The award-winning Canadian Hip-Hop group, Sweatshop Union will rock the crowd at Olympia’s Royal Lounge (311 Capital Way, downtown Olympia) tonight combining conscious lyrics, crowd-rocking tactics and a long and rich history of representing the best of hip-hop straight from the ‘much-slept-on, vastly beautifully land of British Columbia.

Canada has reared notable hip-hop artists from Maestro Fresh Wes in the ‘80s, to K-Os, The Rascalz, Swollen Members, Kardinall Offishall and more, but Sweatshop Union has just begun bearing the fruits of an international calling. 

The group came together initially as a collective in Vancouver, B.C. at the beginning of the millennium and eventually morphed into a powerful group with a conscious voice, a meaningful message and the ability to rock the party.  I can remember their music getting independent rotation as a DJ/producer at The Beat 94.5 FM in 2002 and this was just their beginning. 

Now Sweatshop Union is on a whirlwind tour that will take them from Washington to Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, California and eventually back home to Canada, where they have received critical accolades and awards from The Junos (Canadian music awards) and Much Music (Canadian version of MTV).

The group who promoter Homeland Security calls “Canada’s Finest Import” will hit the stage tonight along with local party rockers, Junkyard Gang.  Icky Spitz, The Elements and DJ Deadbeat will support the show in the safe, fresh and festive fashion that has become so familiar with Homeland Security shows.  “It’s gonna be a dope show,” says Homeland Security head, Nicatine.

Shots to Nicatine for his tattoo of Poppin’ Taco placed nicely on his right forearm! 

[The Royal Lounge, Sweatshop Union, Junkyard Gang, The Elements, Icky Spitz and DJ Deadbeat, Thursday, Aug. 20, 9 p.m. doors, $5, 311 Capital Way, Olympia]

Michael Vick's second chance at the good life

We have it so good in the United States. So good. Relatively speaking that is. We have it so good that a conviction and time served for a crime just won’t ever be enough of a punishment for someone like Michael Vick. Vick, a participant in a Virigina-based dog-fighting ring was prior to his charge and conviction, the NFL’s highest paid player in history. The NFL has a rich history too. The man served his time and released from incarceration taking appropriate steps to make amends for the lives that he altered and destroyed (the dogs) and it was not until he was offered a position in his profession of choice that a large number of arms went into upheaval. 

Ice Cube said it best, “Let’cha know that the target’s still on his back…” from his classic, “The N***a Trap.”

Well, my position is clear.  As I am also a lover of living things to certainly include animals and dogs, I feel that all are put in the best position to succeed and/or fail when offered an opportunity to make amends for an indiscretion.  Vick’s microcosmic case is one that highlights the macrocosm of how many in our United States of America think. There is little to wonder about why so many humans return to a state of incarceration by committing more crime after their return to society, when the earned punishment of time served and a permanent scarlet letter on your crime record is not enough of a price to pay in the minds of so many in our society.  So, the adage of “You do the crime, you do the time” becomes a never-ending story of time being served first inside the prison walls and then outside in the street, where many are not afforded a second and fair opportunity to prove themselves – this is a crime on the shoulders of our nation. 

Upon release from incarceration, so many of the nameless non-Michael Vicks face a terrible crucible of employment-seeking efforts that often bare little if any fruit.  I am for Michael Vick having a second opportunity to earn a living doing what he loves. I look at people without a criminal record who have settled for jobs that they hate and I have witnessed the impact that it has upon their demeanor, attitude and sense of happiness; practically a prison in itself – this is no way to live. 

I think if an opportunity can be extended and in the case of Vick, it was – let’s allow people a fair chance to step up or fuck up.  Haters love to see someone down and stay down and then for fun of it… just kick’em down a little more.  Pick each other up one time for ya mind.

New and upcoming releases

Sean Paul:Imperial Blaze (Available)
Slaughterhouse: Slaughterhouse (Available)
Blue Scholars: HI 808 (EP) (8/25/09)
Raekwon: Only Built 4 Cuban Links 2 (9/8/09)

Winners Train, Losers Complain… Do Yo’ Thang!!!

Peace & Love
 
Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. is an editor, writer, producer, educator and consultant.  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 (Comcast Ch. 982 / TCTV Ch. 22) in Olympia.