My old friend Dylan “DimSum” Foster of of IndaStreet Lyfe Music hosted “RELENTLESS” this month at Nectar, a showcase of local artists that have become family to him over the past few years.
“RELENTLESS” was fitting, as all the featured artists have been on their grind so long that we can call them “old school”. I first saw Island Trybe when I was 16 years old. They’re from Tacoma and their island style rap has attracted those that identify with the islands and Tacoma lifestyle. Because of their strong, niche, community and fan base, their music has reached radio airwaves in Hawaii to the stage of Hempfest in Seattle.
“RELENTLESS” is when you and your family have suffered personal losses and heartbreaking conflict like the Island Trybe family has, and move forward, but still fight the good fight and keep the movement going. “RELENTLESS” is when you’ve been at it for so long that you look back and thank your lucky stars that your wife is still by your side (and thank her on stage, as JC Flow did). “RELENTLESS” is when you’ve tried everything you thought was the route to take and then put the faith in yourself with a DIY (do it yourself) attitude.
“RELENTLESS” applies to a lot of the artists here, so you never know who’s going to show up when you go to a show. It wouldn’t be a NW show unless there were homies in the crowd and homies on stage: Dice, Spac3man, Sam Tea, and more.
[Sam Tea]
‘
[Kevin “A.K.A.” Johnson]
[Drew “Dj Bebop” Thompson]
[Dylan “DimSum” Foster]
[JC Flow]
[Spac3man]
[Island Trybe]
[Po Boxx]
The night’s featured acts:
- Island Trybe
- PO Boxx
- JC Flow
- UN tha Rhyme Hustla
- AKA
