Forever Young

Often times when I hear a new hip-hop artist I end up feeling disappointed. The thing is it’s not really their fault for the most part; It’s not that they lack some “it” factor that’s only found in a few artist it’s more of the times we live in. In a society obsessed with celebrity and sensationalism it seems the art form as a whole has suffered as a result. Gone are the days of conceptual albums and lyricism, replaced by snap back hats skinny jeans and the plague known as “swag”. I’m not here to point fingers on who’s fault it is but somewhere along the way actually being a good rapper got lost in the shuffle. With that being said every once and while you do find a diamond in the rough. For every 10 new artist I get a chance to listen to usually only one or two get my attention. Atlanta native and Portland resident Stevo might just be the one for you too. Although his name might conjure images of a certain MTV funny man this Stevo provides fans with much more than an occasional laugh. The thing that stands out about Stevo’s music is it embodies youthful exuberance without compromising creativity. His latest mixtape “Pardon My Jet Lag” was well received by critics and music lovers alike and is sure to be one of many quality releases by the young Portland artist. Stevo also brought the ATL hustle to the Pacific- Northwest, which earns him bonus points in my book. Releasing his music independently through his own imprint Triple-SB his work ethic is starting to yield positive results. Although Pardon My Jet Lag is fueled by the high energy and lyrics of Stevo it’s when he links with Triple-SB co-founder and resident songwriter Nick Fave that takes the project to the next level. With Nick navigating melodies and chorus structure it allows Stevo the freedom to focus on the art of storytelling which is a real treat for the listener. If you don’t have a copy of the mixtape I’d advise you to step your game up it’s well worth the purchase.To check out more of his music visit www.reverbnation.com/Stevotriplesb and to download his mixtape visit www.datpiff.com and search “Pardon My Jet Lag” If you want to check him out live he’ll be performing live September 16 at The Candy Carnival in Estacada Oregon. Make sure you bring your lighters though, at a Stevo show you can bet you’ll need it. #Smokesomethin’