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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
#1 Fan Some Next Level Shit for Seattle Hiphop
Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 10:17 AM
If Seattle wants to really arrive on the national scene, it must borrow a move from the playbook of the old school. Recall how important the first Fresh Fest tour (Whodini, Fat Boys, LL Kool J, Run DMC) was to the consolidation and cementing of the culture. That tour, which happened in 1986, erased any doubts about the status of hiphop—it was here to stay.
Seattle finally has accumulated an A-list of acts—meaning, acts that can generate ink and ticket sales. They are: Macklemore, Blue Scholars, Shabazz Palaces, Jake One, and Vitamin D. Those five should hit the road as one. Their combined success would greatly benefit the local movement—from top to bottom, past to present. This tour should cover the major joints of America and Europe. This is what I'm thinking about today. The sun is out today.
- Christopher Nelson
2
We've already arrived on the "National Scene".... Been there for Years... Act Like You Know...
Respectfully-
Jonathan Moore - The Mayor
Enjoy The Sun
Respectfully-
Jonathan Moore - The Mayor
Enjoy The Sun
3
Charles, I suspect most of the Line Out readership was born around the time of the first Fresh Fest.
4
Nothing to see here. Seattle hip hop has been on the national scene. In fact it's almost all anyone outside of Seattle ever talks about.
5
oh look a guy with a $3,000 laptop. How musical.
do you get money incentive for posting about those 'bands' every day?
do you get money incentive for posting about those 'bands' every day?
7
Let's get the Head and the Heart, Mad Rad, Tit Pig and all of Trent Moorman's friends together to piggyback this and call it the "We SWEAR we're doing something important in Seattle! We're not just grunge, and we're STILL COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY VITAL" tour.
In all seriousness, I appreciate the idea that you're going for, in terms of being one standout package tour that represents the multiple different sounds/flavors/facets of our lovely city. Depending on who you consider to be the biggest act in there (I'd put my money on Macklemore being just above Blue Schol in terms of draw at present moment, but I also haven't ever seen what any of those guys do outside of Seattle), it could be a really good way to cement the Seattle scene. We're certain that Macklemore can sell out Showbox, and Blue Scholars and Shabazz can sell out Neumos, but outside of this city and, say, New York or LA (where industry takes up most of the guest list and every show is almost a guaranteed sellout), is there a draw for this kind of thing?
I don't ask to question anyone's creativity or relevancy here; I just know that outside of our little Seattle bubble, there's a chance these acts could be playing half-full 200 person clubs in the midwest.
Between the price of gas and a slumping entertainment economy, doing a package tour that runs through markets that may or may not support this sort of thing ("GOOD EVENING TULSA!")...well, it could be a gigantic success or it could totally be a giant frustrating mess.
Regardless of outcome, I do hope it happens.
In all seriousness, I appreciate the idea that you're going for, in terms of being one standout package tour that represents the multiple different sounds/flavors/facets of our lovely city. Depending on who you consider to be the biggest act in there (I'd put my money on Macklemore being just above Blue Schol in terms of draw at present moment, but I also haven't ever seen what any of those guys do outside of Seattle), it could be a really good way to cement the Seattle scene. We're certain that Macklemore can sell out Showbox, and Blue Scholars and Shabazz can sell out Neumos, but outside of this city and, say, New York or LA (where industry takes up most of the guest list and every show is almost a guaranteed sellout), is there a draw for this kind of thing?
I don't ask to question anyone's creativity or relevancy here; I just know that outside of our little Seattle bubble, there's a chance these acts could be playing half-full 200 person clubs in the midwest.
Between the price of gas and a slumping entertainment economy, doing a package tour that runs through markets that may or may not support this sort of thing ("GOOD EVENING TULSA!")...well, it could be a gigantic success or it could totally be a giant frustrating mess.
Regardless of outcome, I do hope it happens.
9
"I don't ask to question anyone's creativity or relevancy here; I just know that outside of our little Seattle bubble, there's a chance these acts could be playing half-full 200 person clubs in the midwest. "
This is literally what Macklemore did in Minneapolis. Outside of Seattle I think Blue Scholars is still slightly bigger than Shabazz but those are the only two that get that much coverage nationally
This is literally what Macklemore did in Minneapolis. Outside of Seattle I think Blue Scholars is still slightly bigger than Shabazz but those are the only two that get that much coverage nationally
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