1979
The Rocket
The Rocket, a local alternative arts and music newspaper, is launched.
Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang release their landmark single “Rapper’s Delight” on New Jersey–based Sugar Hill Records on September 16.
Robert L. Scott
KYAC 1250 AM program director Robert L. Scott plays “Rapper’s Delight” on Seattle radio for the first time in October.
1980
KFOX
Radio station KYAC 1250 AM changes its call letters to KKFX (KFOX).
Emerald Street Boys
Eddie “Sugar Bear” Wells and James “Captain Crunch” Croone form The Terrible 2. They lose a rap contest to Gary Jam and Big Boss Cross (aka Jam Delight), at Lateef’s, Seattle’s first hip-hop club.
FreshTracks
1250 KKFX’s (KFOX) FreshTracks hosted by “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez becomes the first all-rap radio show on the West Coast.
Glen Boyd
Glen Boyd begins working at Penny Lane Records in Tacoma, Washington.
1981
KNHC
Radio station KNHC 89.5 FM begins playing hip hop.
Silver Chain Gang
Duke of Earl, Sir Wesley, Jazzy D, and Foxy combine to form the Silver Chain Gang.
West Side Threat
The West Side Threat is formed.
Emerald Street Boys
Eddie “Sugar Bear” Wells, James “Captain Crunch” Croone, and Robert “Sweet J” Jamerson form the Emerald Street Boys. “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez is the DJ.
Street Life
Steve Sneed and Reco Bembry produce the play Street Life, which includes a dance scene featuring the Emerald Street Boys.
1982
Emerald Street Girls
Cousins Mia “Angel Face” Black and Doretha “Playmate” Johnson form the Emerald Street Girls.
Emerald Street Boys
The Emerald Street Boys perform in February 1982 in a benefit at the National Guard Armory on Elliot Avenue. The show is reviewed in The Rocket.
Emerald Street Girls
The Emerald Street Girls perform at On The Boards Fifth Anniversary Party on November 13, 1982.
1983
Emerald Street Boys versus Silver Chain Gang
The Emerald Street Boys and the Silver Chain Gang perform in the Black Community Festival at Judkins Park.
Whiz Kid
Tacoma resident Whiz Kid (Harold McGuire) releases “Play That Beat Mr. DJ” on Tommy Boy Records.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot begins playing parties at the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club.
Emerald Street Boys
Seattle’s first rap record, Christmas Rap (B side “The Move”), by the Emerald Street Boys, is produced by Tony B and released on his label Telemusic Productions.
Emerald Street Girls
Bobbie “Luscious Lynn” Solomon and Jenell “Black Velvet” Cole join the Emerald Street Girls.
1984
Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash and The Crash Crew perform at the Music Hall.
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa plays the Gorilla Gardens.
Emerald Street Boys
Emerald Street Boys open for The Treacherous Three at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.
Summer Break ’84
Summer Break ’84 break-dance competition is televised on KOMO Channel 4.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot begins playing parties at the Central District Boys & Girls Club. “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez meets Mix-A-Lot there and invites him to air his material on KFOX. Sir Mix-A-Lot becomes KFOX’s most requested artist.
Graffiti
DC3 and Kuo “Mr. Clean” Yang paint the first block-long burner on the side of the Nordstrom department store in downtown Seattle.
Breaking
The Seattle Times runs a feature story on breaking in the Arts and Entertainment section in February 1984.
Beat Street
Producer Harry Belafonte and pioneering New York break-dancers Rock Steady Crew arrive in Seattle to promote the film Beat Street in June 1984.
1985
NastyMix Records
Ed Locke, “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Greg Jones form NastyMix Records.
High Performance versus New York City Breakers
High Performance defeats the New York City Breakers at the Tacoma Dome.
Teen Dance Ordinance
City Council president Norm Rice proposes a Teen Dance Ordinance, which is later passed by the Seattle City Council.
Frostmaster Chill
John “DJ Frostmaster Chill” Funches and the Freeze MCs, Daddy D, Col. G, and Mellow Mike open for L.A. Dream Team at the Seattle Trade Center.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Baron Von Scratch and Sir Mix-A-Lot battle Rainier Valley crew Kings Of Cutting (KOC).
Graffiti
David “Image 8000” Toledo and Sean “Nemo” Casey paint a piece titled ImageNemo at Gas Works Park.
Colman School occupation
In November 1985 a group calling itself the Citizens Support Committee for the African American Heritage Museum/Cultural Center occupies the vacant Colman School building and demands the space be used to house a Black history museum and community center.
1986
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot plays Fresh Fest in London.
Boss Cross
Big Boss Cross releases his single “Party Invader” on Macola Records.
Run DMC
Run DMC plays the New Year’s Eve show at the Tacoma Dome with El DeBarge and Bobby Brown.
Billboard
Billboard mockingly refers to Seattle as a “hip-hop hotbed.”
Frostmaster Chill
Frostmaster Chill, DJ JOC (Jammin On Cuts), and Robert “MC Le Rap” Spikes record the single “Breakdown.”
Boys Will B-Boys
Steve Sneed and Reco Bembry produce the play Boys Will B-Boys at On the Boards; the Emerald Street Boys, originally set to star in the production, are eventually replaced by the Silver Chain Gang.
Egyptian Lover
Los Angeles artist Egyptian Lover plays shows on consecutive nights in the Colman School gymnasium in support of the occupation by the Citizens Support Committee for the African American Heritage Museum/Cultural Center.
Crack
The Seattle Times runs its first story on the spread of crack cocaine in the Seattle area on May 28, 1986.
1987
Vitamix
Portland, Oregon, artist Vitamix releases his single “That’s the Way Girls Are” on Profile Records.
Incredi-Crew
Incredi-Crew releases the single “High Powered Hip-Hop” on their label Gemini Records.
KCMU
Radio station KCMU 90.3 FM debuts the program Shock Frequency with “Shockmaster” Glen Boyd.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases the single “Posse on Broadway.”
DI-RA Boys
The DI-RA Boys record the singles “The Times” and “Crack Get Back.”
Beverly’s Records & Tapes
Beverly’s Records & Tapes opens at the corner of Twenty-third Avenue and Jackson Street.
RICO-1
Reggie Brown and Robert Lomax establish RICO-1, a mobile DJ unit that plays parties at various local venues.
DURACELL Crew
DURACELL (Def Undisputed Rhymes Are Cuts Especially Long Lasting) Crew, Derrick “Silver Shadow D” Seals, Clifton “Chilly C/ SOZ” Seals, Bruce “Incredible B/Horton B” Griffith, Lawayne “Crazy Waves” Rainwater, and Jason “JG” Gavin win the first All-City Talent Show held at Franklin High School and become the first hip-hop artists to perform at the annual Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center.
Chelly Chell
Chenelle “Chelly Chell” Marshall records the single “He’s Incredible.”
Crips and Bloods
The Seattle Times runs a story on June 28, 1987, about the arrival of Crips and Bloods in Seattle with the headline “Gangs Increasing in Seattle–L.A. Toughs Leave Slums for New Turf.”
1988
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot’s debut album Swass is released on NastyMix Records.
Rap Attack
The radio program Rap Attack, hosted by “Shockmaster” Glen Boyd and “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez, debuts on KCMU.
Chilly Uptown
Chilly Uptown releases “I Got Rules” on Ever Rap Records.
Peer Pressure
Steve Sneed and Reco Bembry produce the play Peer Pressure, featuring Derrick “Vitamin D” Brown.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Four people receive minor injuries in October 1988 in a drive-by shooting outside a Sea-Tac hotel where DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince are staying after a concert at the Paramount. The Seattle Times follows with a story probing “the connection” between rap music and violence.
Ingraham Rams
The Ingraham Rams become the first Metro League team to win the Washington State high school football championship, using Public Enemy’s “Don’t Believe the Hype” as their motto and theme song, on December 3, 1988.
1989
DJ DD
DJ DD of DI-RA Boys is shot to death.
Kid Sensation
Kid Sensation releases the single “Back 2 Boom” on NastyMix Records.
Swass
Sir Mix-A-Lot’s album Swass is certified gold (500,000 copies sold).
PD2
PD2 releases the single “You Ain’t Got No Bass.”
Ice Cold Mode
Ice Cold Mode releases the single “Union St. Hustlers.”
Seminar
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases his second album, Seminar.
Battle for Seattle Supremacy
Greg B and Eaze win the DJ and MC competitions in the Battle for Seattle Supremacy at the Moore Theatre.
Source of Labor
Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore and Negus 1 combine to form the group Source of Labor.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Yo! MTV Raps films an episode in Seattle featuring Sir Mix-A-Lot.
Vitamin D
The recording studio in the basement of Vitamin D’s house in the Central District is created and dubbed “The Pharmacy.”
1990
Kid Sensation
Kid Sensation releases the album Rollin’ with #1 on NastyMix Records.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot leaves NastyMix Records.
Criminal Nation
Criminal Nation from Tacoma releases its debut album, Release the Pressure, on NastyMix Records.
Brothers of the Same Mind
Brothers of the Same Mind is featured in the “Unsigned Hype” section of The Source magazine.
High Performance
High Performance releases the EP Here’s a Party on NastyMix Records.
Tony B
Tony B begins hosting Street Beat, an hour-long urban community forum show on radio station KUBE 93 FM, which discusses relevant social issues and features local music.
Frankie Wells and PDQ Crew
Frankie Wells and PDQ Crew release the single “I Need Bud.”
Sir Mix-A-Lot
The Black Entertainment Television (BET) series Rap City visits Seattle to profile Sir Mix-A-Lot and NastyMix Records in January 1990.
Music Inner City
Gordon Curvey debuts Music Inner City on Seattle’s Public Access Network (SCAN) in December 1990.
1991
Brothers of the Same Mind
Brothers of the Same Mind releases self-titled EP on Conspiracy Records.
Love Sick Rhymers
Love Sick Rhymers release “Hold Tight to the Rhythm” on Blackstyle Records.
King of Kuts
KOK opens for King Tee and MC Lyte at the NCO club at Fort Lewis.
Sir Mix-A-Lot/Rhyme Cartel Records
As part of a deal signed with Rick Rubin’s Def American Records, Sir Mix-A-Lot creates and becomes CEO of his own label, Rhyme Cartel Records. Ricardo Frazer serves as president.
Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice is accused of plagiarizing lyrics from Sir Mix-A-Lot’s 1986 song “I’m a Trip.”
Coolout Network
Georgio Brown broadcasts the first episode of Coolout Network on Seattle’s Public Access Network (SCAN) on April 4, 1991.
1992
B-Mello
B-Mello DJs HBO’s Def Comedy Jam at the Paramount Theatre.
PD2
PD2 releases the single “Flavin in Bumpcity.”
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases the album Mack Daddy on Def American Records.
NastyMix Records
NastyMix Records is dissolved.
Ice Cube concert
Four people are shot and wounded outside an Ice Cube concert at the Paramount Theatre.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute
Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore begins holding regular hip-hop shows and activities at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, beginning with the show African Echoes—A Hip-Hop Continuum.
Kun Luv
Chukundi “DJ Kun Luv” Salisbury throws a birthday barbeque at a house in the Central District, an event that becomes the annual Virgo Party.
Source of Labor
Kamikaze becomes the DJ for Source of Labor.
DVS Crew
Fever One, Soul-One, Sneke, and Rey form DVS (Droppin Vicious Styles) Crew.
KCMU
“Shockmaster” Glen Boyd leaves NastyMix Records and KCMU’s Rap Attack program for a position with Def American Recordings in Los Angeles.
Summer Jam
Radio station KUBE 93 holds the first annual Summer Jam at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma and includes performances by Kid Sensation, Nice and Smooth, Das EFX, and Pete Rock.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Kid Sensation
Ken Griffey Jr. and Kid Sensation record the single “The Way I Swing.”
Censorship
House Bill 2554, which banned the sale of “erotic sounding” recordings to anyone under eighteen, is passed by the Washington State Legislature and signed into law only to be repealed four months later by a Superior Court judge in Seattle.
The Flavor
The March 1992 debut issue of The Flavor, an international hip-hop magazine based in Seattle, features Cypress Hill on the cover.
Rodney King
Civil unrest occurs in downtown Seattle in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict on May 1, 1992.
Weed and Seed
The Seattle City Council adopts “Weed and Seed,” a federal anticrime program, in December 1992.
1993
Digable Planets
Digable Planets, a group led by Seattle artist Ishmael Butler, aka Butterfly, releases its debut album, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space).
Seattle . . . The Darkside
The compilation album Seattle . . . The Darkside is released by Rhyme Cartel through Def American Records.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot wins American Music and Grammy Awards for the single “Baby Got Back.”
Supreme
Supreme and Sure Shot form Conception Records.
The Foundation at the Art Bar
DVS Crew, Supreme, Kutfather, B-Mello, and Source of Labor crew with DJ Kamikazee combine to launch The Foundation, a weekly hip-hop night at the Art Bar.
Colman School occupation
The occupation of the Colman School by the Citizens Support Committee ends. The action is cited as the longest running act of civil disobedience in US history.
Greg B
Greg B releases the cassette Listen to the Greg B on Wicked Dungeon Records.
Music Inner City
The program Music Inner City receives a Billboard Award nomination for Top Rap/R&B Video Show.
E-Dawg
E-Dawg and Filthy Rich release the single “Drop Top” (B side “Little Locs”).
Black Anger
The group Black Anger (Kendo, E-Real, Sayeed, and Wicked D) forms in Tacoma, Washington.
Summer Jam 2
KUBE 93 Summer Jam 2 is held in Monroe, Washington, and includes Tupac Shakur, Run DMC, Pharcyde, Onyx, Immature, Funk Doobiest, Tag Team, and Guru from the group Gangstarr.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases the single “Not in Our House,” an anthem for the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1993 NBA playoffs.
Shabazz Coalition
Fleeta Partee, Sean Malik, John Doe (John Elder), and C Black (Chris Bailey) perform together under the name Shabazz Coalition.
Silver Shadow D
An article on Silver Shadow D is featured in Vibe magazine in September 1993.
Source of Labor
Source of Labor plays the Crocodile Café in Belltown, bringing Seattle’s second generation of hip hop downtown for the first time in October 1993.
Autumn Jam
Autumn Jam, a concert showcasing local teen hip hop, rock, R&B, and gospel artists from the Multimedia and Performance Program of CAYA (Central Area Youth Association), is held at Broadway Performance Hall in November 1993.
RKCNDY
Ghetto Youth present “Sound Check” at RKCNDY with performances by Ghetto Children, Jace and the Fourth Party, Source of Labor, and Six in the Clip on December 23, 1993.
1994
The Flavor
The Flavor’s second anniversary party at Club Moe features Nas, Coolio, Casual, Supernatural, The Fugees, Kurious, The Whooliganz, Ed O.G. and Da Bulldogs, and Jamal-Ski.
Digable Planets
Digable Planets win a Grammy for their song “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).”
RKCNDY
Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore establishes a weekly event at the RKCNDY featuring local MCs and DJs as well as open mic nights.
Digable Planets
Digable Planets release their second album, Blowout Comb.
Darkset
Darkset—Frostmaster Chill, MC (Sugar) Bear, DJ Pace, I Double L, and Shan Dog—release “Krakerbashin” on CD Raised Records.
DMS
Local group DMS signs with Bay Area label D-Shot Records and releases the EP Takin Ends.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot’s song “Just da Pimpin’ in Me” receives a Grammy nomination for Best Solo Rap Performance.
Sinsemilla
Sinsemilla—DJ Topspin, H-Bomb, and Francis—release the single “If They Only Know.”
Funk Daddy
Funk Daddy, formerly Greg B, releases the album Funk You Right On Up on D Shot Records.
Sin Q
Sin Q releases his album Deathflow on Seattle-based Mutiny Records.
DJ Kamikaze
DJ Kamikaze releases the mixtape One Love.
Prose and Concepts
Prose and Concepts, formerly Six in the Clip, releases Procreations. The album is on Loosegroove Records, founded by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard and distributed nationally by Epic/Sony.
Jasiri Media Group
Jonathan Moore and Upendo Tookas of Source of Labor and Erika “Kylea” White of Beyond Reality form Jasiri Media Group.
Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance
The City of Seattle enacts the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance, which requires property owners to remove graffiti within ten days or face fines of one hundred dollars per day. The Seattle Public Utilities Graffiti Prevention Program enforces the ordinance.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases the album Chief Boot Knocka.
TRED
Prolific local graffiti writer Travis “TRED” Edwards serves three weeks in jail, receives one thousand hours of community service, and is put on probation for two years.
Graffiti Rangers
Seattle Public Utilities forms the Graffiti Rangers, a six-member crew to clean up public property.
Silver Shadow D
Silver Shadow D self-releases his album Sleepless—Tha BricKKKs on Lost and Found Recordings.
Folklife Festival
“The Flavor Magazine Showcase” premiers at the Folklife Festival.
Graffiti comic book
David Toledo and Michael Owsley publish Urban, a comic book based on the duo’s real-life adventures as graffiti artists.
Mecca International
Mansa and Nebra Square Musa start The Mecca at Twenty-third and Union featuring live music, drum and Swahili classes, open mic nights, chess club, and hip-hop night.
Moving Target
Andre Bostic forms Sexy Sounds Management and releases the compilation album Moving Target with production by DJ Supreme and Tyrone Dumas.
RKCNDY
Source of Labor, Ghetto Children, Six in the Clip, and Blind Council play “to a packed house” at the RKCNDY on January 21, 1994.
Seattle Hip-Hop Forum
The second annual Hip-Hop Forum is held on February 12, 1994, at the Seattle Center. Panelists include Mike Clark, J-Styles, Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore, B-Self, Mr. Supreme, Blaac, B-Mello, Soul One, and organizer Jace.
Kun Luv
Chukundi “DJ Kun Luv” Salisbury receives the Seattle King County Generations United Hand in Hand Award for promoting positive intergenerational relationships on May 5, 1994.
CITR DJ and MC Soundwar
Seattle performers win three of four competitions at the CITR DJ and MC Soundwar in Vancouver, British Columbia, when B-Mello wins the DJ competition, Blind Council wins the group award, and DVS Crew wins the dance contest in November 1994.
1995
Glen Boyd
Glen Boyd returns to Seattle and becomes the owner of iconic hip-hop record store Music Menu.
Tribal Productions
Tribal Productions releases the compilation album Untranslated Prescriptions.
Kun Luv
Chukundi “DJ Kun Luv” Salisbury releases the mixtape Big Fella Blends Part II.
Gary Payton
Seattle SuperSonics all-star point guard Gary Payton records the single “Livin’ Legal & Large” as part of the compilation album B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret.
Funk Daddy
Funk Daddy releases his debut album, Funk Daddy Is the Source.
MAD Krew
MAD Krew is formed.
Kev The Rap’N Rev
Kev The Rap’N Rev and Sister Harmony release the album Bible Stories on Seattle-based New City Records.
DJ Topspin
DJ Topspin releases 101.1 KTOP FM [Fat Mixtapes]—Broadcast #1.
CAVE
Tendai Maraire, Dumi “Draze” Maraire Jr., and Merm and Mall combine to form CAVE (Christ Anoint Verbal Evangelist).
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot stars in the TV drama series The Watcher on the fledgling UPN network in January 1995.
Kevin Gardner
Seattle’s Kevin Gardner produces the song “Smoke ’n’ Drank” on E-40’s album In a Major Way in March 1995.
B-Mello
B-Mello is named DJ of the month in the national magazine RapSheet in March 1995.
The Ghetto Children
The Ghetto Children win the Black Student Union Talent Show at the University of Washington in March 1995.
Funk Daddy
Seattle’s Funk Daddy produces three songs—“Sideways,” “It’s All Bad,” and “Fed”—on E-40’s album In a Major Way in March 1995.
Boss Crew
The Late Night Teen Program at Rainier Beach Community Center sponsors a break-dance battle on March 24, 1995. Boss Crew wins.
The Flavor
The Flavor magazine sponsors “Homegrown Hip-Hop II” at the Folklife Festival in May 1995.
Evergreen State College
Evergreen State College in Olympia hosts the all-day hip-hop event “Phunky Phat ’95” on June 3, 1995.
Northwest Hip-Hop Forum
The Northwest Hip-Hop Forum, organized by Robert Brewer, is held at the Showbox Theater on November 19, 1995.
Funk Daddy
Funk Daddy is on the cover of The Flavor magazine, one of only two such covers featuring Seattle artists, in December 1995.
1996
Tribal Productions
Tribal Productions releases the compilation album Do the Math.
The Flavor
The Flavor publishes its final issue.
Silent Lambs Project
Jace and Silas Blak form the Silent Lambs Project.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases the album Return of the Bumpasaurus.
Street Level Records
Street Level Records is founded by David “D-Sane” Severance III.
ENYCE
Seattle native Tony Shellman along with Evan Davis and Lando Felix cofound the hip-hop fashion company ENYCE in March 1996.
Prose and Concepts
Mic Dub of Prose and Concepts dies by suicide on December 31, 1996.
1997
Rap Attack
“Nasty” Nes Rodriguez leaves KCMU’s Rap Attack and moves to Los Angeles.
Rap Attack
Vancouver, BC, DJ Maximus Clean takes over as host of Rap Attack on Seattle radio station KCMU.
KUBE 93 FM protest
Silver Shadow D, James Croone, Curtis Elerson, and Gordon Curvey lead a protest against KUBE 93 FM, charging the radio station with failure to play local and independent hip-hop artists.
The Virgo Party
The Virgo Party, held at the Showbox on First Avenue, is linked in the newspaper to a downtown “riot and looting spree” allegedly committed by teens who had been turned away at the door.
Word * Sound * Power
Jasiri Media Group releases the compilation album Word * Sound * Power, featuring Beyond Reality, Felicia Loud, Theaster Gates, Source of Labor, and Cecil Young.
Prose and Concepts
The final album of Prose and Concepts, Everything Is Nice, is released.
Sharpshooters
Sharpshooters, Mr. Supreme and Sure Shot, release their album Choked Up.
Beyond Reality
Beyond Reality releases the twelve-inch single “I Reality” on the Jasiri Media Group record label.
Circle of Fire
Seattle b-boy crew Circle of Fire is formed.
artsEdge Festival
The inaugural artsEdge Festival featuring experimental music, theater, dance, performance art, spoken word, video, film, and visual art from emerging Northwest artists is held at the Seattle Center.
Dark Diamond Records
Dark Diamond Records is formed by Cedric Prim and Steven Johnson. Step One Mobb, 2-Tyght, and Hustlers For Life combine to form the collective Mobb Tyght Hustlers and release a self-titled compilation album on Dark Diamond.
Deuce 8 Records
Benjamin “Mr. Benjamin” Smith forms Deuce 8 Records.
Break Battle at The Rec
Sigrid Batara organizes the Inaugural Break Battle at The Rec in Shoreline, Washington.
14 Fathoms Deep
The compilation album 14 Fathoms Deep is released on Loosegroove Records on January 28, 1997.
Sub Pop Records
Seattle-based Sub Pop Records, best known for first signing grunge rock band Nirvana, agrees to a distribution deal with Conception Records in May 1997.
Rating the local scene
Asked by The Rocket in July 1997 to rate the local hip-hop scene on a scale of one (worst) to ten (best), a panel of eight leading Seattle hip-hop figures give an average answer of five.
1998
Kun Luv
Chukundi “DJ Kun Luv” Salisbury launches Seaspot.com.
Wyking Garrett
Twenty-one-year-old Kwame Wyking Garrett runs for state representative Position 1 from Seattle’s Thirty-seventh District.
Fever One
Seattle native Fever One becomes a member of the Rock Steady Crew in New York City.
Street Sounds
Mr. Supreme and Kutfather take over as hosts of Street Sounds (formerly Rap Attack) on radio station KCMU.
Walkman Rotation
Conception Records releases the compilation album Walkman Rotation.
Jake One
Jake One produces several tracks on the Conception Records compilation album Walkman Rotation.
Evil Tambourines
Seattle-based Evil Tambourines becomes the first hip-hop act to sign with Sub Pop Records.
Beyond Reality
Beyond Reality opens for Salt-N-Pepa at the Showbox.
Classic Elements Compilation
Classic Elements Compilation is released on Olympia, Washington– based K Records.
Enter the Madness
MAD Krew releases the local hip-hop documentary Enter the Madness.
1999
Sit & Spin
Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore establishes the all-ages friendly Sure Shot Sundays at the Sit & Spin in downtown Seattle.
Massive Monkees
Two Beacon Hill–based break-dance crews, Massive and Untouchable Style Monkees, combine to form Massive Monkees.
Student Hip-Hop Organization of Washington (SHOW)
SHOW is established at the University of Washington.
Skratchcast.com
Joshua Kusske and Jason Schluter launch Skratchcast.com.
Source of Labor
Jasiri Media Group releases Source of Labor debut album Stolen Lives in partnership with New York’s Subverse Records.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D releases the mixtape Table Manners 2.
Hip-Hop 101
King Khazm, DJ Scene, Dirty Dev, and the MAD Krew create Hip-Hop 101 on Seattle public-access television.
Subset
Sir Mix-A-Lot and Seattle-based alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America combine to form the group Subset.
Evil Tambourines
The Evil Tambourines release their debut album, Library Nation, in July 1999.
2000
Macklemore
Ben “Macklemore” Haggerty performs live for the first time at the Sit & Spin as part of the group Elevated Elements at Sure Shot Sundays.
The Rocket
The Rocket publishes its final issue.
Music Menu
Music Menu closes permanently.
Massive Monkees
Juse Boogie and Twixx from Massive Monkees win the B-Boy Summit in Los Angeles.
Kylea
Kylea performs as a part of Jumbalaya starting at the 700 Club and ending at the Baltic Room.
Vivid Vixens
Jenna Hikida, Fides “Anna Banana Freeze” Mabanta, and Kasi Farrar form the b-girl crew Vivid Vixens.
Silent Lambs Project
The Silent Lambs Project release their album Soul Liquor.
Graffiti
Consolidated Works gallery presents Evidence, an exhibit of contemporary graffiti writing.
Circle of Fire
Circle of Fire participates in the Battle of the Year breaking competition held in Germany.
Student Hip-Hop Organization of Washington
SHOW brings Mos Def to perform at the Husky Union Building (HUB) in January 2000.
Mayor blames hip hop
Seattle mayor Paul Schell publicly blames hip hop for a shooting outside the Bohemian Backstage, a club in Pioneer Square, in September 2000.
Hip Hop rally
Close to 150 people gather in Westlake Park to protest Mayor Paul Schell blaming hip hop for a shooting outside the Bohemian Backstage in September 2000.
The Tablet
The Tablet, a new alternative newspaper, publishes its first issue in October 2000. Sam Chesneau becomes the paper’s hip-hop writer, and his column is basically a calendar that highlights local artists and events.
Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop
Benjamin “Mr. Benjamin” Smith is the first winner of the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop.
2001
DV One
Seattle DJ Toby “DJ DV One” Campbell is invited to join Rock Steady Crew as a DJ and dancer.
Brainstorm Battle
Student Hip-Hop Organization of Washington and MAD Krew present the first Brainstorm Battle, a freestyle rap competition with forty MCs from around the United States. Preliminary rounds are held at the Sit & Spin, finals at the Paradox Theater. Local MC Khingz wins the $500 first prize.
KEXP
KCMU 90.3 FM changes its call letters to KEXP.
Oldominion
Oldominion releases their debut album One.
Vera Project
The Vera Project is founded as a response to a lack of all-age music venues resulting from Seattle’s Teen Dance Ordinance.
Merciful
Merciful releases his CD Fugazi/East Union Street Hustlers.
Lords of the Floor
Red Bull presents Lords of the Floor, a break-dance battle held at the Sand Point Naval Station, in May 2001.
Byrdie
Byrdie releases his debut album, Poetic Epidemic, in September 2001.
2002
Sportn’ Life Records
Sportn’ Life Records is established.
Blue Scholars
Alexei Saba “DJ Sabzi” Mohajerjasbi and George “Geologic” Quibuyen form Blue Scholars.
Brainstorm Battle
The second annual Brainstorm Battle presented by SHOW ends in controversy when a white MC from Chicago named Presence wins the $2,500 first prize using numerous racist lines against his Asian competitors.
Nocturnal Rage
The Seattle group Nocturnal Rage records a remix for their single “Miss Mary Jane” featuring Rick James.
Seattle Hip-Hop Summit Action Network
The Seattle Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is established as an affiliate of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, founded in New York by Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis in 2001.
Circle of Fire
Circle of Fire produces Red Bull Lords of the Floor breaking competition.
Ishmael Butler
Ishmael Butler stars in the short film I Am Ali.
911 Amerika
911 Amerika, a local hip-hop compilation reflecting on the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, is released on MADK/Pangea.
Teen Dance Ordinance
Seattle’s Teen Dance Ordinance, instituted in 1985, is repealed.
Art of Movement (AOM)
B-boy crew AOM (Art of Movement) is formed.
Summer Jam
One man is shot to death following the tenth KUBE 93 Summer Jam featuring LL Cool J, Nelly, Jermaine Dupree, and Da Brat held at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington.
X104
Mercer Island High School radio station KMIH aka X104 switches to a hip-hop/R&B format.
2003
Sam Chesneau
Sam Chesneau begins writing “The Truth,” a weekly hip-hop column in the alternative weekly The Stranger.
Brainstorm Battle
At the third Brainstorm Battle, Geologic, who is Filipino, eliminates defending champion Presence in the round of sixteen while making references to Presence’s numerous racist lines used against Asian competitors the year before.
“Yo, Son!”
The weekly Sunday night hip-hop event “Yo, Son!” begins at Capitol Hill venue Chop Suey.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases the album Daddy’s Home.
Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop
Jonathan Moore is presented with the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop.
Coolout Network
Coolout Network adjusts its format, incorporating more electronic music and renaming the show Coolout 2GX.
Tupac Shakur course
Graduate student Georgia Roberts develops and begins teaching the course “The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur” at the University of Washington.
Hip-Hop Theory and Culture
A new course titled “Hip-Hop Theory and Culture” is developed and offered at Seattle Central Community College.
Gentrification
For the first time, data indicates that more African Americans live in suburban areas outside Seattle than live inside the city limits.
Art Primo
Art Primo, a Seattle–based art supply company specializing in graffiti and aerosol materials, opens.
Saba Seven
Logic “Saba Seven” Amen releases his album Free Saba: The Lost Scriptures of Frank Talk.
Geologic
George “Geologic” Quibuyen curates the exhibit It’s Like That: APA’s (Asian Pacific Americans) and the Seattle Hip-Hop Scene at Wing Luke Asian Museum in July 2003.
Brainstorm Battle
The third annual Brainstorm Battle in November 2003 attracts more than fifty contestants from around the country. Preliminary rounds are held at Chop Suey with the finals at the Husky Union Building (HUB), where California MC Bo-Rat wins the $2,500 first prize.
2004
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees win the World B-Boy Championships held in London.
Laura “Piece” Kelley
Laura “Piece” Kelley performs her spoken-word piece “Central District” on the HBO program Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.
Ishmael Butler
Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler stars in the film Men Without Jobs.
Wyking Garrett
Wyking Garrett runs again for state representative Position 1 from the Thirty-seventh District as a Lincoln Republican.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars independently release their self-titled debut album, which is named album of the year by Seattle Weekly.
Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels presents Georgio Brown’s Coolout Network with the Mayor’s Award For Excellence in Hip-Hop.
Brainstorm Battle
The fourth annual Brainstorm Battle has regional prelims in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Chicago; Los Angeles; New York; Portland, OR; and Seattle. Finals are held at Bumbershoot, where New York MC Iron Solomon takes the $2,500 first prize.
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers Entertainment signs local artists Vitamin D, Grayskul, and Boom Bap Project.
Obese Productions
Melissa “Meli” Darby launches Obese Productions.
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees begin performing at Seattle SuperSonics home games as the Sonics’ “Boom Squad.”
Grynch
Grynch releases his debut EP The Seven Deadly Sins as a senior at Ballard High School.
Mr. Supreme
Mr. Supreme produces music for the hit HBO crime drama series The Sopranos.
Soul Gorilla
The promotion company Soul Gorilla is founded.
DV One
Toby “DJ DV One” Campbell becomes the DJ for the Seattle Seahawks.
206 Zulu
King Khazm establishes 206 Zulu, the Seattle chapter of the Universal Zulu Nation, in February 2004.
ENYCE
Liz Claiborne Inc. purchases ENYCE for $114 million in February 2004.
Massive Monkees
Mayor Greg Nickels declares “Massive Monkees Day” in Seattle on April 26, 2004.
The Stranger
After releasing Sam Chesneau as writer of the weekly hip-hop column “The Truth” in May 2004, substitute columnist and Stranger editor Dan Savage, who is white, repeatedly calls Stranger colleague Charles Mudede, who is Black, “scholar nigger.”
Larry Mizell Jr.
Larry Mizell Jr. replaces Sam Chesneau writing the weekly hip-hop column for The Stranger, renaming it “My Philosophy” in July 2004.
Back to Its Roots
The second annual Back to Its Roots spoken word and hip-hop festival at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is held in October 2004. It includes Jessica Care Moore, Beyond Reality, Blue Scholars, Toby “DJ DV One” Campbell, Circle of Fire, and Massive Monkees.
Hip-Hop Hope Seattle
In December 2004 local nonprofit Power of Hope releases Hip-Hop Hope Seattle, an album of original songs and spoken word produced by teens in the Hip-Hop Hope after-school program.
5th Element Beatbox Battle
SCIONtific Records holds the inaugural 5th Element Beatbox Battle at the Vera Project in December 2004. Prizes include $500 and a SHURE SM58 microphone.
2005
Sunday Night Sound Session
Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore and DJ Hyphen begin hosting Sunday Night Sound Session on KUBE 93 FM.
Zulu Radio
Zulu Radio, hosted by King Khazm, Gabriel Teodros, and WD4D, premieres on KBCS 91.3 FM.
Music Inner City
The program Music Inner City, hosted by Gordon Curvey and originally broadcast on public access television, is made available On Demand on Comcast.
Grayskul
Grayskul releases their debut album, Deadlivers, on Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Framework
Framework releases his debut album, Hello World.
Boom Bap Project
Boom Bap Project release their debut Reprogram on Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Abyssinian Creole
Abyssinian Creole (Gabriel Teodros and Khingz) releases the album Sexy Beast on MADK Productions.
Grynch
Grynch releases his debut album, This Is What I Do.
Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop
Melissa Noelle Greene, Patrick Lagreid, and Sir Mix-A-Lot win the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop.
Graffiti
Police data indicates that half the people arrested for graffiti offenses in Seattle actually live in outlying areas such as Mercer Island, Kirkland, Bellevue, and Tacoma, Washington.
Tsunami relief
Mix for Relief, a benefit for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, is held in January 2005 at the Showbox, featuring Sir Mix-A-Lot, Byrdie, DJ B-Mello, and a contingent of KUBE 93 DJs.
Source of Labor
Source of Labor plays its final show at the Crocodile Café in May 2005. Eddie “Sugar Bear” Wells of the Emerald Street Boys DJs the event, and Sir Mix-A-Lot is the host.
Hip-Hop Appreciation Week
SCIONtific Records and the Temple of Hip-Hop present Hip-Hop Appreciation Week in Seattle in May 2005 with a kick-off event at the Vera Project hosted by Laura “Piece” Kelley with performances by local DJs, MCs, and b-girls and b-boys.
Hip-Hop Festival for Kids
Hip-Hop Festival for Kids is held in May 2005 at Rainier Beach Community Center, a four-hour program that includes a variety of seminars and workshops on topics such as writing and marketing.
Big Tunes
Vitamin D hosts the inaugural Big Tunes challenge, a local production/ beat-making competition, at the War Room in July 2005.
Vitamin D
The “Power Bill,” a regular series presented by Vitamin D and The Pharmacy at the War Room, features Kylea, Felicia Loud, Piece, and Choklate in August 2005.
Common Market
Common Market, Ryan “RA Scion” Abeo and Saba “Sabzi” Mohajerjasbi, release their self-titled debut album in October 2005.
2006
Wyking Garrett
Wyking Garrett runs for state representative Position 2 from the Thirty-seventh District.
Raindrop Hustla
Raindrop Hustla becomes the first blog focused on Seattle hip hop.
Dope Emporium
Jace ECAJ organizes the first Dope Emporium, a free, all-ages family-friendly event promoting local hip-hop artists and culture.
Hidmo
Sisters Asmeret and Rahwa Habte buy Hidmo restaurant, which becomes a hip-hop hot spot in the Central District.
Shocked on the Buzz
In January 2006, Shocked on the Buzz, a local talent showcase sponsored by SCIONtific Records, Obese Productions, KEXP, and The Stranger, features Common Market, Specs One, Cancer Rising, and Macklemore.
Emerald Street Girls
Mia “Angel Face” Black of the Emerald Street Girls passes away on February 9, 2006.
Hip-Hop Appreciation Week
SCIONtific Records and the Temple of Hip-Hop present Hip-Hop Appreciation Week in Seattle in May 2006.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars launch their own record label, Mass Line Records, in July 2006.
D. Black
D. Black releases his debut LP, The Cause & Effect, on Sportn’ Life Records in July 2006.
Local showcases
“The Derby Liberation Front Summer Hip-Hop Extravaganza” and “NW Stand Up” showcase up-and-coming local hip-hop talent in July 2006.
DV One
Toby “DJ DV One” Campbell is arrested in September 2006 and charged with third-degree assault after attempting to intervene in an altercation between his teenage daughter and a Seattle police officer.
Mayor’s Award for Hip-Hop Excellence
The Mayor’s Award for Hip-Hop Excellence recipients are awarded in October 2006 to Mr. Supreme (Pioneer Award), Gordon Curvey (Media Award), and King Khazm (Unsung Hero Award).
B-Mello
B-Mello is named West Coast DJ of the Year at the DJ Power Summit held in the Dominican Republic in October 2006.
2007
Laura “Piece” Kelley
Kelley releases her album Street Smartz.
Massive Monkees
The Seattle Arts Commission presents Massive Monkees with the Mayor’s Arts Award in honor of the group’s continued contributions to the local arts.
Jake One
Seattle native Jake One produces the 50 Cent song “All of Me” featuring Mary J. Blige.
Beyond Reality
Beyond Reality release their album A Soul’s Journey.
Fatal Lucciauno
Fatal Lucciauno releases “The Only Forgotten Son” on Sportn’ Life Records.
Fatal Lucciauno is arrested on firearms charges after a shooting outside the Tabella nightclub. He is eventually convicted and serves an eighteen-month prison term.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot appears with Ice-T, MC Breeze, King Tee, Candyman, and Conscious Daughters on the West Coast remix of Nas’s tribute song “Where Are They Now.”
Mass Line Media and Blue Scholars
Mass Line Media agrees to a partnership with New York–based Rawkus Records to distribute Blue Scholars’ second album, Bayani, in June 2007.
Big Tunes
Red Bull becomes title sponsor for Vitamin D and Jonathan Moore’s Big Tunes producer battle, adding dates in cities around the country.
Gabriel Teodros
Gabriel Teodros releases his album Lovework.
Dyme Def
Dyme Def (Fearce Villain, S.E.V., and Brainstorm) release their album Space Music.
Battle of Burien
The inaugural Battle of Burien break-dance competition is held at Burien Community Center.
UW Hip-Hop Student Association
The UWHHSA is formed.
Asian Hip-Hop Summit
The Asian Hip-Hop Summit Tour makes a stop in Seattle at the University of Washington’s Ethnic Cultural Center.
Silas Blak
Silas Blak releases the album Silas Sentinel.
The Physics
The Physics release their album Future Talk.
Seattle Young People’s Project
The MLK Day Hip-Hop Show of the Seattle Young People’s Project features headliners D. Black and Macklemore in January 2007.
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees and Big World Breaks host “4 the Love—A Tribute to James Brown” in February 2007.
Laura “Piece” Kelley
Laura “Piece” Kelley produces and stars in the one-woman show Street Smarts: The Story of a True School B-Girl at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center in South Seattle in April 2007.
DV One
Despite significant amounts of support from the local hip-hop community, Toby “DJ DV One” Campbell is found guilty of assaulting a police officer in October 2007.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars organize The Program, a five-day event celebrating the region’s hip-hop culture, in December 2007.
2008
Jake One
Jake One releases his debut album White Van Music.
Dyme Def
Seattle’s Dyme Def are featured in the “Unsigned Hype” section of The Source magazine.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars are named one of Playboy magazine’s “Ten to Watch in 2008.”
Mad Rad
Mad Rad (Terry Radjaw, Buffalo Madonna, and P Smoov) release their debut album, White Gold.
Saturday Knights
The Saturday Knights (Barfly, Tilson, and Suspence) release their debut album.
Hip-Hop Photo Book
Emerald City Hip-Hop—a book of pictures, lyrics, and memorabilia from the Seattle hip-hop scene compiled by Alexis Wolfe—is released, with the foreword written by Bay Area artist Shock G.
Mr. Supreme
Mr. Supreme contributes a song to the soundtrack of the hit HBO crime drama series The Wire.
Way of the B-Boy
Fever One and Jeromeskee are featured in the documentary film Way of the B-Boy.
ReignCity
Obese Productions, one of Seattle’s premier hip-hop concert booking agencies, becomes ReignCity.
Valentine’s Day Riot
The Valentine’s Day Riot takes place on February 14, 2008, at Evergreen State College in Olympia during a performance by the group dead prez.
Vicious Puppies Crew
Seattle b-boy collective Vicious Puppies Crew is formed in May 2008.
Asian Hip-Hop Summit Tour
The Asian Hip-Hop Summit Tour makes a stop in Seattle in August 2008 and features local talent Sonny Bonoho, Orbitron, DJ Soul One, and DJ B-Girl.
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees host Crash Test, a breaking competition at the Paramount Theatre with crews from around the United States as well as Korea, Brazil, and Europe, in November 2008.
2009
Hip-Hop Is Green
Hip-Hop Is Green hosts a vegan dinner at the Mount Baker Community Center.
Wyking Garrett
Wyking Garrett becomes a candidate for mayor of Seattle.
Jake One
Jake One releases the single “Home” featuring Vitamin D, Maineak B, C-Note, and Ish.
Macklemore
Macklemore releases his single “The Town.”
Jake One
Jake One produces the single “Won’t Be Long” by Rakim.
Shabazz Palaces
Tendai Maraire and Ishmael Butler form Shabazz Palaces and release the EPs Shabazz Palaces and Of Light.
D. Black
D. Black releases Ali’Yah on Sportn’ Life Records.
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees place third on Season 4 of the MTV program America’s Best Dance Crew.
Street Sounds
Larry Mizell Jr. begins hosting Street Sounds on KEXP 90.3 FM.
Fresh Espresso
Fresh Espresso (Rik Rude and P Smoov) release their album Glamour.
Kung Foo Grip
Suburban Eastside group Kung Foo Grip releases “Sonny Cheeba,” a song about riding the bus into Seattle.
Fatal Lucciauno
Fatal Lucciauno’s single “Gangsta” is included on the local digital music and video compilation GIVE, which benefits Arts Corps and Seattle-area food banks.
Helladope
Helladope (Tay Sean and Jerm) release their EP Return to Planet Rock.
They Live!
They Live! release the album They LA Soul.
Grynch
Grynch releases his album Chemistry 1.5 and is featured in an interview in Billboard magazine.
Champagne Champagne
Champagne Champagne releases their self-titled debut album.
Northwest Hip-Hop Leadership Conference
The first annual Northwest Hip-Hop Leadership Conference is held at Seattle Central Community College in March 2009.
Big Tunes
Red Bull Big Tunes, created by Vitamin D and Jonathan Moore, premieres on Black Entertainment Television (BET) in April 2009.
206UP.com
Hip-hop blog 206UP.com is launched by Chul Gugich in July 2009.
MTV
A Seattle episode of the MTV local music series $5 Cover features THEESatisfaction and Champagne Champagne in August 2009.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars release “Bayani Redux” in September 2009.
Go! Machine
Go! Machine, a two-day showcase featuring twelve local hip-hop acts, is held at the Crocodile in December 2009.
2010
Macklemore
“Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is named local song of the year on KUBE’s Sunday Night Sound Session.
Shabazz Palaces
Shabazz Palaces signs with Sub Pop Records. Shabazz Palaces becomes the first rappers on the cover of The Stranger and also wins the first ever Stranger Genius Award for Music.
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso releases the album Blunt Raps.
Black Stax
Black Stax (Felicia Loud, Silas Blak, and Jace ECAJ) release their debut album, Talking Buildings.
Grynch
Grynch releases the video for his single “My Volvo.”
OCnotes
OCnotes releases the mixtape From Me to You.
Helladope
Helladope release their self-titled debut album.
Yuk
Bean One and Fearce Villain launch their clothing/music project titled Yuk.
Fice
Tacoma, Washington, native Fice releases the single “Two Five Three.”
Kevin Collabo
Seattle group Truckasaurus hosts Kevin Collabo, a live show collaboration with more than thirty local MCs.
SPECSONE
The exhibit The Visual Art of SPECSONE premieres at the Throwbacks NW gallery.
Mr. D.O.G.
Tacoma resident Mr. D.O.G. releases the single and video for “Hilltop.”
OCnotes
OCnotes releases his album Doo Doo.
Jstyles
Nine-year-old Seattle-born b-boy Jalen “Jstyles” Testerman appears in the movie Step Up 3D.
Suntonio Bandanaz
Suntonio “Asun” Bandanaz releases his debut album, Who Is Suntonio Bandanaz?!
Haiti Relief Show
In response to the earthquake in Haiti, Sol presents and performs in the Haiti Relief Show at Neumos in February 2010, featuring Common Market, The Physics, Dyno Jamz, The Flying Sneakers Crew, and Khingz benefiting Doctors Without Borders.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars headline three consecutive nights of sold-out shows at the Showbox in March 2010. Also on the bill are DJ Soul One and Macklemore.
South by Southwest
Seattle artists Blue Scholars, D. Black, Dyme Def, THEESatisfaction, Shabazz Palaces, and Grynch perform at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin in March 2010.
Emerald Street Boys
The Emerald Street Boys reunite for a show at the Crocodile in April 2010.
Spoken Word
Local MCs participate in an all-ages event of spoken word poetry in the Penthouse of the Sorrento Hotel in April 2010.
Jake One
Jake One releases his compilation/mixtape Town Biz in April 2010.
Seattle Hip-Hop Career and Business Expo
The Seattle Hip-Hop Career and Business Expo: Business at the Speed of Hip-Hop, a day-long event of workshops, panels, and networking, is held at the Vera Project in October 2010.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars become the first local rap act to headline a bill at the Paramount Theatre in October 2010.
Hip-Hop History Month
On November 1, 2011, Mayor Mike McGinn proclaims November as Hip-Hop History Month in Seattle.
2011
Shabazz Palaces
Shabazz Palaces releases their debut album, Black Up.
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso releases “Ziplock Hip-Hop” with BAYB (Jarv Dee and Steezie NASA) and For the Glory.
Metal Chocolates
Metal Chocolates (OCnotes and Rik Rude) release their self-titled debut album.
Chevy Shann
Chevy Shann releases his album Been Ridin.
Africatown
Africatown, an initiative focused on African American–centered economic, educational, and cultural development in the Central District, is launched.
Neema
Neema releases his EP Black Roses.
Sam Lachow
Sam Lachow releases his debut album, Brand New Bike.
10.4 Rog
Renton producer 10.4 Rog releases the EP Late in February 2011.
Macklemore
Macklemore is featured above the fold on the front page of the Seattle Times in February 2011.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis sell out shows on three consecutive nights at the Showbox in March 2011.
Seattle City Breakers
The Seattle City Breakers celebrate their thirty-year reunion in May 2011.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars release the album Cinemetropolis in June 2011.
THEESatisfaction
Stas and Cat, aka THEESatisfaction, signs with Sub Pop Records in July 2011.
Red Bull Emsee Freestyle Battle
The Red Bull Emsee Freestyle Battle, hosted by Bun B and featuring judges Casual, Crooked I, and Too $hort, is held at the Crocodile in July 2011.
MissCaseyCarter.com
Casey Carter launches the independent artist, event, and lifestyle website MissCaseyCarter.com in July 2011.
Grand Groove
Members of Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction, Metal Chocolates, and others begin holding a monthly event in August 2011 called Grand Groove, which is a “celebration of art, community, culture and life.”
Shabazz Palaces
Shabazz Palaces is profiled in the New Yorker magazine in August 2011.
Hip-Hop Occupies
Hip-Hop Occupies, an off-shoot of the Occupy movement, is established in Seattle in October 2011.
Prometheus Brown
Blue Scholars MC Prometheus Brown (aka Geologic) writes an op-ed on the Occupy Wall Street movement for Al Jazeera in November 2011.
2012
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees become the first American crew to win the prestigious R16 World B-Boy Masters Championship held in Seoul, South Korea.
Macklemore
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis release their album The Heist.
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso releases the “Lord of the Fly,” “Exalted,” and “Black Narcissus.”
Fleeta Partee
Fleeta Partee releases his debut solo album, LifeMuzik.
Raz Simone and Sam Lachow
Raz Simone and Sam Lachow release the EP 5 Good Reasons.
Reign Supreme
UWHHSA founder Mike Huang organizes the first annual Reign Supreme break-dance competition.
Malitia Malimob
Somali-American group Malitia Malimob releases their album Riots of the Pirates.
50 Next
50 Next: Seattle Hip-Hop Worldwide, a short film by Avi Loud, is released.
Sol
Sol releases his album Yours Truly then leaves to travel the world for nine months after receiving a fellowship.
The Physics
The Physics release their album Tomorrow People, crowd-funded entirely on Kickstarter.com.
Stop Biting
Stop Biting, a regular hip-hop night at Lo-Fi, is turned into a compilation album and mini-documentary.
Champagne Champagne
Champagne Champagne releases their album Swine? My Brother . . .
Fatal Lucciauno
Fatal Lucciauno releases the album Respect on Sportn’ Life Records in February 2012.
THEESatisfaction
THEESatisfaction releases their debut album, awE naturalE, in March 2012.
Gifted Gab
Gifted Gab releases her debut EP Queen La’Chiefah in March 2012.
Macklemore
Macklemore appears on the cover of XXL magazine as part of the “Freshman Class of 2012” in April.
Emerald Street Boys
The Emerald Street Boys release the single “When Folks Was Real (Back in the Dayz)” in July 2012.
Jake One
Jake One receives Grammy nominations for production credits on the album Some Nights by the group Fun and the single “3 Kings” from the Rick Ross album God Forgives, I Don’t, nominated for Best Rap Album, in December 2012.
2013
Jake One
Jake One produces the single “Furthest Thing” by Drake.
Porter Ray
Porter Ray releases the mixtapes BLK GLD and WHT GLD/RSE GLD.
Shabazz Palaces
Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces becomes a member of Sub Pop Records Artist and Repertoire (A&R) team.
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso releases “Vampsterdam” and “High and Mighty.”
Raz Simone
Raz Simone releases his debut solo EP Solomon Samuel Simone.
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees open The Beacon, a dance studio located downtown.
Way of the B-Girl
Anna Banana Freeze of Massive Monkees teaches the class “Way of the B-Girl” at The Beacon, Massive’s home studio.
Macklemore
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s single “Thrift Shop” hits number one on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart in February 2013.
XXL Magazine
XXL magazine prints a story called “The New New: 15 Seattle Rappers You Should Know” in May 2013.
Jake One
The Best Men, a DJ duo from Switzerland, release “The Jake One-ders,” a collection of Jake One–produced songs in July 2013.
Seattle Hip-Hop History
The panel “From Emerald St. to Pike St.: A History of Seattle Hip-Hop 1980–2013” is held in November 2013 with Fever One, Julie C, Larry Mizell Jr., and Sir Mix-A-Lot in the Broadway Performance Hall at Seattle Central Community College.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis play three consecutive nights of sold-out shows at Key Arena with Sir Mix-A-Lot as opening act in December 2013.
Byrdie
Byrdie passes away at age thirty-five in December 2013.
2014
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso releases Trances with Wolves: The Prixtape.
Gifted Gab
Gifted Gab releases her debut album, Girl Rap.
206 Zulu
206 Zulu celebrates its tenth anniversary.
Shabazz Palaces
Shabazz Palaces releases the album Lese Majesty.
Grynch
Grynch releases his album Street Lights.
Raz Simone
Raz Simone releases Cognitive Dissonance: Part One.
Hip-Hop History Month
Mayors Marilyn Strickland of Tacoma, Stephen Buxbaum of Olympia, Andy Ryder of Lacey, and Patty Lent of Bremerton all proclaim November as Hip-Hop History Month in their respective cities.
Hip-Hop History Month
Governor Jay Inslee proclaims November as Hip-Hop History Month in the state of Washington.
Yung Lenox
Seven-year-old Seattle hip-hop artist Lenox “Yung Lenox” Buringrud has his first solo gallery show in Los Angeles and is profiled in LA Weekly.
Tubs
The University District building that once housed the hourly hot tub rental business Tubs, which had subsequently become a destination “free wall” for graffiti, is torn down.
Dance for Paul Lee
A video tribute titled Dance for Paul Lee is produced by UWHHSA and Seattle Pacific University hip-hop dance club Ante Up in honor of Paul Lee, an SPU student and Ante Up member who was shot and killed on campus.
Draze
Draze releases the video for his song “The Hood Ain’t the Same,” which discusses gentrification in the Central District.
Macklemore
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis win four Grammy Awards in January 2014.
MOHAI
The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) hosts an event called “The Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop” in February 2014.
Porter Ray
Porter Ray signs with Sub Pop Records on May 21, 2014.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Sir Mix-A-Lot performs “Posse on Broadway” and “Baby Got Back” with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall in June 2014.
Porter Ray
Porter Ray releases the digital album Fundamentals in August 2014.
Gifted Gab
Gifted Gab releases her EP G-Shit in November 2014.
2015
Raz Simone
Raz Simone releases “Cognitive Dissonance: Part Two.”
Folklife Festival
For the first time, hip hop is the cultural focus of the annual Folklife Festival held at Seattle Center.
Gyasi Ross
“Big Indian” Gyasi Ross releases the single “Marlon Brando” featuring Sacred Water.
OCnotes
OCnotes is nominated for The Stranger Genius Award in Music.
THEESatisfaction
THEESatisfaction release their album EarthEE in February 2015.
Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop
MOHAI presents the exhibit The Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop in September 2015.