What it is?

Five nights that celebrate the best of Northwest hiphop, at Neumo’s December 18-22

Why it is?

The 2000s have seen the explosion
of the NW hiphop scene, from the success of local producers to breakdance crews winning national championships to Northwest groups touring internationally and fans coming out in droves to support local shows. One of the groups at the center of this excitement has been Blue Scholars, who came into existence in 2003, achieved local recognition in 2005, and reached national recognition this year with their second CD, Bayani. Prior to releasing Bayani in June of 2007 on the legendary Rawkus Records in a joint venture with their own label Massline, Blue Scholars had sold out Seattle’s Showbox several times, including a two-night stand that sold out in advance.

Since the release of their new album, however, Blue Scholars have not performed their own headlining club show in Seattle, so in planning a homecoming after touring, the duo, Sabzi and Geologic, decided to take a page out of the Might Mighty Bosstones’ book. In the late ’90s, the MMBs put on a series of five-night stands they called the Hometown Throwdown, where they headlined each night and had their favorite groups from the scene perform. The Program is the Northwest hiphop version of the Hometown Throwdown cooked up by Steven Severin, owner and promoter at Neumo’s. The Blue Scholars’ five-night run has turned into a NW hiphop festival that brings in many elements from the scene and puts them back out to the world. It’s less a show about the Blue Scholars and more about the present, past, and future of regional hiphop.

To find out more about the groups performing, go to the schedule and click on the performer's name and you can check out their bio and watch their video. You can download some music from many of them at the Stranger's Band Pages.

The Program Mixes

Arranged by Charles Mudede
Mixed by Brian Geoghagan

Mix I

1. “Future Talk” by Physics
2. “I’d Never Met You” by Can-U
3. “AlottaRappers” by Dyme Def
4. “North by Northwest” (Jake One Remix) Blue Scholars
5. “Can’t Wait for the Hill” (Intro) by Khingz
6. “Stardust” (produce by Vitamin D) Gift of Gab
7. “Joe Metro (Remix) - Instrumental” by Blue Scholars
8. “The Water” (produced by Sabzi) RA Scion
9. “This Is Why” by D.Black
10. “Perseverance” by Cancer Rising
11. “Future Talk” by Physics

Mix II

1. “The Ride of Your Life” by Gift of Gab
2. “They Call Me” by Physics
3. Track 4 by Dyme Def
4. "Power of Words" by Siren's Echo
5. "And All My" by Siren's Echo

Mix III

1. “Too Much Science” by Specs One
2. “Cigar Rock Star” by Rik Rude
3. "No Label" by Gabriel Teodros Lovework (Produced by Sabzi)
4. "Beat Five" by Choklate (Produced by Bean One)
5. "Heavy" by Choklate (Produced by Amos Miller)
6. "Fatal Rescue" by Mr. Hill
7. "Classified" by Dropcast (Produced by Rob Castro)
8. "Part 4" by Onry Ozzborn
9. "Secret Wars" by Grayskul (w/ Fifteen Cats from Oldominion)

Video Interviews from Crossfader

Other Stuff Happening Around the Program

On December 15 KEXP’s Audioasis will be dedicated to groups performing at the Program and on December 16, Street Sounds will be dedicated to NW hiphop.

Synchronicitylive.com will host live streaming of the Program.

Crossfader.com will feature interviews with MCs and producers performing at the Program.

Jamglue.com will sponsor a remix contest.

The Program Mixtape, produced by DV One, will include unreleased tracks from many of the groups.

Ripl.com is a new social networking site that will be feature many of the groups involved.

Massline and Sportn’life are curating a show of local verge artists in the Neumo’s second floor lounge.