This week I had the opportunity to hear a 25360 legend speak. This is a man who has put his passions before his purse, he put art ahead of business, and he has been and still is a Puget Sound visionary on the music front. At the campus of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, I sat and enjoyed hearing a Greener-alumnus share his thoughts and answer the questions of students, staff and faculty who came to hear him speak hosted by a group of students who aim to combine sustainability with entrepreneurship. The man of note is none other than K Records  Owner, Calvin Johnson.

There is nothing more fun to me than being in position to “give it up” to noteworthy hustlers, players and go-getters. Johnson is one of these people and in my eyes it is unfortunate that heroes and hustlers like him go unsung so often — he would most likely shrug his shoulders. However, to give some perspective about Johnson’s and K Records’ impact on the Puget Sound and national music scene, let’s take a brief gander at some of his audio spawn! The former KAOS programmer and Olympia native helped launch the art of standouts such as Modest Mouse, Seattle’s Silent Lambs Project, Olympia’s Dub Narcotic Sound System and COCO and the lauded “underground” voices of power known as Black Anger. To hear Johnson, an artist in his own right, share his experiences and his ups and downs in the music industry was a DOPE listen from somebody who pushed the line, made his sacrifices and is still doing what he loves while helping others do what they love. What IT is all about!

On a less inspirational note, Olympia’s chapter of the Hip-Hop Congress had originally scheduled a party-rockin’ show featuring Blue Scholars and Macklemore, but the venues that they selected as potential sites to host the show were ALL DENIED. Weak. 

I’ve been receiving questions about famed San Francisco MC and Bay Area Legend, Andre Nickatina. He is currently on his Coke White Tour with Mike P, Smoov-E (on some dates) and OG super-producer, Nick Peace. He does have a new album out with Mac Dre, but is prepping to release, Khanthology 2, the second installment of his personally selected tracks from his first album in 1992 through his most recent releases of 2008. I don’t know if he is coming to Tacoma/Olympia anytime soon though. No word.

On another note, look — or should I say listen for Tacoma OG, Mr. 6ix’s new single about to rattle your trunk. I met with him by the Tacoma Mall outside of Red Robin’s, and he didn’t try to hype it, he didn’t talk it up, he didn’t try to convince me of how dope it is based on who produced it … he said, “Jose, the music will speak for itself!.” I had to listen and give it up for an OG. The Eastside Tacoma native is someone I’m rooting for to complete his project, because he has unarguable talent and has weathered storms and setbacks with numerous singles, EPs and album projects — like the original title, Tacomatose, which is still awaiting sunlight in stores and online. We’re waiting, 6ix. 

Some new heat is set to hit the streets in about a millisecond … Look for bangers from the Ambassador of The Yay, E-40, 50 Cent has a new album too … this is a trip. 50 Cent’s expectations are so ridiculous that if he sales less than 4 million copies, his albums are considered FAILURES! Keep it original … Raekwon, Rakim and 2nd II None need to finally drop something!

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