Fahrenheit Records NW Rap group; Blue Nose Music is performing at the 2014 Battle Of The Bands, November 23rd @ Studio Seven in Seattle Wa (110 S Horton St) This is an early, all-ages event – bar w/ valid ID.
Doors open @ 4pm, and each group will perform a 30 minute set before a panel of judges. The top 3 will go on to perform at the next event in January.
Advance tickets are available from the artists, $8 a piece – saving you $2 off the door price and supporting the performer you purchase from.
[About Blue Nose Music]
Blue Nose Music has been gaining notoriety in the Seattle/ Tacoma area for the last few years as an independent no-nonsense Westcoast Rap label, releasing albums and throwing events without gimmicks or the typical showboating of today’s Rap scene.
Albums such as Welcome To The Doghouse, Puppy Love, Ego Centric, Experience 5ive 3re, and Release The Hounds have stuck to the script reminiscent of Westcoast Rap of the 1990’s. With lo-fi beats, simple hard-hitting choruses and a party-life attitude; BNM has grown in popularity among the 20-40 year old demographic of the Puget Sound area.
Events they’ve thrown entitled The Microphone Massacre Bash, The Pisces Party, The End Of The World, Bad Karma Nights cemented their place in the world of Northwest Nightlife. At venues such as The Stonegate and The Harmon Underground (Tacoma), Karma Lounge and The Liberty Theatre (Puyallup) and 88 Keys (Pioneer Square, Seattle) BNM has hosted countless up and coming Northwest Hip Hop artists and provided an opportunity to connect them to the eager fans in search of fresh Hip Hop and an evening of entertainment.
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For tickets e-mail: BlueNoseMusicEnt@gmail.com
Check out Blue Nose Music online on Spotify, AmazonMp3, iTunes, Bandcamp, reverbnation, YouTube and the rest.
The “XXL Freshman List” repeatedly represents a phony reflection of the REAL Underground Rap scene
Me & my team have been performing at & attending shows around the Northwest from Everett, Washington to Eugene, Oregon for more than the past 10 years – and I’ve yet to see Macklemore make an appearance in the streets.
If you’ve ever seen a “NW Hip Hop Artist” appear in a popular magazine, announcing they’ve been making noise and “coming-up” and had to scratch your damn head, and ask someone “Who the hell is this? ” I’m right there with you. It seems to follow right along with the phony image-selling trend of popular music – which has infiltrated the deepest corners of the once sacred genre of Hip Hop.
Blue Nose Music has been throwing events & releasing albums for the people of the NW for years – and here comes a NW artist receiving national acclaim – yet i don’t know one person who was bumping a Macklemore record prior to his album The Heist hitting the iTunes charts.
Hungry artists in the Northwest have been struggling for elbow-room and fighting for the attention that will take their music to the next level, only growing more frustrated and starving as the years pass. When the “Rap Industry” recognizes an artist the majority of people have never heard of. Just another shining example of the Northwest being mis-represented among the Hip-Hop/ Rap Community nationwide.
Blue Nose artist Thunderchief, has recieved attention for winning freestyle battles from Wazzu to Tacoma Community College. Travelling back and forth from NorCal to Tacoma for the cause – He flew The DE out to the NW for 2 shows (Halloween Horror Nights) in October of 2013 to perform with BNM, Awall aka 2piece Beanz & Rize and NW Veteran Shao Sosa.
BNM has been supporting the NW Rap scene for years, bringing artists together; throwing concerts to connect Hip Hop fans to hungry underground artists in the Tacoma/ Seattle/ Puyallup area. Blue Nose Music has been a real supporter of the Northwest Underground on a grass-roots level.
Blue Nose Music has been gaining notoriety in the Seattle/ Tacoma area for the last few years as an independent no-nonsense Westcoast Rap label, releasing albums and throwing events without gimmicks or the typical showboating of today’s Rap scene.
Albums such as Welcome To The Doghouse, Puppy Love, Ego Centric, Experience 5ive 3re, and Release The Hounds have stuck to the script reminiscent of Westcoast Rap of the 1990’s. With lo-fi beats, simple hard-hitting choruses and a party-life attitude; BNM has grown in popularity among the 20-40 year old demographic of the Puget Sound area.
In 2014 the Blue Nose crew got their wish, going nationwide under the umbrella of Veteran Sacramento artist First Degree The D.E.’s label; Fahrenheit Records – with the help of City Hall distribution.
In hopes of bringing REAL RAP and putting control back into the hands of the PEOPLE of the Northwest and the Westcoast as a whole, Blue Nose & Fahrenheit Records are here to make a statement with the FAHRENHEIT MOVEMENT!
I’m told Umoja Fest has been a reoccurring event for 30+ years in Seattle’s Central District, but somehow I hadn’t heard about it until this year.
Umoja = Unity, and this is exactly what this festival is about. Located in the heart of the CD along 23rd ave (Between Jackson & Judson) in Seattle, this weekend saw the ave lined with people sitting in lawn chairs and on blankets awaiting the annual Parade. You saw parents strapping elbow pads on their 7 year olds, and filming as their kids whizzed around the skatepark at Judkins Park. You saw hundreds of people filing in to watch young men playing hoop on the tandem bball courts. With multiple music stages and food trucks, people wandered through the festival with their families and absorbed their surroundings. I noticed a few people sitting around the outskirts of the park, just enjoying the sun, people watching, and the rare opportunity to relax and do nothing for a while.
The main reason I was attending the festival, is a few of my good friends had been invited to perform on Umoja Fest’s’ Hip Hop stage, so I went out to show support (and seize the opportunity to hand out flyers, and shoot some music video footage as well.)
When I arrived I found the Hip Hop stage, which had been setup in a fenced area that looked like it would have been used as tennis courts if not otherwise occupied; located just past the hoop courts. Fresh looking graffiti on the wall on my left read “Free Palestine” along with some famous quotes from the likes of Albert Einstein and an ex President regarding War, Peace and civilian casualties.
Welcomed by the host; Veteran Hip Hop Poet/ Writer Josh Rizeberg of Tacoma, we gathered in front of the stage to hear the opening act (and i apologize at the moment I can only recall his name was Gregory) speak about Peace and Freedom, freeing Palestine, ending corrupt wars and occupations, and Power to the People.. Only briefly summarizing his complex political messages.
Veteran Hip Hop Artist/ Poet and MC of the Hip Hop performances @ Umoja Fest 2014 – Josh Rizeberg
The next act, Skrilla, is a well known Hip Hop artist/ promoter from Tacoma who brought with him his young twin sons for their first ever opportunity to watch their father perform. His strong rhymes and catchy choruses echoed the message of the Struggle, life’s ups & downs, and maintaining a positive outlook throughout life’s hardships. After he thanked the crowd and went to relax with his family under protection of the shade, Rizeberg took to the Mic to introduce the next act; Influential Minds.
Accompanied by a guest performer, a young lady who sounded amazing as she sang live (and did not hide behind pre recorded vocals), IM did their thing under the blazing sun and the shadow of the Blue Angel Jets flying over head; from the ever popular Seattle Seafair event which was taking place at nearby Lake Washington.
Influential Minds and Thunderchief pose for a photo at Umoja Fest 2014, Seattle
Next up was my good friend and label mate, Thunderchief, accompanied by 5ive 3re; who joined in to perform their song “Up Late”. Thunderchief, who can at times be a bit “wild” or “unconventional”; Delivered a more mature and positive message for the festival goers. With slow, serious instrumentals and clearly spoken lyrics, he spoke to the soul of the people. He even performed a well executed song which (he openly admits to the crowd), was completely freestyled and recorded “in his mommas shed”. When his time was up, he told the crowd he loved them all, thanked them for their undivided attention – then descended the stage in search of water on this still muggy Saturday afternoon.
Thunderchief and 5ive 3re performing at Umoja Fest 2014, Seattle
Veteran Tacoma Rapper, Awall aka 2piece was next to take the stage. Sporting a camo bucket hat that matched his shorts, a Squashington Music Tee, and Seahawk colored Ken Griffey’s, he proceeded to rock the crowd in his typical impressive fashion. Speaking about positivity in the face of hardships similar to the others before him, he danced and entertained the crowd while the chorus sang “I am fearless, and I’m coming’ for that #1 spot”. After a few songs he was joined by the host of the stage, and standing alongside Josh Rizeberg, performed the last song of his set; speaking about everything from old school hip hop and how it inspired them, to political corruption, while delivering the uplifting “Power To The People” message that Rizeberg is known to live by (as well as stand up and fight for.)
Awall and Rizeberg performing at Umoja Fest 2014, Seattle
The last act I saw perform was a Seattle artist known as The Sav, who was enjoying the buzz from his newly released album, handfuls of CDs at his side.
Then we slowly made our way out of the Hip Hop stage area, stopping to hand out flyers and chat with people, watch the kids getting down in the Skatepark, and relax in the grass for a bit before we headed home to BBQ and enjoy the (rare) Northwest sunshine. As I was walking to the truck people were still pouring into the park, seemingly centered around the basketball tournament still underway.
Overall it was an excellent event to be apart of, the entire area riding the good vibes of unity, neighbors bonding through similar interests and a sense of community. I left the festival with a positive feeling about our Northwest Hip Hop community, and our society in general. I will be a much more informed Umoja Festival attendee when i go next year.
– Greg Double, Blue Nose/ Fahrenheit Records
Anti War Graffiti at Judkins Park in the Central District, Seattle
Tacoma Hip Hop Artist, Atomac showed up to support
Sitting down with Rap Artist/ Owner of Blue Nose Music
Photo Credit Mike G BNM
Q: Alright, who are you?
A: Dubb G, Double G, Greg Double, 00G
Q: Where are you from?
A: Born in Tacoma, Washington – grew up in Navy Yard City, Bremerton till i was about 12 then moved to Tacoma permanantly the summer before 8th grade.
Q: How did you get your moniker?
A: I’ve been known by many names thru the years, but the one that stuck was Dubb G.. based on the two G’s in my name, Greg Goucher. Over the years it evolved to Double G and alot of people still refer to me as this.. But once i started going more public with my music and doing shows i started running into Double B, A, C, and the rest, so i decided to look for something more unique. One day Greg Double came to me and it felt like i finally found my identity.
Q: What do you do?
A: I write, i rap, i record/ mix and master, promote, perform, throw events, and most importantly i help others do these same things.
Q: Why do you do it?
A: Because I enjoy the rhymes, the beats and also helping other cats to make music.. I also enjoy creating. I’m more of a technician than a musician, I like building and putting puzzles together.. That’s why I’ve loved making beats and recording/ mixing tracks. My mom sang and my dad was a rocker.. Used to make me listen to pink Floyd and explain the meanings to me when I was a kid.. Then I found rap when I was like 8, I started memorizing songs and writing down verses from Eazy and Mixalot, eventually started writing original rhymes and making beats in highschool. I enjoy performing, and I love the community aspect of it.. Building a network/ helping people meet others when they need something.
Rap music has been the most steady thing in my life since i was 8 or 9.
Q: How long have you been doing it?
A: Writing my own rhymes since 8th grade, about 1995 – recording and making beats since 10th grade, around 1998. So i’d say ive been doing this for 19 years.
Q: Who influenced you?
A: Hella. From Sir Mix A Lot, NWA, DJ Quick, Snoop, Spice-1, C-Bo, First Degree The DE, Brotha Lynch Hung, Andre Nickatina, Equipto and many many more – to the classic R&B of the Temptations, Stevie Wonder etc.. to todays Alternative Rock artists
Q: How did you end up with BNM?
A: Blue Nose Music is something i thought up years ago when i was making music with my buddies; Ryan, Zuriel, Neal and Lay Lay (Thunderchief).. i was obsessed with Blue Nose pitbulls so i started calling my music Blue Nose; at the same time i was making Dark more Horrocore sounding beats and songs and calling it “Haunted Records”. I eventually went my own way from what we were doing and i let my homies take HR, and i kept pushing with the name Blue Nose Music.
Q: What do you see your purpose as?
A: To create a gateway for artists like myself who would have died for the chance to record a real rap record and get it onto shelves in stores next to their favorite artists who they look up to. And also to keep the style of Rap i prefer alive – which is the West coast style of the 90’s. In the year 2014 when Hip Hop and Rap seems to have lost its way and is clouded by the fancy popular images of money and fast cars & women.. I’m happy to be able to continue making music about struggle, working hard, riding in old school cars and MOBBIN’
Q: Where do you want this to take you?
A: You know, I’m hell of excited about this Distribution deal with Fahrenheit & City Hall, as a long time fan of First Degree The D.E. and as some one who wants his music in the hands of every listener in the world. BUT I’m happy with my daytime career as well, and i don’t really have wild aspirations about Grammy’s and Whammys or the typical “Rapper” lifestyle. I’d love to tour and sell music & merch to people who enjoy it.
Q: Special shout outs?
A: To every one who listens to our music and supports Blue Nose Music, every artist i’ve worked with over the years, those who helped me build this BNM thing, producers that’ve trusted us with their beats, any artist that’s collaborated with me, any venue owner who’s given me a chance to throw a show at their club, my girl for supporting my craziness and trusted me when i said i was going to keep doing this and took me serious, my people behind the scenes like Mike Groshong – without whom Blue Nose would be a fraction of what it is, and accomplished a fraction of what we have. First Degree The DE and Fahrenheit Records, for the continued support, guidance and opportunities – S/o to all my BNM family: 5ive 3re, Castro, Thunderchief, Easie,Chuey, Mac 9, Karly M, Chris M, Jacob B, Zuriel W, Ryan Kelly, Gamble and the list goes on. I know for a fact i have failed to name everyone and i apologize if i didn’t name you specifically.
