April is low-key one of my favorite months, and itโs actually because of all the raindrops (and those blossoming trees). Winter is melting, and the Portland hip-hop waves are getting warmer by the week. Itโs probably about time to poke our heads out and dip our toes back in the water. This month there are at least two worthwhile hip-hop events to support, and if youโre still holed up and staying dry, listen to some of these new drops from local artists.
The Thesis: Mickey Taelor, Mal London, Itโs Future Time, Blon, DJ Verbz
When asked about the showcaseโs April lineup, Mac Smiff said itโs about to be a โvery sultry Thesis,โย with three soul-oriented artists on the bill, including Long Beach, California, singer Mickey Taelor, whose neo-soul/reggae/experimental style is inspired by luminaries like Lauryn Hill, Billie Holiday, and Erykah Badu. Also in attendance: rapper/singer/producer Mal London, a Seattle-to-Portland transplant Iโve been wanting to see for a while now due to his excellent recorded material, like the songs โNew Leafโย and โWayvmode.โย Label and artist collective Itโs Future Time will put together a set, in addition to Portland-based R&B/pop songstress Blon, who will likely perform tracks from her debut EP, The Water Tape. A sultry night indeed. (Thurs April 4, 9 pm, Kellyโs Olympian, 426 SW Washington, $10)
Beats and Rhymes for XRAY.fm
XRAY.fm constantly uplifts voices from Portlandโs hip-hop community on its airwaves, so it only makes sense that the scene should return the favor. Put together by the folks from A Beat Happening and Mic Check and hosted by DJ Klyph, this fundraiserโs lineup features a slew of experienced local producers and beatmakers: Trox, Luvjonez, Theory Hazit, Free Tillman, and Lisa Vazquez, along with DJs Trox and O.G. One. Iโm not too familiar with the mostly Portland-based MCs, but in my opinion, thatโs even more reason to go check โem out. (Sat April 6, 6 pm, Mission Theater 1624 NW Glisan, $10, all ages
โMan Now,โ Covi. featuring Bocha
Portland rapper Covi.โs debut project Escalate with Me caught my attention last year, along with his western-themed visual for โBetter Days,โ directed by the locally famous Riley Brown. And here he is again with another Brown-directed music video thatโs equally as stunning: โMan Now,โ featuring Bocha, is set in a snowy forest, presumably somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Dressed in all white (including a hoodie depicting his Escalate artwork), Covi. is out here in the wilderness just to secure the bag. Bocha, dressed in all black, appears to be a villain of sorts as he sneakily digs up an important-looking briefcase from the snow. At the videoโs conclusion, the two MCs meet in what looks like a stand-off in the middle of a bridge, but squash that narrative as Bocha hands Covi. the briefcase of cash. They shake hands, and part ways. Itโs another quality visual for another standout track from Covi.โs album.
โCheck X3,โ KayelaJ
Surprising no one, โCheck X3โ is one of my favorite KayelaJ songsโitโs just so catchy! And it makes perfect sense she chose it as her next single and music video. The visual is a performance compilation of sorts, showing various footage from the rapperโs very active past year making waves in the Portland hip-hop scene. Lots of twerking, dread-whipping, and cameos from local artists ensue. Although it can be argued that the music video takes the easy route, the visual succeeds in being an accurate depiction of what itโs like to be in the presence of KayelaJ, the performer: a bouncy, loose, and overall fun time.
โSuga,โ Stevo the Weirdo featuring Bocha and Donte Thomas
Stevo the Weirdo keeps putting out vibey tunes made for sparking a joint to. And the rapper says as much right in the opening hook for โSugaโ: โThis the shit that we can vibe to/We get high to/Rolling, smoking, take a ride to/Then hit the drive-thru/Hit some chicks and tell โem slide through.โ Over an ethereal beat produced by DโArtizt (it just sounds like a late-night drive), the five-minute song includes a second verse from Donte Thomas and a third from Bocha. All three rappers expertly deliver their respective verses, which tell about a day in the life of being a working hip-hop artist in Portland (and the women theyโre regularly getting high with).
