Renegade Magazine

This was an evening to put the past where it is. Raves are the reality shows of parties, an idea WAY past it’s time full of people who look like they’re about to try-out for American Idol on too many drugs.

But this is just the end of the night, there was plenty to cheer about which made the rave that much more pathetic. Starting the night with Swan Lewis and no plans, yet. We get the call and head down to the latest in night life at “The Bistro”. (more…)

Portland /// Swan Lewis

Hi Friends! What do you all like to do on a Saturday night in a really, really dope city? Answers vary, I am sure. Yet I can almost guarantee that what I did this past Saturday night is something no one digs. (more…)

Portland /// Cecil Brown

Now, I get out once in awhile but almost never do I make to the Dunes. It’s that place just too far off for me. It always seems up hill and blah blah. But a favorite of mine from my days up in Seattle, Same DNA, was spinning on Friday there with a set by Colin Jones of Brokaw. Jones hadn’t been to Portland virtually all summer. Instead he’s been in Seattle playing at the Monkey Pub but mostly spending it making music. I asked the obvious question, “So you have a ton of music?” He just gives that look where, and this can only be done with glasses, you kinda lean down and look over your glasses and make a smile that says “you have no idea.”

So as I was there with Swan Lewis, we just cooled out and sipped drinks, yelled conversation. But much props to the other DJ who killed it with mixing everything from dubstep to 80’s dance tracks. But then out of no where march in about 10 black dudes and a guy dressed as a girl or more like done up like a girl. Then as they settled in, they took off their proverbial jackets and let loose. And I don’t mean the proverbial ‘let loose’. They jumped on the bar danced humped and sweated everywhere. One dude got on the barely turned on mic and then got on a table to let loose with gay rhymes and sass. Holy shit. It was like a bomb went off and out of it shot the gay Cosby show. Brothers in sweaters and collared white shirts booty bouncing and grinding. Yeah. When we had decided to let go of the night and get on with the gett’n, the bartender came out to throw away something. Swan asked her for a cigarette, more specifically an American Spirit. She, with complete disgust, said “I don’t smoke that hippy shit. If you want a smoke, here’s (I can’t remember). Hey you guys should stay around after hours. After we kick these guys out.” We look at each other, like is she serious? “Come on, It’ll be fun.” she waves to us.

So we stick around, drinking PBR and chatting and drinking. So by this time we were faded, but I was given permission to play with the fog machine control knob hanging from the ceiling.

You do the math.

That shit had better not be toxic, cause without a doubt it will kill us.

Portland /// Swan Lewis

Last Friday I got a call from my boy and local musician Fogatron about some turn table action at the Dunes. Intrigued, as I have not been through this spot in a while and hip to the fact that we all know this is a Cecil Brown favorite, I thought ‘what the fuck’ and headed out. (more…)

Portland /// Swan Lewis

Last Thursday (not the monthly event) the Crown Room venued a niiice blend of hip hop based local musical artists. (more…)

Portland /// Swan Lewis

Kiss the cock. That’s right, kiss the cock. A very genius play on the standard cooking apron (more…)

Portland /// Swan Lewis

Once again it is a Thursday in Old Town, Portland. And once again I am bouncing around the scene. Tonight’s agenda? The Fix- a spot advertised to, well, get your fix. And what type of fix? Well, that was exactly what I set out to find. (more…)

Portland /// Swan Lewis
So the much anticipated return of Swan Lewis was actualized in Berbati’s for the Skin City event Sunday night. As hyped up as I was for all of this, even though not an incredible amount of others were (besides the crowd of probably underage girls flashing their more than likely suburban smiles at my city swagger in the street) the mission was a success. Except that the ’show’ completely sucked. (more…)

Portland /// Cecil Brown

Nut’n like jammy jams in the park on a Saturday afternoon in the summer. Big ass speakers with accompanying big ass bass and break’n and shake’n. All day hip hop. From improvised Kid and Play moves to spontaneous battles there was plenty going on. First, O’Bryant Park is great because it’s right in the middle of downtown but it’s surrounded by trees giving it a forest feel. Second, (more…)

Long gone are the days of simply acquiring an X-acto knife and laminating machine and craftily inserting your own picture. No longer can you carve out the year you were born on your learners permit and replace it with a more preferred one via Bic pen. (more…)

Seattle /// James Yakovich

Colin Johnson has been upping the ante on Seattle’s music scene, which is pretty hard to do. Flying bands and DJ’s into Seattle for one night, he is helping to keep Seattle as one of the best cities for music. Never satisfied or tired he keeps looking and booking acts that are going to leave you satisfied and tired. He took time a few months back to see what is happening at Nectar. (more…)

Allison Jenkins /// Seattle

Even before PUSH (People United Saving Hip Hop) came on the scene in Seattle helping elevate hip hop with meaning and intelligence, Big Rob was working toward those same ideals. Never resting always dreaming new recipes of music, art and partying. (more…)