If you listen to hip-hop the way I do this post might give you a little perspective on how I see things. The way I look at it the most important thing an emcee is obligated to do is put on for his city. Maybe it’s just the way hip-hop is presented but ever since the days of the Bronx vs. Queens-Bridge battle there is nothing that says hip-hop like someone that put’s his city before himself. Oddly enough in other genres of music it doesn’t really seem to work that way. A band could be from overseas and you might not know it until you read their biography. One thing is for sure when you hear this particular emcee it won’t take you long to figure out where he’s from. Seattle native Ben Haggerty better known by his stage name Macklemore leaves no doubt where his heart lies. The Emerald City emcee reps Seattle every chance he gets. People around the globe might not be aware of Seattle’s rich underground hip-hop tradition but for those of us amerced in the culture it’s no secret there’s a lot more going on in the “206” than Seattle Seahawk games. Macklemore attended Garfield high school in Seattle, which just so happens to be the same school Portland Trailblazer shooting guard Brandon Roy attended. He began to build a buzz in the region after he performed at Bumbershoot in 2008. This festival is one of the most popular musical events in the Pacific-Northwest and can act as a springboard for any aspiring artist. His latest single and video “The Town” is a tribute to the Seattle hip-hop scene and pays homage to those who paved the way for him. Although Sir Mix- A- Lot is often credited as being the only Seattle born emcee to have enjoyed mainstream success he left many emcee’s inspired along the way. If representing your city is a prerequisite in hip-hop’s arms race, than Macklemore is more than ready for war. If you’re looking to catch a dope show in the Portland area he’ll be performing at the Hawthorne Theater March 3. You might want to grab your ticket early it’s sure to be a packed house. For more information log on to www.myspace.com/macklemore
A sound that would later define a generation was already a movement before mainstream media paid any attention to it. A scene that many people had no idea about was brewing in the Pacific- Northwest and many people didn’t know what to think of it. An indie label by the name of Sub-Pop would discover a band that would change popular music and vanish like a thief in the night. The media called it grunge, but to fans the band was known as Nirvana.What makes Nirvana stand out from many other bands at that time is their quick rise to fame. By the time the band was formed in 1987 by front man Kurt Cobain Nirvana was not the polished act that would change the musical taste of the MTV generation. It took them three years to find the right pieces including drummer David Grohl that would finally make the puzzle complete. In their early years Sub-Pop garnered a certain level of regional success with bands Sonic-youth and Soundgarden. Nirvana would release an underground album Bleach which created a buzz on many different levels, although the album was not heavily promoted it kept people on notice that a new sound had arrived but nobody could have known what was in store down the road. After the band recorded a follow up EP to Bleach they began looking for a major label deal. They would eventually sign to DGC records and change the face of music with their major label debut Nevermind. What made this project come to life was the video for the lead single “Smells like Teen Spirit”. They say that timing is everything and sure enough when cable network MTV was coming of age this video struck a cord with many fans in more ways than one. It became a rallying cry for all kids that felt like misfits or somehow overlooked. The video imagery really captured the spirit of what would later be coined as “Generation X”. For corporate America it served as a wake up call, no longer would this segment of the population be muzzled and for better or worst their voices would be heard. By years end the album was selling over 400,00 copies a week and was a full-blown phenomenon. Unfortunately like many things in life the good times didn’t last forever. After releasing two more studio albums that where both successful in their own right lead singer Kurt Cobain was found dead at his Seattle estate, a victim of a self inflicted gun wound. Nirvana came and they went, they stole the hearts of many and before we knew what happened it was all over. The indelible mark they left on rock can still be felt to this day, and might possibly be the Pacific-Northwest’s greatest contribution to music.
Usually when I decide to write about a band people just assume they’ll hail from the Pacific-Northwest. This is true at times being that this blog is based around the happenings around this rainy metropolis but there are some exceptions. I’d like to think that good music knows no boundaries and is always worth talking about no matter where it’s from. Pegasus Weekly just so happens to exist because of a lack of publications that highlight talent from this region so hopefully you can excuse my basis. For those that think this blog is near sided this post is for you and hopefully proves that anything that gets my head bobbing usually gets my pen moving as well. This band hails from Northern Ireland and with the use of catchy melodies and clever choruses Two Door Cinema Club is hoping to have the same impact in the U.S. as they did in Europe. After leaving college to pursue their dream as a band the group found critical acclaim with their 2009 EP “ Four Words To Stand On”. This effort received a lot of attention from media members in Europe and left many in the blogosphere waiting for a debut album. With the help of social networking site MySpace the band was able to capture a core audience in a relatively short amount of time. What makes this band smart is the way they use licensing to increase their awareness around the globe. With song placements on popular video game titles such as Grand Turismo 5, FIFA 11 and NBA 2K 11 the band made sure that you’d be hearing their music one way or the other. Non-stop touring including opening up for Phoenix on their U.S. tour helped their debut LP “Tourist History” reached gold status in the U.K.. I wouldn’t call myself a jet setter just yet but it’s safe to say my music library might soon need a passport. For more information on this band log on to twodoorcinemaclub.com
If you listen to hip-hop the way I do this post might give you a little perspective on how I see things. The way I look at it the most important thing an emcee is obligated to do is put on for his city. Maybe it’s just the way hip-hop is presented but ever since the days of the Bronx vs. Queens-Bridge battle there is nothing that says hip-hop like someone that put’s his city before himself. Oddly enough in other genres of music it doesn’t really seem to work that way. A band could be from overseas and you might not know it until you read their biography. One thing is for sure when you hear this particular emcee it won’t take you long to figure out where he’s from. Seattle native Ben Haggerty better known by his stage name Macklemore leaves no doubt where his heart lies. The Emerald City emcee reps Seattle every chance he gets. People around the globe might not be aware of Seattle’s rich underground hip-hop tradition but for those of us amerced in the culture it’s no secret there’s a lot more going on in the “206” than Seattle Seahawk games. Macklemore attended Garfield high school in Seattle, which just so happens to be the same school Portland Trailblazer shooting guard Brandon Roy attended. He began to build a buzz in the region after he performed at Bumbershoot in 2008. This festival is one of the most popular musical events in the Pacific-Northwest and can act as a springboard for any aspiring artist. His latest single and video “The Town” is a tribute to the Seattle hip-hop scene and pays homage to those who paved the way for him. Although Sir Mix- A- Lot is often credited as being the only Seattle born emcee to have enjoyed mainstream success he left many emcee’s inspired along the way. If representing your city is a prerequisite in hip-hop’s arms race, than Macklemore is more than ready for war. If you’re looking to catch a dope show in the Portland area he’ll be performing at the Hawthorne Theater March 3. You might want to grab your ticket early it’s sure to be a packed house. For more information log on to www.myspace.com/macklemore
