It's the middle of summer and there's hip-hop everywhere. Even at camps for kids. Right now the New Directions Multicultural Multimedia Summer Camp is going on. This is a five-day camp designed to "Unleash the positive potential of youth through arts-centered, intergenerational and multicultural learning programs that value self-awareness, leadership, community, and social change," according to the hype. The camp is put on by 206 Zulu and Olympia's very own Jose Gutierrez Jr. Basically, a bunch of local artists are counselors and they teach the kids the elements of hip-hop and how to be good, well-rounded people. I personally have been enriched by summer camps and I encourage parents to send their kids. At least give it a try. Also, if you're an artist and you'd like to be a counselor or instructor at next year's camp, I encourage that. It's a great opportunity for all. The camp and Gutierrez have a Facebook page. Check it out if ya interested.

Who are the Koomaniacs? They are Whikid Maticuless and Savi Suazi and ya need to stop sleeping on them. The Koomaniacs are a Hilltop, Tacoma, group and they are exciting! They have a 11-track self-titled debut on SoundCloud right now. This group is highly energetic, lyrical and original, and there's nothing out there like them right now. Whikid has a more humorous, sing-songy flow, while Savi has a snarlier, sinister style. The two complement each other well and make some one-of-a-kind music. The style is an original mash-up of Hilltopness, high-energy and hyphy, with some true lyrical wordplay going on. Both members have been affiliated with Darxiide in the past, but have now moved on. In my humble opinion, the Koomaniacs are the best new artists to emerge out of Tacoma in a long time. I highly recommend listening to their music and going to see a show. I promise you will have seen nothing like it before.

Right when ya got done bumping Second Family's latest mixtape, they go and drop a huge single off their upcoming album, Gateway Drug. The single is titled "Too Many" and it features Grynch and Knuckles. YouTube it!