Hard to believe it’s already May… But there’s no turning back now, and honestly, who would even want to? Forward is the motto… Be the rocketship and all that, right?
Last year around this time, we here in Portland faced heavy discrimination against local hip-hop events as small venues faced sanctions and closures while mid-sized venues understandably stayed out of the drama. 2015, however, has brought some different fortune. In fact, tonight and tomorrow, some of PDX’s best talent will rock at two seperate events.
The WOHM x KPSU series TheTHESIS takes place this Thursday (and every first Thursday) at Kelly’s Olympian. Hard to believe it’s already the SIXTH consecutive month, and the semi-annual celebration, we’re bringing back the group that started it off, Load B. They will get some all-star help from Stewart Villain and Verbz on the boards, as well as opening performances from the PDX/SEA group Chill Crew (Jesse Desean & Jon Belz), and underground standout Maze Koroma. After last month’s historic turnup on the Portland Spirit, #TheTHESIS is back on land, looking to recreate the feeling.
The Holocene is also getting in on the local rap wave, bringing North Portland big guns Glenn Waco, Mic Capes and Rasheed Jamal (sometimes referred to as The Resistance) out TONIGHT for an all-local show along with up-and-comer Mikey Fountaine. Rasheed Jamal recently dropped Sankofa while Fountaine released Blak Sushi. Mic has a hot album on the way, and Glenn has been on a PR whirlwind, traveling the region, organizing for #DONTSHOOTPDX and taking a ton of pictures along the way. Expect a big turnout.
I don’t think anyone knows how long this window of opportunity will last, but while we have it, it seems like the local rap crews are making the most of this “green light”. Fans should too. #WeOutHere