 2016. This trip through NW hip hop history is a fun way for elder b-boys to take a walk down memory lane, and for the younger generation to learn about those that came before them.

It’s well worth the $14-$17 entry price to see some of the once-in-a-lifetime artifacts which include championship dance trophies won by Seattle’s own Massive Monkees, 30 years of cd’s, tapes, and records from iconic rappers and Dj’s such as the Emerald Street Boys, Sir Mixalot, B-Mello, DJ Mr. Supreme, Specs, and more.  Also on display are iconic jackets from Nastymix Records (the Seattle label founded by Mixalot and Nasty Nes), Macklemore, and Mecca wear.

The event features a “tag wall” (pen & paper) for visitors to “get up”, as well as a series of live performances from both established and up-and-coming artists (Dumi, Nya, Specs, and more).

MohaiNoticeably missing from the display is the contribution of Seattle’s first breakdance groups “the Emerald City Breakers” and “Seattle City Breakers” and their founding members Junior Alefaio and Carlos (Slamalotte) Barrientes; as well as multi-generational hip hop icons Dave (Pablo D) Narvaez, Rafael Contreras, Donald (Ziggy) Puaa, and Nathan (Sire One) Hivick.  However, even with these stars omitted the display is still very comprehensive in it’s presentation and has received very favorable reviews from many in the old school community.

Curators Jazmyn Scott (The Town Entertainment) and Aaron Walker-Loud (Big World Breaks) freely admit that there are major gaps in the exhibit and that the amount of hip hop history and artist contributions is just too big to include everyone; but they hope that the exhibit will at least shine a spotlight on some of the talent that has existed here for the past 30 years.

“It’s not even that it’s my (or our) version of the story. It is an attempt to put into historical context, something that has been widely overlooked for years. We have acknowledged from day one that there are gaps; there is no way to tell the entire story. With this, we hope to give a glimpse into SOME of the people, places and things that make up this very rich culture in our town. It is only a starting point. Maybe someone else will pick up the torch or support us in making it even more comprehensive.” ~ JS.

The program features an interactive exhibit with historic audio recordings, photography, artwork, and more.

For more information on NW Hip Hop including artists not featured in the MOHAI exhibit please visit the following link:

VP 2

https://kingcountynews.org/2014/11/11/deepest-roots-30-years-of-hip-hop-in-seattle/

 

Amazing list of honorees at the Robert Stephens, Jr. Awards ceremony

| King County News - Fresh Juice for the Northwest

Awards winnerss June 20, 2015 Seattle’s Central District came together to celebrate long time advocates for youth, arts, social justice, and stronger neighborhoods; honoring some of Seattle’s most legendary names.

“We selected men who personally impacted us. The men in the room are the ledges whose shoulder we stand on.” Said Garfield Community Center Director Andre Franklin. Another member of the advisory committee stated that seeing so many true community leaders in one place left them “in awe”.

The event was birthed from a partnership between B.U.I.L.D. (Brothers United In Leadership Development), Unified Outreach, and the Garfield Community Center Advisory Board; along with Seattle Parks, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and 4Culture.

The event featured a full buffet spread with home style chicken, macaroni, greens, and corn bread. An incredible meal that in itself was worthy of celebration.pic food

Vicious Puppies Black and Blue Sammy Tekle Seattle2
Vicious Puppies aka Dog Pound

Music and MC duties were provided by DJ Surreal (aka George Yasutake), and guests were treated to a gravity defying performance from one of Seattle’s hottest breakdance groups, the Vicious Puppies (aka Dog Pound). Last month the Vicious Puppies brought their dramatic stage presentation of “Black and Blue” to the Neptune Theatre. The play brings social conscience and race relations to the front lines with a true-to-life story based on actual events. The play has received great reviews and the group is looking to expand the touring calendar throughout the summer. The Puppies have also played the main stage at the Sasquatch tour and other large venue events and are quickly becoming one of Seattle’s most in-demand groups.

Award Hampton
James Hampton receives his award.

Award honorees included well known community leaders who have served the people of Seattle for decades; as well as shining stars actively making a difference today.

The event recognized Mike Yasutake, John Yasutake, Gregory Davis, Aaron Dixon, Elmer Dixon, Bishop Ray Rogers, Steve Sneed, James Hampton, Reco Bembry, Guy Davis, and Larry Evans.

Each award recipient was introduced by someone who had a personal story of how the award winner had impacted their life.  The microphone was then handed to the award winner who then shared their own story about who had most impacted them.  The ceremony was full of humor and laughter, as well as somber moments and tears of gratitude.

IMG_20150620_115319 The afternoon culminated with the honoring and awarding of the new Robert Stephens, Jr. Community Service plaque which will hang in the Garfield Community Center.

Robert Stephens, Jr. has been a fixture in Seattle’s Central District for over 35 years. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Mr. Stephens, Jr. began serving the community after completing his tour in 1968. Mr. Stephens, Jr. has a Masters Degree in Education Psychology, is a K-12 teacher and school counselor, and has worked with Seattle Public Schools, Langston Hughes Cultural Art Center, Neighborhoods House, and Washington State Reformatory.

RSJ award
Robert Stephens, Jr.

Mr. Stephens, Jr. has been involved with a number of non-profit organizations and governmental advisory committees over the years; and has had a hand in the establishment of Odessa Brown Health Clinic, Madrona Dance Studio (now Spectrum), Medgar Evers Swimming Pool, and dozens of other programs that are now an established part of the community.

Mr. Stephens, Jr. has served as the President of the Central Area Neighborhood District Council; founded the Seattle Central Area Cultural Arts Commission, and helped in the creation of Homer Harris Park.IMG_20150620_115407

When presenting the award, Garfield Community Center Advisory Council Member David Toledo stated “When we began searching for someone that exemplified the community spirit; someone who was a true advocate for our youth, for the arts, and for the neighborhood; we all knew right away that it was time to honor Robert Stephens, Jr.”

-JP Scratches