Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle
The first history of Seattle hip hop—and hip hop’s role in Seattle history

From the first rap battles in Seattle’s Central District to the Grammy stage, hip hop has shaped urban life and the music scene of the Pacific Northwest for more than four decades. In the early 1980s, Seattle’s hip-hop artists developed a community-based culture of stylistic experimentation and multiethnic collaboration. Emerging at a distance from the hip-hop centers of New York City and Los Angeles, Seattle’s most famous hip-hop figures, Sir Mix-A-Lot and Macklemore, found mainstream success twenty years apart by going directly against the grain of their respective eras. In addition, Seattle has produced a two-time world-champion breaking crew, globally renowned urban clothing designers, an international hip-hop magazine, and influential record producers.



In Emerald Street, Daudi Abe chronicles the development of Seattle hip hop from its earliest days, drawing on interviews with artists and journalists to trace how the elements of hip hop—rapping, DJing, breaking, and graffiti—flourished in the Seattle scene. He shows how Seattle hip-hop culture goes beyond art and music, influencing politics, the relationships between communities of color and law enforcement, the changing media scene, and youth outreach and educational programs. The result is a rich narrative of a dynamic and influential force in Seattle music history and beyond.

Emerald Street was made possible in part by a grant from 4Culture’s Heritage Program.

1136825949
Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle
The first history of Seattle hip hop—and hip hop’s role in Seattle history

From the first rap battles in Seattle’s Central District to the Grammy stage, hip hop has shaped urban life and the music scene of the Pacific Northwest for more than four decades. In the early 1980s, Seattle’s hip-hop artists developed a community-based culture of stylistic experimentation and multiethnic collaboration. Emerging at a distance from the hip-hop centers of New York City and Los Angeles, Seattle’s most famous hip-hop figures, Sir Mix-A-Lot and Macklemore, found mainstream success twenty years apart by going directly against the grain of their respective eras. In addition, Seattle has produced a two-time world-champion breaking crew, globally renowned urban clothing designers, an international hip-hop magazine, and influential record producers.



In Emerald Street, Daudi Abe chronicles the development of Seattle hip hop from its earliest days, drawing on interviews with artists and journalists to trace how the elements of hip hop—rapping, DJing, breaking, and graffiti—flourished in the Seattle scene. He shows how Seattle hip-hop culture goes beyond art and music, influencing politics, the relationships between communities of color and law enforcement, the changing media scene, and youth outreach and educational programs. The result is a rich narrative of a dynamic and influential force in Seattle music history and beyond.

Emerald Street was made possible in part by a grant from 4Culture’s Heritage Program.

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Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle

Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle

Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle

Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle

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Overview

The first history of Seattle hip hop—and hip hop’s role in Seattle history

From the first rap battles in Seattle’s Central District to the Grammy stage, hip hop has shaped urban life and the music scene of the Pacific Northwest for more than four decades. In the early 1980s, Seattle’s hip-hop artists developed a community-based culture of stylistic experimentation and multiethnic collaboration. Emerging at a distance from the hip-hop centers of New York City and Los Angeles, Seattle’s most famous hip-hop figures, Sir Mix-A-Lot and Macklemore, found mainstream success twenty years apart by going directly against the grain of their respective eras. In addition, Seattle has produced a two-time world-champion breaking crew, globally renowned urban clothing designers, an international hip-hop magazine, and influential record producers.



In Emerald Street, Daudi Abe chronicles the development of Seattle hip hop from its earliest days, drawing on interviews with artists and journalists to trace how the elements of hip hop—rapping, DJing, breaking, and graffiti—flourished in the Seattle scene. He shows how Seattle hip-hop culture goes beyond art and music, influencing politics, the relationships between communities of color and law enforcement, the changing media scene, and youth outreach and educational programs. The result is a rich narrative of a dynamic and influential force in Seattle music history and beyond.

Emerald Street was made possible in part by a grant from 4Culture’s Heritage Program.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780295747576
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Publication date: 11/15/2020
Pages: 320
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.08(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Daudi Abe is professor of humanities at Seattle Central College and author of 6 ‘N the Morning: West Coast Hip-Hop Music 1987–1992 and the Transformation of Mainstream Culture.

Table of Contents

Foreword Sir Mix-A-Lot ix

Acknowledgments xi

Map of Seattle xiii

Introduction: "I'm the man they love to hate, the J. R. Ewing of Seattle" 3

1 "Welcome to Seattle where the sun don't shine" Seattle, the Central District, and the Arrival of Hip Hop 11

2 "Go back the other way, well stop and eat at Dick's" Seattle Hip Hop in the 1980s 29

3 "We got the talent, microphones, turntables, and crates" Seattle Hip Hop in the 1990s 69

4 "Solo Doe is my idol man, Cherry is the street" 206/2K 113

5 "The hood ain't the same" Traditions Change and Continue 159

Conclusion "Back when Empire Way became MLK" 195

Timeline of Seattle Hip Hop 201

Notes 241

Index 263

What People are Saying About This

Murray Forman

"The places and personalities that nurtured the Seattle hip-hop scene are beautifully rendered and Abe has a keen and learned sense of what matters and why. This is hip-hop history at its finest."

from the foreword by Sir Mix-A-Lot

"A well-rounded narrative that allows readers from anywhere to get a true sense of Seattle flavor. What is Seattle flavor? The uniqueness of being yourself."

Cheryl Keyes

"Emerald Street will make a significant contribution toward recognizing the importance of Seattle artists in the history-making moments of hip hop musical arts."

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