The Crocodile

HELLADOPE is the creative partnership of town veteran MC Jerm (29) of Seattle supergroup Alpha P, and MC/Producer Tay Sean (21). From the South End of Seattle, Helladope has quickly evolved into one of Seattle's premier hip-hop acts with a sounds that pushes the envelope of fundamental hip-hop, spouting sophisticated rhymes with the swagger of seasoned MCs atop lush soundscapes, incorporating jazz, funk, soul, and house music into a style that is seemingly futuristic and retro at the same time. Helladope has shared the stage with such acts as Snoop Dogg, Goodie Mob, and Camp Lo.

Emerging from the north, south and west of Seattle, State of the Artist (SOTA) is a young and dynamic group that has spent years practicing and perfecting their craft. Always thinking forward when it comes to their fashion and their music the trio of Parker, Hyphen8d and TH are emerging as another mainstay in the ever evolving Seattle Hip Hop community. In the past 2 years, SOTA has performed in a handful of major cities and shared stages with Gym Class Heroes, Goodie Mob, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Mickey Factz, Grynch, and a majority of headlining Seattle acts as well.

First becoming aquainted while attending high school in the heart of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, music was a shared interest but nothing more. Years later, finding themselves living in an attic at 23rd & Jackson SOTA was born. Parker and Hyphen8d got together first, recording the debut mixtape Brain & The Bronze in 2006. At the same time Parker was recording Young TH on the side. Eventually the merging wasn't questionable.

From this first project the SOTA Boys have traveled a path of varied styles. Taking the instrumentals from the classic Outkast jam ATLiens and flipping it for the town SEAtliens, demonstrating a love for the town on 10 tracks all providing countless references to the city that raised them. Mind Over Madder & The Cola followed seeing a continued evolution and finding of sound.

In July of 2009, the summer that saw the Seattle Hip Hop community coalesce into a supportive and sprawling creative hot bed of talent, State of the Artist unleashed Shapeshifters onto the city. Capturing the attention of local artists, expanding their brand with a savvy internet presence and regularly rocking shows that you might mistake for a college party all added up to a trip to LA where they recorded The Hank Moody EP.

Returning to Seattle rejuvenated by the California sun and with a fresh idea in hand the process began on recording their first official full length album. Inspired by the collaborative spirit within the artist community in Seattle, the SOTA boys connected with a wide variety of talents throughout the town and have birthed SeattleCaliFragalisticExtraHellaDopeness.

"Following the superb EP Believeyoume <http://fakefourinc.com/believeyoume/>; , which found Cowen handling all vocal duties, the abundance of guests on Vessel comes as a surprise. Fortunately the lion's share of featured artists (e.g. Solillaquists of Sound, Qwel) carry their weight and complement Zavala's production style quite well. Some of his more nefarious beats lend themselves to razor-sharp, abstract raps from Cowen which are every bit as engaging as the straight-forward concept pieces on the record. There are few dull moments on Vessel, one of the strongest hip hop albums of this young year indie or otherwise.

Fake Four has emerged as a formidable label with avante-garde releases over the past half-year from the likes of Dark Time Sunshine, Sole & The Skyrider Band

<http://musicandshit.tumblr.com/post/354867390/sole-the-skyrider-band-plastique-released>; and Ron Contour . Wildly talented lyricists and mind-bending beatsmiths are pushing the boundaries of indie rap while incorporating a vast arsenal of influences. With summer albums on the way from Ceschi and Factor, don't expect the momentum to die anytime soon." - URB Magazine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agNQpAq_aJs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBBwOCIpGzk