The underground party collective Toe Jam just stepped out of the basement. On December 13th, youth from all over the Seattle-Tacoma metro area crammed into the Showbox Market for their coming out party with Red Bull Music.
Toe Jam At The Seattle Showbox
Video by Dawson Knight
Toe Jam is special. Over the last year and some change, the group of young movers and shakers has brought together Seattle, Tacoma, and everywhere in between together in a unique way. Their underground parties have left property owners furious and attendees feverishly talking about how lit the events are. Yet December 13th was different. In the past, most venues have been hesitant to book the crew and the artists they desire to book. The Showbox finally gave them a shot and they sold it out in glorious fashion while staying true to their roots.
With Lil Mosey, Young Nudy, and Ghoulavelii on the line up alongside the regions hottest up and coming DJs, the event was set up for a wild ride from start to finish. The promoters not only wanted to connect Seattle and Tacoma, but they also set out to compare and contrast our local artists against heavy hitters in Atlanta like Nudy. After speaking with the crew from the Toe Jam, I learned that these local kids have a passion beyond just throwing wild events. They are building a platform for the Pacific Northwest to enjoy and help get this region on the map. “We wanted to show that we’re not all that different. Atlanta is so influential to the whole world and some kids here have studied that demeanor so much that you can’t tell who’s from where. We wanted to show how Toe Jam isn’t any different than a Nudy show in Atlanta, LA, or wherever.”
While the event platform has reached all-time highs, their raw nature still held true. Bras were left on stage, shirts were thrown into the rafters, a performer slapped an attendee in the face with a mic, and Lil Mosey took a bottle to the head. This was a sold out event in a historic Seattle music venue yet it felt like the secret warehouse parties that Toe Jam is known for.
The platform these young folks are building is truly something special. It’s 100% for the local culture but it’s so relevant to the pop culture for the youth, they’re going to help break through ceilings and roofs locally. The Toe Jam folks informed me that they are building this platform for both local and national acts I asked them if they knew how special it was to connect the 253 and 206. They answered ‘The Seattle-Tacoma connection could be very special and important. It’s getting close. I wish more people would fuck with each other more. I wish people would hop on each other’s verses and promote each other’s singles more, but that doesn’t happen often.”
