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NPR PICKS TWO SEATTLE BANDS FOR FIVE ARTISTS YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IN 2010

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NPR
NPR enlisted the help of Seattle’s KEXP to make a short list of “5 Artists You Should Have Known in 2010”. Of the five, two of them are Seattle bands. The first should be no surprise; they have been earning local and national acclaim at an incredible speed this year. The Head and the Heart’s self-titled album has been featured on all the major music blogs, including NPR. “You’re likely to love this Seattle band’s debut collection of well-crafted acoustic indie-pop. Its imaginative, piano-based arrangements are highlighted by tight, soulful harmonies, heartfelt lyrics and sing-along choruses,” explains the article. The other local album on the list is Macklemore/Ryan Lewis’ Vs. NPR explains its pick: “The Vs. is the first album of innovative hip-hop from Seattle’s Macklemore and DJ/producer Ryan Lewis. Macklemore embraces a wide range of personal themes (including his recent struggle with drug addiction) in the powerful “Otherside.” Lewis samples from Arcade Fire, Caribou, Beirut and Antony and the Johnsons, turning them all into cinematic bangers. Call it postmodern indie alterna-hip-hop crossover if you must, but it works.” See the full list at the link above.

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NEW INSTALLMENT OF KEXP DOCUMENTARY SERIES “HIP-HOP: THE NEW SEATTLE SOUND”

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KEXP
This week’s installment of the KEXP 10-part series “Hip-Hop: The New Seattle Sound” profiles Macklemore. KEXP says, “This rapper’s music, philosophy and self-reflection inspires all of us to dig deeper, to question ourselves and also to be proud of the gifts we’re given. Macklemore’s latest release with Ryan Lewis, the 2010 Vs. EP, contains some of the deepest lyrics ever recorded. Macklemore’s work on the release is edgy, existential and classic, all at once. In this KEXP radio story, Macklemore talks about getting his start at Garfield High School in Seattle, calling it a ‘mecca of hip-hop.’ We discuss use of the word “bitch” in hip-hop songs to describe women and why the word is authentic in some cases and wrong in others. And Macklemore lays his opinions out on the line like he always does, with unrelenting honesty.” Check out the show after the link.

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CHECK OUT THE KEXP DOCUMENTARY SERIES: “HIP-HOP: THE NEW SEATTLE SOUND”

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KEXP
This week KEXP launched a new 10-part series “Hip-Hop: The New Seattle Sound.” They picked ten of Seattle’s hottest local acts and are doing short radio stories on them. These ten talented performers will be profiled in the coming weeks: Blue Scholars, D Black, Vitamin D, Jake One, Fresh Espresso, RA Scion, THEESatisfaction, Macklemore, Dyme Def, and Shabazz Palaces. In these episodes, producer Michele Myers sits down with each artist and asks them to tell stories, talk philosophy or just rap. Then in the editing room, they illuminate the most memorable points with their music. The first episode is on the duo Blue Scholars, made up of MC Geologic and DJ/Multi-instrumentalist Sabzi. They talk about how their music is based on storytelling, what the “Seattle Sound” is for hip-hop and also give props to local producer Vitamin D and his former band The Ghetto Children, the people who laid the foundation for today’s new hip-hop scene. The intro to each episode is a rundown of Sea-town’s hip-hop history, told by the “Mayor of Seattle Hip-Hop,” Jonathan Moore. To listen to the first episode, follow the link.

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WATCH TONIGHT: OPEN STUDIO ON ART ZONE FEATURING LOCAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS

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Art Zone
Tonight on the Seattle Channel’s ArtZone is their monthly Open Studio episode. Five local artists from a variety of mediums get three minutes to do their thing. Tonight’s lineup features Uncle Bonsai, Linda Waterfall, Jimmy Holden & Jon Goforth, Gbenga Akinnagbe, and Macklemore. The curtain goes up Friday, April 23 at 8:00 pm on Channel 21.

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SEATTLE WEEKLY HAS GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR 206 HIP HOP IN 2010

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Seattle Weekly
After a year of positive local press and sold out shows, Seattle hip hop looks to be on the verge of breaking out of the Northwest. The Seattle Weekly tackles what might happen next, “If you were at the Go! Machine shows and saw Macklemore’s impassioned delivery or Fatal Lucciauno convert pacifistic hipsters with his street sounds, then you’re probably wondering: What will it take for this scene to earn a country-wide audience on a par with those of, say, Atlanta or St. Louis? After all, we’ve got the producers, the recording studios, the MCs, the venues, an endless supply of traveling acts, and a solid local and regional fan base on which to build.” To read the rest of the profile please follow the above link.

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WATCH ZIA MOHAJERJASBI AND MACKLEMORE’S “THE TOWN” MUSIC VIDEO

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ANDREW MATSON WRAPS UP THE YEAR IN LOCAL HIP-HOP

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Seattle Times
Seattle Times blogger, Andrew Matson, recaps the year in local hip-hop. He highlights THEE Satisfaction, Champagne Champagne, They Live!, Mad Rad, Fresh Espresso and Macklemore as Seattle Hip-hop’s new crop of rappers and says, “everyone involved in the new rap guard seems to be living for the moment, making grand statements without need for validation.” For the full profile, follow the above link.

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JOIN KEXP FOR AUDIOASIS BENEFIT SHOW

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KEXPmacklemore-audioasis
This year KEXP’s longest running local music show is out in the community more than ever. Every month Audioasis will broadcast live from The Sunset Tavern in Ballard and all proceeds benefit a local non-profit. This month’s proceeds benefit PROVAIL, a group that provides community employment, community living, and therapeutic and assistive technology services for people with severe disabilities. The broadcast will include live performances from Seattle bands including Vs (Maklemore and Ryan Lewis), and Black Whales and will take place November 7th.

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AROUND THE BLOCK PARTY: CHA CHA, COMET & CHOP SUEY

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Seattle Subsonicmacklemore
As if the regular two-day lineup wasn’t enough, the Cha Cha, the Comet Tavern, and Chop Suey will all be hosting shows during and after the proper festival this weekend. Chop Suey’s Mad Rad/Macklemore show on Saturday is only 3 bucks with a Block Party wristband. The Cha Cha’s Saturday night schedule features Moonrats, Champagne Champagne, and Constant Lovers all back to back. Friday features Loving Thunder and Born Anchors. For a complete list, check out the Seattle Subsonic blog.

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