I gotta do this right… I must say I was disappointed to see T.I. blow so many ‘grand hustle’ opportunities by getting popped for efforts to illegally secure firearms (you are on probation AND that’s what your boys are there for – hint, hint Michael Vick and those disloyal buzzards he hung with!) just when his career was entering the cosmos!  However, the good forgive, and most importantly T.I. forgave himself and keeps creating wealth.  I am officially impressed with his hustle AND perseverance to deliver the mega album, with mega videos and mega swag – Paper Trail.  Hey – I can NEVER be mad at the hustlers!  We get thangs done!

Yeah, I know…  A lot of cats throw that distinguished title of Hustler/Hustla around careless, misappropriating the trials, tribulations and triumphs endured by these chosen few.  Some are certainly NOT hustlers!  The rickety club life has witnessed the closing of Tacoma’s staple-joint, The Loft and now as quickly as I have introduced Lacey’s The Place, they shut it dowwwwwn (say it like Awnuhld)!  It was hot for about 13 seconds and now it’s… well it is what it is… nothing.  Recession, y’all… Recession!

I know I may have mentioned it somewhere before, but if you and WHEN YOU get the chance – wherever you see it, snatch up that new release, White Van Music, from the labs of Seattle-based superproducer, Jake One.  Jake One is the mastermind and producer behind the sounds of many-a-multiplatinum artist and he resides right up the freeway in the beautiful Emerald City.  White Van Music is chock full of dope artists such as Vitamin D (another 206 heavyweight), Young Buck, Freeway, Brother Ali, Little Brother, D. Black, Prodigy, Evidence, Alchemist and… well, dayum!  Ain’t that enough!  Basically, it seems to be a passion project that is worth your fine dime!  Shots to Jake One… Get it, get it!

SHOWS, OHS and 40 OZs

Tonight at The Royal Lounge in Downtown Olympia you will be served a three-pack of dope MCs.  Dope is another word to NOT be thrown around!  However, these three: D. Black, Xperience & Can-U from Seattle, Olympia and Tacoma respectively, do work on the microphone.

With election time coming soon it is of significant note that L.A.’s Murs has released his new masterwork, Murs For President (peep ‘The Science’) and he is bring his fly Southern Cal sensibilities to the Northwest as he rocks the sexy room at Nectar in Seattle this Saturday (10/11/08)… Be a part of it y’all – Murs is worth your time – spittin’ beats, rhymes and life in a real way!

The wait had ended… I had Tacoma’s Favorite White Rapper, Jay Barz, on my Live From I-5 Radio Show a couple weeks ago… He and his crew were so maniacal, I was and still am impressed with their hustle and character… Catch Jay Barz in Tha O at The China Clipper with Motamouth Jones, Sawchosiz, Lebowski, Puget, Real Life Click and Second Family as they all take the stage and do what they do.  

Speaking of the Real Life Click, word has it that one of their charter MCs, Miz, has a music video floating around to accompany his upcoming November 24th, 2008 release, The Prelude on Hi Rollerz Records.

Finally, Halloween is upon us and one of the dope parties that shall be rocked is the Naughty Nurses Halloween Party with the legendary spinmasters — DJs Gold, Silver & Luvva J at The Royal Lounge in Downtown Olympia… don’t hesitate to hit the Hustler Hollywood shop to get some gear… light clothing will be required.  Y’all stay up, now!

Peace & Love

Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. is an editor, writer and producer. A graduate of Washington State University and student at The Evergreen State College, he writes and edits the Pacific Northwest section of OZONE Magazine and hosts and produces Live From I-5 Radio (since ‘89) every Friday at 3 p.m. on KAOS 89.3 FM (www.kaosradio.org) in Olympia. He writes a weekly hip-hop column in the music section on the Weekly Volcano’s Web site.