_ Oregon’s Rap Scene On the Rise land “on the map.” Two o f the group’s members, Hakim and J- Mack,went on to do live shows all over the world with Magic Mike from Communication Plus. Both o f them also produce their Funk, using a lot o f live drums own radio shows that give the B y R obert B acote , a . k . a . and bass guitars. Nowadays, local artists a chance to play M ackiw ...B ob _ fok T he keyboards are used more to make their music to a large listening P ortland O bserver Hip Hop in Oregon has been production beats easier by work­ audience. Hakim ’s show can be heard on Z100, Saturday eve­ around since the mid-1970’s, con­ ing o ff o f a drum machine. nings and J-Mack premieres on Oregon Hip Hop really took tinuing into the new millennia Jammin’ 95.5, Saturday nights with a growing number o f local o ff around 1985 when break after the Big Snoop Dogg show. artists adding to its musical dancing was in. A group called With the evolution o f Hip U-Krew from the Pacific North­ evolvement. Hop, Music D J’s became im­ west were a popular singing In the music’s early years, p o rta n t. T he D J ’s w ould bands and artists grouP w ith a new scratch and spin the records, tw ist on lik e P leasure, Rap. They adding to the performance of Shock, the music artist. Great Hip Hop w e re well D J’s emerging from Portland were DJ Giant, DJ Kay Dee, DJ Chill and DJ Wicket. In the early 1990’s, Rap changed in style to a street level o f music. That’s when Terrence Scott, a.k.a. Cool Nutz o f Jus Family Records became “the man” o f North­ east Portland. He formed a record label, using his own Local Artists from left: Bosko, Mac k in ' Rob and Terrence Scott (o f method o f street distributions Cool Nutz). to market his music throughout Kenny G and Jeff Lorbor Fusion known for their Rhythm and Portland. Scott took Rap to Band brought us what’s called Blues songs which were adapted another level, promoting local Brand New Era o f Hip Hop for national play, putting Port- talents like Isaya, Bosko, G- Following Music’s Local Black History from the 1980’s to the Present Icons and Myths at Heathman Hotel A Multi-Artist Exhibit for Black History Month Recent etchings by Atlanta- based artist Radcliffe Bailey are currently on view in the mezza­ nine gallery at the Heathman Ho­ tel, in celebration o f Black History Month. Curated by the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, the exhibit runs through March 3 and showcases six pieces by Bailey, a mixed media piece by Edmond Bereal, and color photographs o f Africa by Seattle artist Robert Lyons. The exhibit is free, and is part of the Heathman Hotel’s continuing commitment to the Portland arts community. Icons and Myths Bailey’s style includes creating large-scale and technically im­ pressive prints that contain up to 13 plates each. The plates are printed in a diptych format on a single piece o f rag printing paper. Bailey’s works feature vibrant colors and a variety of etching techniques, including chine colie, photogravure and drypoint. Bailey is also known for using a central photographic image to pull an assemblage o f elements into a unified whole, while also weav­ ing together inspirational material from traditional African Ameri­ can cultures. Two o f Bailey’s latest pieces, “Tobacco Blues” and “By the River,” reference vintage landscape photography. Another Africa The exhibit also showcases Robert Lyon’s color photogra­ phy, previously featured in the 1998 book “Another A frica.” Lyons and essayist Chinua Achebe spoke about the book during their appearance in the 1998 Portland Arts and Lectures series. Lyons’ photographs are included in the collection o f the M useum o f Modem Art in New York City. The Heathman's Relation­ ship with the Arts Located in downtown Port­ land, in the heart of the city’s cultural district, the hotel main­ tains strong partnerships with focal arts and culture organiza­ tions, including the Portland Art Museum and the Portland Cen­ ter for the Performing Arts. For its support o f the arts in the community, the Heathman Ho­ tel was the recipient o f a Busi­ ness in the Arts Award of Excel­ lence from the Committee for Business in the Arts and Forbes M agazine in 1997. Most re­ cently, the Heathman received the Northwest Business Com ­ mittee for the Arts Breakfast of Champion Award. For more in­ formation on the featured art­ ists, contact the Elizabeth Leach Gallery at 503/224-0521. Page 9 themselves, they need your sup­ port. You may just see your hometown favorites on MTV or BET. Keep Hip Hop Alive! ISM, Bleek and Maniac Lok through his record label. Be­ Robert Bacote, a.k. a. sides promoting Rap shows, Mackin ' Rob o f Up ’ North Terrence Scott started the “POH Records/Millennium Sound HOP Festival” which continues Enterprises recently released yearly as a summer tradition. a new CD entitled Oregon’s Hip Hop music is “Oregon ’izd. ” still going strong. Through the He will be giving a lecture years, its evolvement has proven on the origin o f Oregon rap­ that it is here to stay in one form pers on Wednesday, Feb. 28, or another. With so many new from 12:30p.m. - 1:30p.m. in and talented artists struggling in Rm. 122 o f Terrell Hall at the this state to make a name for PCC Cascade Campus. THE LEGENDARY M C M E N A M IN S W H IT E CAFE, SALOON and ROCK & ROLL HOTEL HOTEL ROOM RATES Q ueen F u ll B unk $45 $35 $25 European-style lodging with shared baths. Room rates are the same for single or double occupancy. Add 11.5% cotiiirv r»x*m tax. For information call toll-free I-866-27I-3377 or from Portland 503-335-8900 McMENAMINS W HITE EAGLE > 36 NORTH RUSSELL • PORTL \NI) • (503) 282-6810 www.mcmenamins.com T u es - Fri 9 ant - 6 pm / Sat. 8am - 6 pm Dean's Barber Shop * Honors Black History Month A.D. Williams • Horace Simpson • (503) 282-2920 213 N T . Hancock Portland, OR 9721