WORLD RHYTHM FESTIVAL: Beat the drum and learn from the best at the the 18th Annual World Rhythm Festival this entire weekend at the Seattle Center House. Listen and learn at over 120 performances and participatory workshops in the world music traditions of Africa, Asia, Cuba, Brazil, India, America, the Middle East, and more. Featuring Northwest Taiko, N'Nato Camara, Grupo Quetzalcoatl de Olympia, Naby Camara, and Sham el-Nissim, to name just a few, it's time to bust out your boogies shoes, your djembe and get connected. Check out Friday's schedule here (pdf) and Saturday and Sunday's here (pdf), then tap up your tattoo. We'll be listening. Friday - Sunday Various Times // Seattle Center House // FREE more ›

It’s been a decade since Jay’s knocked around our northwest corner. We’ve watched him move from street documentarian to respected label president, making fashion and matrimonial stops along the way, all the while releasing bomb after banger. It’s no mistake his latest album went number 1, taking him over Elvis into the history books: he’s a living, breathing single machine. more ›

DJ Nphared spins for Sportn' Life artists, including D. Black and Fatal Lucciauno, and he also DJs for Grynch. Seattlest enjoyed his mixes at the Parker Brothaz show on Monday, so we set out to learn more about this guy's ethos. more ›

Like our high school hero Dan Zanes, we prefer to share "all ages" music with our toddler instead of mind-numbing "children's music." While we are not bumpin' to tales of Jay-Z's unfortunate experiences with his lady friends in various high-priced vehicles, neither are we interested in musical lessons on counting, going potty, and naps. more ›

Seattlest likes our champagne, and after perusing this article in the latest Fast Company Magazine, we just couldn't resist. The world of hip hop seems to be hell-bent on promoting everything from cars, clothes, and energy drinks. It was only inevitable that French champagne was next. After Jay Z had a falling out with "hip hop champagne juggernaut" Cristal over some racist comments, rap stars have been looking for alternatives - many in the form of their very own wine companies. Seems these brands are finally figuring out that hip hop really does have a big effect on revenue generation. After Busta Rhymes released his hit "Pass the Courvoisier" in 2001, the company saw a 30% increase in sales. Did you know there are even companies out there tracking the word counts on rap songs to pick out key brand names? Are indie bands ready to follow this trend? We doubt Modest Mouse Merlot is ready for the shelves anytime soon; but if the recent rash of car cross-promotion and One Tree Hill episodes are any indication, who knows.... more ›

Let's look back at a week in which no site in the -ist network adopted anyone from Africa... more ›

Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. more ›

The coldest ticket in town right now might be the Mariners - Seattlest bought tickets off the street for $5 the other day to sit on the back of the mound as Moyer implausibly led them to a win over the World Champs in 11. What's the hottest ticket? If you're thinking of Tool and the depressing state of affairs on CL regarding those it's a good guess, but no. Think loafers instead of combat boots and polos with the company monogram rather than concert tees. Microsoft's Strategic Accounts Summit is approaching and tickets to the event are hot. more ›

It is a dark, ugly secret, but not all of Seattlest hails from our glowing Emerald City. Aye children, tis true. Please don't shun us. This weekend, the Seattlest contingent originally from Utah, all one of us, returns to the motherland. more ›

To all you aspiring hip-hop MC's out there. Advertising Age and the Daily News are reporting that McDonald's is offering between one and five dollars everytime a song that plugs their signature sandwich is played on the radio. more ›