Word Around the Sound is… The Fish That Saved Portland is the latest album from Milc, the unverifiably-Hasbulla-approved rapper from Oregon. Sprinkled with a little bit of “MSG,” the project is another delicious collaboration with producer Televangel.
In a heartfelt love letter to Portland, Milc had this to say, “I love Portland, Oregon. I’ve never left… Well to get technical, I lived in Eugene for 6 months but tried my hardest to turn it into Northeast Portland. From The Ellingtons to the Yards, to a basement in St. John’s to an apartment in Sullivan Gulch, to a house with amazing bones off Lombard and Williams where my landlord never raised the rent in six years. To a house in east Tabor and a house off 42nd and Killingsworth. To my parent’s home on NE 14th. I know the rhythm of this city better than any beat I’ve ever rapped to.”
You can read the full letter on his Bandcamp, but this kind of love for one’s region is something we can truly get behind at RMR. That’s just one of the many reasons why we rock with LECHÉ heavy, not to mention the motherclucker can rap his ass off and does so throughout this whole album.
For example, tracks like “Plus Sized Model” “Drugstore Cowboy,” “Mankind” with Nacho Picasso, and “Original Pirate Material” with AJ Suede and Sleep Sinatra, like come on man, it’s disgusting how nasty these bars are. This isn’t your ambient in the background kind of music, The Fish That Saved Portland will capture your attention and won’t let go, forcing you to listen and focus on the rhymes he’s spitting from beginning to end.
Milc & Televangel – The Fish That Saved Portland
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Pinder – Emerald City
A staple of Seattle music, Pinder recently delivered a collection of tracks that are steeped in the sounds of the Pacific Northwest. His latest album Emerald City begins with a nod to legendary Seattleite, J. Moore, whose impact on the community is immeasurable. From there, Pinder has features from PNW legends like Fatal Lucciauno, J’von, Malice and Mario Sweet, as well as SEV of The Fade and formerly Dyme Def.
Fellow Dyme Def member and other half of The Fade, BrainGotBlaps produced the entire album with Blakk Soul mixing and mastering the project. Literally every second of this album is phenomenal. “When you create for each other, those albums just circulate…” and that’s exactly what this album is going to do for decades to come.
You can celebrate the release of Emerald City with Pinder at Super Jams Social Club on Tuesday, October 24, at Fish Ladder Lounge in Ballard from 10pm-2am. (21+)
LIVt – I Just Want My Bitches To Fly
LIVt has always knocked it out of the park with every project she’s released. Her latest EP, I Just Want My Bitches To Fly, is exceptional with some of her best work to date. As per usual, LIVt gives us a variety of approaches with each track and shows us her range from singing to rhyming to building out the overall compositions. It’s no question that she’s currently one of my favorite artists in the Pacific Northwest and this project should be enough of an explanation as to why- so run it!
Rell Be Free – 6Pack.V2
It’s time to crack open Volume 2 of Rell Be Free’s 6Pack series. This time, the Soufend rapper has linked up with Dre’Zy for the production and, to me, this was the perfect tone to take for a fall release. The drums crunch like the falling leaves while the keys trickle throughout the beats like the signature steady drizzle of the season. Rell’s vocals are warm, flowing smooth like a honey swirled cup of tea in the evening. The raw honesty he puts into his lyrics make 6Pack.V2 an endearing addition to any playlist.
AJ Suede – Reoccuring Characters
I’ve expressed this before, but AJ Suede is one of the best artists to rotate into your playlist during the fall and winter. He often creates a dark and ominous tone in his music and his latest album, Reocurring Characters is no different. What I love most about this album is the disjointed, yet befitting dissonance between the jazzed-up beats from Steel Tipped Dove and AJ’s conversational delivery. The vinyl for this record is going to go quickly, so, if you’re about it, ’bout it, I’d order a copy now.
AJ Suede will be performing at the High Dive alongside Onry Ozzborn on Tuesday, October 31. The show is 21 and over with tickets starting at $15.
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Sus – You Over There
I’ve been gushing incessantly about Sus for the past month since they released their singles “Tai Chi” and “Finicky,” and now they’ve finally released their latest album You Over There. The opening track, also the title track, feels like the album cover; it feels as if you were floating in the shallows of an open body of water, a peaceful serenity washes over you before the waves kick up and take you on a journey through the rest of the project. Sus is showcasing a wide range of talents from every individual in the band, and it is honestly so impressive to hear.
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Karma Knows – “Wussah” Music Video
It’s been quite some time since we’ve heard anything out of Karma Knows with only a sprinkling of singles over the past couple of years. His latest release, however, is stronger than ever. Karma linked up with Bingx to not only produce the track, “Wussah,” but to throw a verse in there as well. Accompanied by a music video, Karma got auteur filmmaker Justin Frick to direct the quirky and compelling piece that makes this release a standout.
Karma Knows will be performing “Wussah” at the Uptown Theater in Richland, WA as part of the second annual Spooky Island event. Tickets start at $20.
Laureli with Lil Seeto – “Can’t Waste Time”
Some might be quick to try and stick Laureli into the “pop princess” category with her beautiful vocals and catchy melodies. But the reason why I love Laureli is that she has a swagger and an edge to her that sets her apart and keeps her out of that box. Her versatility is a major reason why I think she’ll have a long career. For her latest single, Laureli linked up with Lil Seeto for “Can’t Waste Time,” a sunny little bop that has an underlying grit to it.
