Sandpeople - Sandpeople Present... (2006)

 

This week's post comes courtesy of a great request from Dimxsk - Sandpeople's "Present" compilation from 2006. 

"Present" is a Japanese released compilation from the NW Sandpeople collective that served as a sampler of the group's output up until that point (in addition to some tracks from upcoming projects.) The project has tracks from the group's previous crew albums as well as tracks from solo/offshoot projects. Notably, the project also contains some radio edits up front in addition to three tracks that you can only find on this release.

One of the exclusive tracks is called "Out of My Head" and is a solo Gold joint, likely meant for a solo Gold album that was intended to drop much sooner than his actual solo album debut from 2011. The other two tracks, "Chunky Salsa" and "Def Shepard," are tracks from an offshoot collabo duo between Al-One and Jon The Baptist known as "Soul Shepards." The Soul Shepards had a planned album (the inner notes to this CD promote it as upcoming,) but it unfortunately never dropped. Jon The Baptist ultimately got kicked from the group which may have added to the issue (and years later Al-One found himself in hot water with the crew too.) I'm not sure how much of the planned album actually got recorded but if there's any more tracks out there, I hope we get them someday. We got a complete unreleased McJameson album out of the blue earlier this year - so who knows?! 

Various members of the Sandpeople have said that another crew album is not gonna happen. Mo-B and Ethic retired. Gold, Sapient, Al, and Only have all been very quiet in recent years. Spark lives in Hawaii now I believe. $imple has made a pretty prolific comeback in recent years with some great music (though it's not typically what you'd think of as Sandpeople.) Iame moved across the country and has been steadily releasing music (vocal and instrumental) as Wool See. Illmaculate, now in LA I think, is of course the biggest name amongst the crew and has been doing bigger battles, writing for commercials, and putting out solo music of his own. Hopefully one day we can see the SP unite one more time. 

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Notes: 

- Saskatoon and Side Road member Rove drops his new album "Poke The Bear" today. The feature list is ridiculous and includes Ceschi, Myka 9, AJ Suede, Mickey Avalon, Sole, 2Mex, Awol One, Giovanni Marks, Mestizo, Moka Only, Thesis Sahib, Noah23, Gel Roc, Staplemouth, MC Homeless, Jihad the Roughneck MC and more. 

- Earlier this week, Epic dropped his first official single in a long while entitled "Lawson." The single is produced by Maki and features the B-Side track, "It Is What It Is" featuring Gregory Pepper and produced by Aries. The songs are part of a vinyl release set to drop later this year on El Gran E Records. 

Super Happy Wax Records - The North West Compilation One (2006)

 

This week's late post comes from one of my favorite piles of things to collect - northwest compilations. And this one, from 2006, has a pretty fitting title: "The North West Compilation One" from Super Happy Wax Records.

Super Happy Wax was a Portland label/store from the mid-late 2000's that seemed to have really got going once Northwest Order started slowing down. They put out some records from Smoke, Nite Owls (Mr. Hill and Barfly from Oldominion,) and Clockwerk (Iame/Goldini Bagwell from The Sandpeople.) I perhaps remember them most for their online store and message board from back in the day where you could cop some now NW gems and interact with other NW Hip Hop junkies. 

"The North West Compilation One" was a label sampler that Super Happy Wax would give away with online orders (I think you could buy it separately for like a buck.) The act list includes Cool Nutz, Grayskul, DJ Wicked, Abadawn, Santotzin, Cancer Rising, Mo-B, OnlyOne, Soul Plasma, and many more. Unfortunately, future installments of the compilation series never came to be. Thanks to the legendary FTD scene group for the rip! 

The North West Compilation One

NOTES:

- Check out the new Gumshoe Strut EP that dropped today, "NT2D," HERE. MC Homeless, Nolto, and Chaps make appearances. 

- Some deep Project Blowed heads may be familiar with Naj Ahead (formerly N/A of Tha Lepht.) Guy has been dropping some really good instrumental and remix projects in the last handful of years on his Bandcamp and last week he dropped "Random Rap Remixes Vol 2" HERE. Check it. 

- And speaking of the Blowed, Abstract Rude just dropped his latest installment in his "Trax" series with "Making Indie Traxx: Dusty Pointy Fingers" HERE. He usually ends up printing CDs of these down the road for those who want to wait for the physical. 

- Also don't sleep on Bloomcycle's and Old Grape God's "I Turn the Room to a Lava Lamp," Riddlore's and Debmaster's "Unreleased Tracks," Nickel Hawkeye's "Becoming Unbroken," and El Gran E Record's (who is putting out a new Epic record this year) "Sampler (2020-2023)" which all dropped earlier this month. 

Barfly of Oldominion - I've Been Worse (2007) [+ Notes Section]

 

Today's post is a filler from a request I got on Discogs from Vims: Barfly's "I've Been Worse" album from 2007. (We'll also now occasionally be having a little "Notes Section" at the end of posts whenever seen fit to drop miscellaneous things.)

Barfly is one of the most productive members from the Oldominion crew. He's a core member in groups Candy's.22, Saturday Knights, Big Kids Run, and Leather Tuscadero. He's released projects with Onry Ozzborn, Graves33, and Mr. Hill. He produces under the moniker Floods, and he's even dropped a full length novel (in addition to various zines and poems.) Even so, 2007's "I've Been Worse" is really his only official solo album yet. A quick look around the net revealed that it no longer seems to be available to buy anywhere online, so I figured it could be documented here. 

I've always loved Barfly's sound. His punk rock background, side of the mouth sarcastic delivery, and penchant for great complementary production makes him one of the most unique artists out of the PacNW - and this album really puts that on display. Features include Onry Ozzborn, Snafu, and NyQwil. 

And for those who want to keep up to date, Barfly has dropped a new EP this year entitled "A Light In The Dark" which is currently for sale exclusively on Concuss Creations HERE.

I've Been Worse

Notes:  

Today is once again Bandcamp Friday (it looks like Epic hasn't ruined things yet?) so be sure to support the artists that have them. I'm personally looking forward to today's new releases from Awol One/Id Obelus/Rove ("Fresh Air EP,") Jade River/Beond of Acid Reign ("Conquest Part 3,") Billy Woods/Kenny Segal ("Maps,") Five Fingers of Funk ("Portland Say It Again,") and Buck 65 ("Super Dope,") You can also head over to Fake Four's Bandcamp and pre-order Factor Chandelier's new album "Moving Like A Planet." 

RIP to HelloLA records - they put out some of the best looking cassettes and overall artwork over the years. Bertrand is now working with Adeem in a new label called "Echo Finch." They recently dropped a new album from Rain entitled "The And // Chapter 2," with features from Open Mike Eagle, Onry Ozzborn, John Robinson, Moe Pope, Latrell James and more HERE. 

If you were a high tier member in the Fake Fouragers program last year, be sure to check that you got the new vinyl fossil from Ceschi - an exclusive 12" record filled with new music exclusively for subscribers. Word is, his final Ceschi project, "Bring Me The Head of Francisco False" will also be released exclusively on vinyl for those who pre-ordered the Ceschi/Factor trilogy. 

Anyone else miss the blogs of yesteryear? Shout out to Beetbak, This Is For The Hustlers, Record Science, Ludz, Thirdman, and obviously the great GhettoTyylit! Hoping for a new Til Infinity post soon! 

Dark Time Sunshine & DJ Pratt - Snob Rap Mixtape (2010)

 

Sorta disappointed to find out this week that I'm not immune to Covid. I went years without catching it and here we go. And it SUCKS.

So I'm just gonna throw this one out there. You know and love Onry Ozzborn. Dark Time Sunshine made one of the best art rap albums ever in Vessel and I guess this party mix was in celebration of that or something. Not sure where I got this or if it's even legit. It is certainly Oldominion dudes rapping over beats that don't sound like OD. Courtesy of DJ Pratt I assume.

Anyway take a listen, I'm gonna lie down now.

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Tru-ID - Stranded (2006)

 

More Northwest goodness this week with Tru-ID's "Stranded" from 2006! 

Tru-ID is a Seattle rapper/producer who runs with the Undercaste crowd. You might know him for his collabo album with Ricky Pharoe, who appears here on Tru-ID's "Stranded" album (I believe it's his debut?) 

Tru-ID has a really strong presence on the mic and can definitely rap. The sound of this project, it's produced by someone named Isaac Meek, definitely incorporates the NW version of G-Funk, which is cool, but the rhymes definitely stick out the most here. Features include Ricky Pharoe, Latin Rose, Neema, Lamar Real, and Willie Wil. Check it out below!

STRANDED

New Music: WD4D - The Wrap Vol. 2

 

Today's new one comes via WD4D and his new EP, "The Wrap Vol. 2!" 

Most of you probably know WD4D best for his time in the West Coast underground in the late 90s/early 2000s, putting out songs with the likes of Awol One, Matre, Bukue One, Maleko, Existereo and more. You might not know, however, that he's still at it - nowadays focusing mainly on purely instrumental music.

"The Wrap Vol. 2" is the second installment in WD4D's Christmas series, quickly constructed Christmas instrumentals to fit the season. For those in need of some cheer this season, check it out!

The Wrap Vol. 2

VA - Reigncraft Volume 4: The Labor (2004)

Reigncraft was a compilation series spearheaded by Seattle producer KNDNM. The series was supposed to have acted a business-card of such for Seattle (and surrounding NW area) rappers, producers, and recording studios. They were supposed to have dropped once per season, but we had to settle for one per year up until the final volume (Volume 8.)

Today's upload is one of my favorites, "Volume 4: The Labor." One of the great things about the compilation was that is showcased various sounds from throughout Seattle. This volume is heavy on the G-Funk sound, but it has some serious bangers in that sub-genre. Cyphalliance, Bad Luk, Unexpected Arrival, D-Sane, Byrdie, and many others stop by.

Peep it below (FTD Scene rip)! 

Reigncraft Volume 4: The Labor

Elevated Elements - Progress (2001)

Today's upload is an OG release from everyone's favorite rapper...Professor Macklemore!!!! 

Elevated Elements was a Hip Hop crew (not limited to musicians) featuring Lace, Lyes, EE, Finger Prints, Exakt, and an early Macklemore. The project is pretty much what you'd assume an underground 2000s rap crew album would sound like. Lots of lyrical miracle spiritual raps, west coast/Blowedian flows, and dusty jazzy beats. It's not gonna blow your mind, but it is a fun listen.

This is a repost from the great JackDevo (RIP Beetbak?) who also ripped this from his copy from back in the day. Since it is no longer available, I figured I'd repost it here. Enjoy!

Progress

 

New Music: $iMpLe - 3IMPLE

 

New, out of the blue, EP drop from one of the Sandpeople's more elusive members, $imple (aka Thndrthf) - "3IMPLE." I've only listened to this one once thus far, but it's actually the best rapping I've ever heard from $imple - great schemes, flows, and concepts. The mixing and beats are a bit shaky at times, but we're used to that by now in indie rap now, right? Apparently he's working on a full LP now, so keep an eye out for that! 

Peep 3IMPLE HERE. 

H-Bomb - Spontaneous Combustion (?)

 

Due to running late today, here's a quick upload from H-Bomb, "Spontaneous Combustion." 

H-Bomb is a Northwest rapper from the duo Sinsemilla and the greater Tribal crew (perhaps best known for his days as a battle rapper.) To my knowledge, "Spontaneous Combustion" was his only solo album drop, and I'm not sure it even ever officially dropped! 

This is a repost from the, now deceased?, Beetbak blog. No album art or track titles involved. Enjoy! 

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Negatv & Panama Red - No Chance (2007)

Well, I was made aware that my initial upload for today was already upped by Dimxsk in the past (product of having done this for a while lol,) so the replacement is 2007's "No Chance" from Negatv and Panama Red! 

Negatv and Panama Red are two Portland, OR emcees/producers who were affiliated with Metro League, the label most known for being associated with Serge Severe. The two had a handful of credits during the 2000s amongst local projects, though both seem to have gone pretty quiet in the past decade. Panama Red had a couple production credits on Serge Severe's 2019's "Dream Under Fire," but not much more beyond that. Negatv seems to have retired (I know he split with the Metro League crew over internal issues.)

"No Chance" is the duo's sole album that I am aware of. The sound is pretty standard NW boom bap of the time and at 16 tracks deep, things can get monotonous in places. In smaller doses, however, there's a lot here to appreciate, particularly the vivid northwest descriptions in a lot of the rhymes. Features include Serge Severe, Diction Uno, and Yamio263 among others. The CD itself is actually not too rare here in the Northwest if you're digging in the local shops, but it seems to be much rarer online and I couldn't find any digital version of it online at all. Peep below and enjoy! 

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Ricky Pharoe & Phreewil - Was And It Will Be (2014)

We're switching things up this week! On Friday, we've got a track by track review of the new Dark Time Sunshine, so today we're upping! And to keep in the PNW theme, here's 2014's "Was And It Will Be" from Ricky Pharoe and Phreewil.

Ricky Pharoe is a Seattle MC who might be best known for being the vocal half of the duo Art Vandelay. Ricky came up in the NW scene in the 2000s and collaborated with the standards like Graves33, Budo, Macklemore, Eastern Sunz and the like. He has a great cynical while humorous style of writing and a great delivery, both of which are on display here and backed by prolific producer Phreewil. 

Ricky does have a trend of appearing online for a set number of years, dropping tons of great music on us, and then disappearing for years with little trace...while also removing some of the previously dropped projects. "Was And It Will Be" was one such project that was initially available for Free DL but removed once Ricky went AWOL again. Luckily, it's salvaged here for you! Enjoy!

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