Putting The Northwest On The Map, Maybe: Local Hiphop Needs More Attention

Katelyn Hackett attends local hiphop shows. She will write about them for Seattlest.

Another gleeful, sharp, and passionate local hiphop show came and went Sunday night at Neumos, and chances are high that you weren't there. Chances are high, actually, that you didn't even know it was happening. Seattlest heard about the show through our perusal of trusty MySpace bulletins; if we weren't already such devoted fans we could have easily spent the evening with you, gnashing our teeth over the Seahawks' televised inglorious failures. Instead we hung out with Seattle hip-hop greats (was that DJ Sabzi from the Blue Scholars we saw snapping photos?) and should-be-greats Cancer Rising, Khingz, Gabe Teodros, Neezie Pleaze, along with a surprisingly excellent opening-opening act from the adorable GMK. (Check out his "Baby Drops That." Awesome.)

Neezie Pleaze, a lanky easy-going wordsmith whose rhymes caught the back of his beats with dangerously perfect timing, wore stripes with plaid last night. A calm and funny Neezie took the stage; apparently other critics aren't fond of his chosen name, "Neezie Pleaze," but we are very fond of it because it rhymes with lots of other words and is just damned fun to say. His lyrics are witty, as well: "Cocoacabana," anyone? Seattlest now has a copy of his release, Pleaze Believe, which opens with his assurance that he's out to "put the Northwest on the map." Sounds good to us.

At this point in the evening, Khingz and his buddy/partner Gabriel Teodros took the stage. Joining them mid-set was south Seattleite Nam (watch for his solo cd release announcement in about three months). Khingz and Teodros are known for their uncompromisingly political, socially conscious music; this night's show was no disappointment, with a rousing, angry, and very timely performance of "This Is For The Cops." (Upon arising Monday morning, Seattlest was greeted with news of another dubious police/South Seattleite encounter at Yesler that occurred that morning. Khingz' "This Is 4 Tha Cops," full of South Seattle outrage, should get some radio play right now.) Check it out here. We have a mild crush on Khingz/Teodros' DJ WD-40, in other news.

Cancer Rising wrapped up the show in high style. These guys do the most exciting, exhilarating live show we've ever seen in Seattle, matched only by the March Forth Marching Band. For a good time, call Cancer Rising! We're kind of insulted on their behalf that so few fans showed up for them at this show, but on the other hand, we're thrilled that we and our few fellow fans alone got to hear them practice new stuff. A new album is set to come out soon. A few questions for the guys: why is their MySpace profile all messed up? And how do they pull off such consistently fabulous live shows?

In future, Seattlest will try to let you know beforehand about these shows, which seem to be slipping under the city's radar. That's a shame, because this stuff is too good to miss.