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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2007)
BY STEVE SAWADA COMING SOON REGGAE PIONEER & SUPERSTAR EEK-A-MOUSE THURSDAY JUNE 21 ST 9 PM FRIDAYS GET LIFTED FRIDAYS REGGAE, DANCE HALL, HIP HOP, R&B Escape From Razorblade City DJ WOBBLE & DJ TEKNEEK FRIDAY’S LEGENDARY DRINK SPECIALS Come find out what it’s all about! $1 TABOO TEAS, $1 COORS LIGHTS $2 WELLS, ALL NIGHT EVERY NIGHT Lifesavas ride the Gutterfly into Eugene SAT., JUNE 16 U GRADUATION THROWDOWN! NO COVER TILL MIDNIGHT TUESDAYS 94.9 PRESENTS PHAT TUESDAY FEATURING DJ TEKNEEK AND CASH PRIZES FOR THE MOST BEADS 94¢ TABOO TEAS INTRODUCING MAMA’S KITCHEN NOW AT TABOO 5 12 NOON Casual Chic Club attire required 23 W. 6th (across from the Hult Center) 338-8787 • www.tabooeugene.com 32 JUNE 14, 2007 3355 E. AMAZON • EUGENE • 686-5022 misogyny portrayed in the blaxploitation p here in the Northwest, whenev- genre, the films were still replete with posi- er the name Lifesavas gets men- tive images for the black community. “These tioned in conversation, I can’t were black stars, black heroes trying to sur- help but feel a welling pride rise from my vive and uplift their community,” he said. gut and through my tongue as I chime in, He was careful to explain that yes, within “Those cats are good people.” the movement there were images that could We can ruminate on the ways in which be viewed as exploitative, but as with hip the group has helped elevate the hop, there were very positive messages Portland/NW hip hop scene into the global mixed in as well. “There are lots of parallels spotlight, or we can rewind about four years between where hip hop is now and where to a packed Hamlin Middle School gymna- blaxploitation was,” Vursatyl said. “There sium where Lifesavas MC Vursatyl rocked are lots of negative images in hip hop. But a starry-eyed audience of 12-year-olds with our goal, and the same goes rapid fire rhymes and uplift- with the blaxploitation era, ing words of encourage- Lifesavas , is to show that positive ment. Gracious and glow- Strange Fruit Project, images can exist in this time ing, Vursatyl said what he DJ Marc Sense of gangstas and hustlers.” wanted to say, talked with 8 pm Saturday, June 16 Indigo District • $10 Along with the social some kids after his perform- All ages themes, the group also took ance and then jumped in his cues from the blaxploitation car and was back off to soundtrack by incorporating funk, rock and Portland. Like I said, good people. R&B into the Gutterfly sound. To enhance With Gutterfly, a blazing new record their efforts, they pulled together an incredi- released in April, the group has further ble cast of guests who personify both the expanded their creative horizons by forging conscious hip hop movement and these a provocative concept album that pays hom- other forms of black inspired music — dead age to the great blaxploitation films of the prez, Fishbone, George Clinton and Vernon ‘70s and delves deeper into various pockets Reid, to name a few. of the black experience the group touched on “We’re reflecting on 30 years of black in their debut, Spirit in Stone. With Gutterfly, music,” Vursatyl explained. “We kind of purportedly the soundtrack to an unfinished played the role of casting directors: find- blaxploitation film of the same name, the ing the perfect theme and the perfect trio takes on ghetto superhero alter egos in sound for them to fit in to.” order to rise up and combat the physical, With a sophomore effort this strong, mental and social perils of Razorblade City not only is NW hip hop in great hands, the (aka P-Town). future of conscious hip hop is also secure- As I spoke with Vursatyl over the phone, ly vested with these Lifesavas. he explained that among the violence and ew
