The Musik Lounge

With his latest video Avatar Young Blaze takes some time away from the streets and relaxes off that fine Cali Kush before taking some aggression out on the bloggers who just don't seem to buy dude's stories. You should. I first started hearing about him sometime last year, maybe once prior to that but he has been out here in Seattle making a name for himself in two circles. The streets will never let Avatar's name be smeared. In rap circles he is starting to capture more attention and with just cause. I hit up his manager about doing an interview, discovered that he no longer calls Seattle home, but was invited to converse via email. If you thought this was just your average 21 year old knuckle head you are only kidding yourself. TML: Who is Avatar? Where were you born, when? Avatar Young Blaze: Avatar is the embodiment of a concept, being music, destined since birth. I was born in 1989 in Tallin, Estonia although my mother is full Russian & father is full Ukrainian. TM...

Last week Grynch came through to the radio show and chopped it up with us about an assortment of topics. We played some cuts as well so download this return podcast with vigor and stay tuned for the next one, it will be coming as I'm in the studio as I post this. Download TML Radio w/ Grynch .

This is why I returned to Seattle. Well one of them. This kind of thing excites me. Seniors in high school making EPs and music videos, establishing a brand, making moves within the scene. Building. Networking. After being struck by the stellar "Dukes of the Hood" video and bumping the song on repeat forever I knew these kids were who I needed to sit down with. I took a drive to Lakeside High School one afternoon last month to meet the duo. We made our way to the basement recording studio class room where they have done many of their songs and turned the recorder on. TML: You guys want to introduce yourselves and talk about how BFA became what it is today? Isiah: Word. Isiah, Sneak, Marshmellow Killer, I got some pretty funky aliases. Coleman: Coleman Jones aka Breeze. I'm going to try and start going by Oswald Copenhagen. It's all about going to parties in Port Townsend and places no one will ever see you again like "Hey how you doing, I'm Oswald." Look...

Without music life would be a mistake. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche DOWNLOAD those February Heatrocks! It's about that time once again y'all! New month, time to run through those tracks tht got me through the last 30... well 28 in this case. February was a great month, stayed busy, partied and listened to some great music! Did you cop that Magnectic Blackness 7"? As per usual in the first months of the year it's always slow to hear new music. But I still stayed at it digging up just a few jams and going back into time to bump some older gems. Dibia$e has been making a name for himself in the LA beat scene and his 10" with P.U.D.G.E. def deserves some shine. The track "Smoke It Over" is a great stoner vibe out jam that you are gonna have to get blunted to. Take (who will be dropping the follow up in that 10" series soon) dropped an album called The Dirty Decibles of Thomas Two Thousand . While not quite as dope as his debut from a few years back, ...

Late, late, late pass! My bad, just kinda slacking on the podcast game this week. But here it is for ya. Ficticious came through to the studio, played a few jams and chopped it up about their forthcoming debut release. Be at Chop Suey March 19th! Aside from that we played some cuts like we always do on TML Radio. Spark one up and sit back, thanks for riding with us! TML Radio Vol. 10 Tracklist D Black "Blow The Trumps" Helladope "Rainwater" Amos Miller "Paint My Eazle" Bean One "Super Twerk" Ficticious "Walk With Us" (Live In Studio) Hudson Mohawke "Gluetooth" Ficticious "Dark Numbers" (Live In Studio) Bobby Hutcherson "Air" Ficticious "Give Me The Hay" (Live In Studio) Take "Lie-Twerx" Sims "15 Blocks" Sage Francis "Escape Arist" P.O.S. "De La Souls" Aesop Rock "Daylight" Slumgullion "Springers" Fresh Espresso "Girls & Fast Cars...

Towards the end of January I took a drive south to Beacon Hill to meet up with Tay Sean and Jerm along with assorted other members of the Cloud Nice posse. Helladope emerged on the scene with a sound and style very much their own while at the same time complimenting much of what else is emerging in Seattle right now. They have been talked about by everyone and starting this Wednesday embark on possibly the biggest month of their career. Opening for Goodie Mob at Neumos on the 24th , Snoop Dogg on March 5th at Showbox Sodo and then releasing their full length self titled debut on the 12th of March at Nectar . The guys are hustling. TML: Can you guys introduce yourselves, where were you born and raised, how long have you been making music? Tay Sean: My name is Tay Sean, I'm 22 years old, born and raised in the Seattle area and I've been making music all my life. Jerm: My name is Jerm, born and raised in Seattle. Been actively making music for 13-14 years. Tay: And our powers com...

If you weren't at the Admirals Club last night for Members Only shame on you! Kicking it hard with the fam last night. Great! But before that all went down me and B.A. Baracus got busy over at SU holding down KSUB with the funkiest and freshest cuts. As always we get caught up on things and drop some knowledge as well. Check the track list and download the podcast! DOWNLOAD TML Radio Vol. 8 HERE Vol. 8 Track List: Neil Landstrumm "Schlump Funk" Hudson Mohawke "Gluetooth" The Heavy "How You Like Me Now? (Joker Remix)" Cymande "Dove" Ike Turner "Ghetto Funk" Miles Davis "Minnie" Black Monk & Ras G "Hummin' In The Sun" Black Monk & Ras G "Cool Out Factor" Black Monk & Ras G "Watch It!" Black Monk & Ras G "Dwights Joint" Black Monk & Ras G "Juju" Black Monk & Ras G "Yeah..." Black Monk & Ras G "Outro..." Sly & The Family S...

If you missed part 1, check it here . Picking up where we left off, Otis just revealed that he is a chef, this took the conversation in a whole new direction. TML: How'd you learn to cook? Just having to work. I use to just work, I didn't graduate from high school I always worked food service jobs and I think I got conditioned to be a food service person cause I can not be a server. Or even a buser is difficult for me. I hate when people, if someone is like an asshole to me, I don't give a shit, I'm not fucking with you. I can't be a server who has to deal with assholes, naw it's not gonna happen. I can't help it. TML: The kitchen is a good place for that. Otis: Plus cooking is hella fun. it's fucking dope. TML: I love cooking. What is the Otis signature meal, signature recipe ? I don't really have a signature meal, I like to make pasta. It's quick, it's easy and it's fun. You can just do little shit just to change it up and give it a who...