who needs a major when you're rollin' with the biggest label evar?!?

these folks hit me about participating in their campaign to draw attention to the Invisible Children Rescue Mission and i obliged. i submit a track to their enormous compilation; all you have to do to DL the cut is register with the site, find my profile amidst a crapload of others, watch a short video about the organization efforts, then start all over. at least that's how it went for me and the homie.

so here's what i'mma do: i'll give you the link to the song here, but just so that i've fulfilled any obligation to the folks puttin' this thing together i'll post a related video for you to peep. that's fair, right?

RA Scion - "kasase" - pronounced kuh-SAH-say

produced by MTK

"There ain't a thrill in the world to compare with building a business and watching it grow before your eyes." - James B. Duke yeah, i guess it has been a minute. no excuses and no apologies, let's just keep it movin... buried in this shallow and forgotten grave of previous entries you can find a most interesting response from an eager (not to mention well-educated) listener posted some months back. he came on the offensive with pertinent questions about my connection to and interest in the Black Patch War. was i aware that the Night Riders were comprised largely of Klansmen? did i know that these lawless mobs who employed savage violence to pursuade poor farmers to join their cause also used the opportunity to lynch innocent black men? was i, in fact, racist? i was shocked; not at all by his interrogation and loose assertion, but by the fact it had taken nearly 6 months since the EP's release for someone to raise the question. not that i haven't been suspected and accused of being racist before - i understand that comes with the territory. being white and male requires you to be extraordinarily sensitive to the effects of your actions, your words, your silence. i'm not a careful dude, but even at times when i haven't been outright reckless i've been ignorant. or arrogant. or both. but now, in the context of this brutal and bloody War, what did it mean to a hiphop audience that i would appear compassionate and sympathetic to a splinter cell of the KKK? well, you tell me.

guys are gonna wanna, go out and play sometime - just take this advice i give 'possum hunters posse up, now it's in the name of the father we ride, right or wrong only god'll decide (1) dismiss diplomacy, don't bother we tried (2) they don't play fair, the sharecroppers profits are marginalized for law enforcement a farmer resort to homicide we fought for our lives before this mess check a storied past, patch of distress - a shred of dignity (3) a scrap of prospect left in me, leave the pistol empty shotgun got somethin' for the enemy, it's the black. patch. war chant bangin' on em to fifth-third send word of another bank bombin' ranks mobbin over the hilltop on horseback surround the storehouse, four corners and torch that (4) been in the poorhouse before and i don't want that for my boys, hear the voice at the point of contact, listen don't lose your self-respect, trying to gain revenge advice to heed, yeah - follow the rules, i'll lead i plead ignorance to business affairs beyond the field (5) but on the real what we're dealing with here's extraordinarily heavy-handed - look where your property landed now come play monopoly with vigilantes and bandits i'mma stand this ground, with plans to expand the compound interest rise over the cries of "man down!" empathize with the planters of antioch, we can't stop now divine decree, and how the flag of hoptown will be ours now, you're under siege (6) you're one of these whether or not you wanna believe (7) pledge allegiance - come the son'll receive, the company be numbered as somethin' we hung from the trees ( 8 ) from the seas of judah move a multitude of discontented consider me a spiritual descendant woe to those makin' unjust laws, what i sayeth is like a modern-day isaiah may the lord be the judge of my sins, look what we're up against more sufferin', no support from the government poor and covetous, i pour a cup and it's not enough to fill up - we're overrunnin' this operation taken down, klan vandalism a coups de gras for the law of the land's evangelism silent brigade engage in a whisper send shock waves breakin' - how you shakin' a fist? it's the black. patch. war chant bangin' on em a higher callin' the fire of sodom rainin' on em Canaan fallin' - flames rebuke the lot of ringleaders this james b. a duke, not a king he as savage as the pack he employed, capital gradually voided, now flatter me or see your tobacco destroyed, listen don't lose your self-respect, trying to gain revenge keep in line, see the sign, victory is thine he the vine, we're the branch where the fruits borne (9) and some of y'all been on there too long, spoiled rotten the regiment developin' a loyal followin' (10) contest and rest under kentucky soil - not a problem all i'm askin' for is a fair market at the auction i put my work on the block - gimme my portion (11) a good return and if not, i'll put the cross on em target for the marlin - amoss endorsement this manifest impressed on parchment - y'all can read, right? figured the herod-type particularly erudite terms affirmed by the testament of old where the servants learn - test 'em with gold, yeah we got that armed for combat, over crop tax cease the fraud, you aint god, damnit - stop that

1) blind fanaticism; it's plagued humanity for centuries, and just as it was the basis of justification for violence and aggression toward non-conformists throughout europe, so was it the authorization to fight non-compliance in the south. "only god can judge me" = no accountability to man.

2) it is a well documented fact that the independent tobacco farmers of kentucky and tennessee tried for years to fight corporate interests through various channels of state and federal legislature. they were unsuccessful.

3) check this link for a brief history on the region's long-standing state of depression.

4) burning down warehouses used to store corporate-owned tobacco was a common tactic employed by the vigilantes.

5) sure, we're not talking about highly sophisticated, degree-holding executives here - we're talking about farm folk. it was important for me to acknowledge the humility in this regard; the arguement was never about what was good or bad for business as a whole - a point often times lost on those who are not students of business and markets and trade. the real issue was respect for the order of things.

6) a reference to the brief coups that usurped power in hopkinsville on december 7, 1907.

7) coercion, duh.

8 ) possibly the greatest cause of consternation for those already uncomfortable with the direction i'm headed in here; yes, it's a reference to lynching, a clear threat to the organization of the american tobacco company that the night riders would resort to such acts if pressured. the reference was never intended to glorify or otherwise condone the motives behind the lynchings carried out by the Klan.

9) self-righteous, but ever reverent.

10) some estimates say the silent brigade was well beyond 5,000 members strong.

11) a slick metaphor - you see what i did there, bringin' the old and the new together? try to keep up, would you?

Hyena Records and Common Market are pleased to announce the release of The Winter's End digital EP from Common Market - available NOW on iTunes.

The Winter's End is a continuance of the journey taken on Tobacco Road - but this EP signifies the end of the Winter. Intentionally timed for a Spring release, the album, in its 5-track entirety, represents triumph over the gloomy clutches of the dark season, setting the tone, both sonically and emotionally, for Common Market's new beginning (or, Nouveau Depart, as track one is appropriately titled, in French).

The group filmed a video in New York City's famed Trinity Church Cemetery for the second track "Escaping Arkham" directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi -to be debuted on MTVu. In the song, the emcee suspends time to ponder the thoughts racing through the mind of a suicide victim as he hovers over death. Singing falsetto on the chorus, RA explains he has effectively “run away chasing the sun.”

The Winter's End is available for download NOW on iTunes and from other digital distributors on March31st.

Track Listing and Credits for Common Market's The Winter's End EP:

1.Nouveau Depart

2.Escaping Arkham

3.Brasso

4.Slow Down Moses

5.The Picture of My DeLorean Grey (inst)

THE EP is NOW available on iTunes:

iTunes Link

**ALSO - are you on the newest online networking site TWITTER? Follow RA Scion of Common Market on Twitter now!
RA Scion on Twitter

Due to irreconcilable differences among the members of Digable Planets, their tour has been canceled. We are very sorry to no be able to be on this tour.

We're big fans of DP, and were really looking forward to the tour. We're making other plans to get back out on the road and we'll hopefully be announcing new tour dates soon.

Thank you all for your support, help and excitement. We truly appreciate you and believe everything happens for a reason.

Peace
Common Market

The snow came....shows got canceled.  Blue Scholars did a video about it.

Common Market responded humorously....

Enjoy the videos....watch the Scholars one first so ours will make more sense...

Just incase you havent heard - our FIRST music video - for "Trouble Is" off the new album Tobacco Road - is now out! Directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi -- its an amazing "story telling" video complete with some local seattle music scene cameos! Look out for Blake Lewis (in 3 different costumes), Dirty Devin, Grynch, and more!

Here is video - tell us what you think, spread the word - embed it on your pages!






Also - we are on tour right now with People Under the Stairs and Shawn Jackson for 3 weeks.  We make a stop at 3 Northwest cities on the tour - so be sure to come out and see us.  Portland on the 26th, Olympia on the 27th, and Seattle on the 28th - come out and see us.  Almost all of the shows on the road have been SOLD OUT and amazing - so don't miss this tour.

The day has FINALLY come!

Tobacco Road is in stores today! It will take a few days to get to each city - so be patient. Here is the preliminary list of stores you can find it in:

MOST FYE and Best Buys (NOTE - if they don't have it - ask them to ORDER IT!)

Austin, TX
CD City
Waterloo


Baton Rouge, LA
Permanent Records


Boise, ID
Painted Smiles


Boston, MA
Newbury Comics


Bowling Green, OH
Finders Records


Cincinnati, OH
Shake It Records


Colorado Springs, CO
Independent Records


Denver, CO
Angelos
Cheapo Records
Twist & Shout
Virgin Megastore


Eugene, OR
CD World
House Of Records


Greenville, SC
Earshot Records


Houston, TX
Cactus Records


Knoxville, TN
Disc Exchange


Lafayette, IN
Von's


Los Angeles, CA
Virgin Megastore
Amoeba


Louisville, KY
Earxtacy


Madison, WI
B-Side Records
Exclusive Company


Milwaukee, WI
Exclusive Company


Minneapolis, MN
Electric Fetus


Missoula, MT
Rockin Rudy


Nashville, TN
Grimey's


New York, NY
J&R Music World
Virgin Megastore


Orlando, FL
Virgin Megastore


Phoenix, AZ
Virgin Megastore
Zia Records


Portland, OR
2nd Avenue Records
Music Millennium


Richmond, VA
Plan 9


Rochester, NY
House Of Guitars


Salt Lake City
Graywhale Records


Sacramento
Dimple Records
R5 Records


San Diego
Access Hip Hop
Lou's Records


San Francisco, CA
Amoeba
Rasputin Records
Virgin Megastore


Seattle, WA
Easy Street
Everyday Music
Silver Platters
Sonic Boom


St. Louis, MO
Vintage Vinyl


Tucson, AZ
Zia Records


Ventura, CA
Salzers


Washington, DC
Melody Records

It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate. - nathaniel hawthorne

just this week, i've had the tremendous pleasure of reviewing the final cut of our first music video. the decision to use trouble is as the lead single for Tobacco Road came after a circular process of parleying; it was, from the beginning, the foundation for the LP's agri-centric concept, but when prospects of distribution for TR grew dimmer, the song became the core of an idea that rapidly developed into BPW. it wasn't until promotional work for TR began that i started to regret the decision to include it on both projects. by that time the song had become old and uninspiring to me, and despite the pleas of a gathered mass, assembled over barbecued burgers and hot dogs for the purpose of assisting us in the selection process, i had no interest in using trouble is for a video.

in the end it was zia who convinced me. you have to give credence to an opinion formed during a deliberate, 27-hour musical fast of sorts, in a honda accord en route from seattle to phoenix, during which time no song was played that cannot be found on Tobacco Road. the kid had a vision, and he sold me on it.

the most intriguing aspect of this process, for me, has been the evolution of the storytelling from written/spoken word into visual depiction. it was enough of a challenge to articulate the summation of my experience with the town's hiphop scene in a metaphorical folk tale, harder still to explain to zia how i thought the visual representation would best serve the point. in the end i am beyond satisfied; i can't wait for you all to see it. here are a few stills from the shoot, including a couple of screen grabs to show you what we're workin' with:





Church



Choir



Kicks



Monitor



Cast



Anti-Hero

What??

…Service, work it

The vagrant came upon a plot, shop – set it down
Found vacant, he gon' make it into something better now (1)
Barn hand, conversant in farm land, planted seven rows (2)
Will it ever grow? Heaven only knows, though he's
Hopeful, never boastful about the ethic (3)
Set it deep into the earth, work and serve, all the rest let it
Come or not, hot summer sun, son – bumper crop (4)
Over night, or so some thought (now they're talkin' that)

What you really did to get this windfall, spendin' all year estranged? (5)
Better not be mystical, typically the criminals here they hang (6)
Aint nobody ever seen you cultivate, rake or till, ya dig?
Take a lot to win a pot, wanna pay the rate? The stakes raised, you bid? (7)
In or out, what the men around here 'bout, finna count a pound of cheese
Double down, you intend to win the prize, otherwise bounce and leave ( 8 )
We don't care where you came from, since day one seen the game constructed
We gon' watch it all fall, frauds claim to save it in the name of love? Nuh uh. (9)

Bubble, fizz – what the trouble is?
This is hustle biz – what the trouble is?
A couple kids – what the trouble is?
Muzzle ripped, tell 'em what the trouble is, come on now

Trouble is love don't want you, boy, see the
Trouble is love don't want you, baby, see the
Trouble is love don't want you, no, see the
Trouble is love don't want you here

Not one to gamble, lit the Camel, took a long drag
Sat back and blew, inside he knew these folks had gone mad (10)
Through the smoke proposed a wager: tails, you can take my fields
Heads, you accept my station; they deliberated, deal! (11)
Coin turned for what seemed like eternity, slow breath
Some folks wept and fretted while the peasant never broke a sweat (12)
Confident he had 'em in the talisman's descent
By the time they shouted "TAILS," he done packed his bags and went (13)

Best never try to test the vets, you wanna settle? Better pay your dues (14)
To the boss you done lost your crops, in one toss I'll take your food (15)
Better be gone, set about and keep on a boulevard towards the boat
Ever come back get about a ton of that d-CON down your throat
In the meantime we find these fine fruits do quench a thirst (16)
And for pay we may persuade and convince some of these men to work (17)
In the end we sup and supplement the income caught in the trap ( 18 )
We must be blessed, best of all – that farmer's gone, thank God for that (19)

Double-dipped – what the trouble is?
That's hustle biz – what the trouble is?
A couple kids – what the trouble is?
Knuckle, fist, tell 'em what the trouble is, come on now

Trouble is love don't want you, boy, see the
Trouble is love don't want you, baby, see the
Trouble is love don't want you, no, see the
Trouble is love don't want you here

1) well, vacant may be a slight exaggeration, but when it came time for me to do me i definitely found a void i thought i could fill. just like the vagrant, it was never my intention to blow somebody else's spot - i was good to work the plot i came up on.

2) seven rows = seven tracks, a reference to apostrophe, the EP.

3) among the first five comments on my myspace page (est. early 05) was a nod from the young homie marc sense expressing appreciation for my humility. unfortunately, i let the comment go to my head.

4) bumper crop = bumbershoot, and other such measurements of accomplishment as perceived by the townsfolk.

5) ironically, the same people askin' "who is this motherfucker all up in the stranger/on the cover of seattle sound/playing showbox (no sodo)/headlining benefits/blahblahblah?" are the same motherfuckers i tried introducing myself to six years ago. c'est la vie.

6) witchcraft and sorcery, the only logical explanation for fruits without labor. in seattle, as in salem, folks don't take too kindly to the necromantic.

7) observe how the antagonists flip it, insisting the only way to "win" is to play the game (as opposed to working).

8 ) the ultimatum: put it all on the line or pack it up and go home.

9) i come from a long, long line of uncompromising, bull-headed dimwits who can't see the fucking forest for the trees (not you, mom), but these "i'd rather the whole world think there's no such thing as seattle hiphop than think that common market is what seattle hiphop sounds like" types take the cake.

10) agreeing to play along doesn't necessarily mean you agree to play by the rules.

11) this is the farmer's counter-offer; he's all in, and if he looses they can grab the land, crops and all. but if he wins, they agree to accept him for who he is; a simple farmer who has, in fact, worked to produce every benefit. stakes is high.

12) in the heat of the moment, the townsfolk are nervous, while the farmer remains calm, cool and collected. this should give you a pretty good idea of who has more at risk.

13) tails it is. big bank take little bank (i see you, skizzle). but who really wins? more importantly, has anybody lost?

14) typical town rhetoric.

15) LOL @ "boss"-types braggin' about their luck.

16) the fulfillment of purpose; the plan all along was to raise crops for the benefit of the entire community. good god - is any of this making sense?!?

17) one of the most significant lines in the whole song. as they enjoy the benefits of someone else's work, the townspeople contemplate hiring laborers to maintain the field, all the while failing to realize they've driven out the most qualified candidate.

18 ) an honest living will forever be seen as an alternative to easy money.

19) irony here, too, in the motivation for giving thanks to god. dig deep.

easily the most slept-.. from the BPW EP, hell maybe even the whole CM repertoire. not that i'm complaining, i'd much prefer my favorites to be safeguarded from the knee-jerk criticisms cordially invited by the "connect fornomenon" of myspace profile themes and heavy rotation on KEXP. it took some time to appreciate the subtleties of this rap shit, in cadence and in content alike, and personally i feel like this track embodies the best of what that laid-back flow has to offer. it could be the '95-live-era vocal sample, the beautifully buzzy bassline, a host of things - whatever it is that makes this joint lope along with the confidence of a g-stroll just works for me.

extra-large shouts out to my guy Asim who came through london bridge studios to breathe a hot breath of vivacity into the track; folks should know the omission of his verse was the result of complications in mixing, lest the wind (or any other element) lead you to think otherwise. for your enjoyment, and for the purpose of adding some value to Asim's hour-and-a-half-long commute to shoreline, i've included the raw version at the bottom of the post. note: e-real's third verse bonus is not the only variance in this version - i'll let you discover the other one on your own.

"... a lotta suckas always front that we made it by luck...

live from out a silent town where talent abounds

the area where pavement covers sacred burial grounds

sound off two for those who came first and laid the work

laborers and mercenaries mining diamonds out the pay dirt (1)

worth inequitable, yet to get what's deserved

for official recognition i press to spread the word (2)

act like you aint heard we on the verge of a breakthrough

youth crammin' the gate sayin' 'i just can't wait'

it takes a dreamer type to keep the hope alive but don't shut those eyes

it's cut-throat comin' from both sides

and when the gun smoke rise, only one'll survive (3)

'not two, not three, not four, not five'

six years on the grind here, take it if they give me ten

principally paid dues, who's seein' dividends (4)

where the kid begin? around the City of Cin

another sea-sickened immigrant attempts to fit in

i seen your citizens around, shower praise on a duck

bust the bass-pound speakers, sets played in my truck (5)

a pot struck under the rainbow, the stage i touched (6)

'a lotta suckas always front that we made it by luck'

never left fortune to chance, nah i took a second job

just to finance the pressing of a respectable effort (7)

i've come to terms with the significance of Live & Learn ( 8 )

kid'll get his turn only after they listen and spurn

so necessarily my resolve was tested, told 'em

i'll be back in a second to wreck it with a better record (9)

a set objective i said it how i knew best

rooted in the east movin' due west, of the etiquette clueless, uh (10)

i bid adieu, do i say 'bon jour?' how long you be gone for?

maybe forever on this award tour (11)

playin' for none, can i do one more? prayin' for an encore

bangin' on a drum at the contour (12)

the long shot, survival at sea - got to paddle

paychecks for prize money at the beatbox battle (13)

big up's to VERA, my debt forever paid in fine art

one of the biggest reasons we fuckin' with dave meinert (14)

service to my constituents, a purpose in fuzed

word to love, son - we got a lotta work to do (15)

real recognize and appreciate real, but

'a lotta suckas always front that we made it by luck'

aint nothin' foreign to the formula, you reap what you sew

spent these summers on the come-up, you just seein' us blow

some conditions are beyond control - nevermind that

the difference in victory and failure is where your mind's at

wild speculation on the state of the section

some missin' the bigger picture while they're posin' the question

it's the answer i've been trynna pass along to the amateur

while they stand around and wait for the bonanza."

1) for a short while, we used to kick off our live sets with a joint called "The Wind," in which i would preface what was to come by saying: "in all things, and for all things, we give thanks to those who came before us." simple, but effective i thought. it is essentially the same sentiment i attempted to convey in "Connect For," before i became acclimated to the city's acute aversion to anything resembling name-dropping. the line here is a toned-down reference to two notable noise-makers from the town's pre-jiggy-rap goings on: Source of Labor and Diamond Mercenaries; no linksies - do your fuckin' homework, son.

2) in the earlier days of conducting interviews with both local and national press, sabz and i would make every effort to give due credit to the town-counsel endorsed pioneers of seattle's hiphop sound; nothing was more important than giving the impression we were not responsible for putting the 206 on the coveted rap map. it didn't take long to realize that portion of the interview never made it to print, as if media cared no more to cover RCKCNDY-era rap from an historical perspective than they did as a current event. furthermore, the city's "keep my name outcha motherfuckin' mouth" mantra left a bitter taste in mine. now it is what it is.

3) live in this town long enough and you'll learn a few things. or you won't, it's up to you.

4) at 33, i look at validation in a whole new light. you know that feeling you get when you show up to the office and find out your boss has unexpectedly taken the day off? accolades and acceptance from my
townmates feels like that; like a substitute teacher on a test day, or a hundred dollar bonus on your paycheck, or a free cookie in your quizno's bag - it comes as a surprise and i'm ever appreciative, but i go about my business regardless. sure, it's necessary to prove yourself at times, so long as you realize it is to yourself yourself you are proving.

5) attendees of sasquatch '06 holla. neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night can stop the kid from delivering.

6) depending on the context of the conversation, i can credit a half-dozen spots with giving me my very first stage appearance in seattle. in the context of this conversation, the distinction goes to that bedrock of burgeoning battle rappers at the intersection of 45th and I-5, the piss-drenched, smoke-stained and curiously aquatic-themed hellhole formerly known as The Rainbow, where o-deezie and the rowdiest of rhymesayers from the EVT converged every tuesday for a hiphop "showcase." round about may of '03, if memory serves correctly; me and my djembe and a couple of homies did the dirty-footed hippie hop thing for no less than seven ex-bandidos who, after a fourth round of cuervo shots, actually gave us a round of applause. interestingly enough, i DJ'ed this weekly for a short while, too - why The Rainbow's patrons never dug on that iomos marad is far beyond me.

7) true hollywood story: I got into the property management business when i took on a part-time position changing common-area light bulbs at three different condominium complexes on the east side. the job responsibilities were simple and required no more than 8-hours-a-week to complete, but the compensation was enough to cover studio time plus mixing and mastering of my first real effort at making music.

8 ) i am not delusional. my first two albums were not very good, and i'm not mad at anybody, not even j. moore, for flaggin' 'em as feeble freshman attempts. no disrespect to the folks involved in the production of Live & Learn, it just couldn't stand next to the quality of rap Conception Records was putting out a full decade prior. in the end, though, were it not for that album, i would have never gotten the chance to step up to the plate sans tee. nice toss, fam.

9) in case you were wondering, i never had any intention of walking away from the studio content to rest on the laurels awarded to L&L by larry's diplomatically gracious pen - the plan all along was to walk through the next door just as soon as it opened. some of you been hearing me knocking for some time now.

10) a modest admission: i'm a stranger in a strange land. not to be confused with the stranger in this strange land. mistakes, i've made a few - most of them the result of having a sharp tongue not filed on the whetstone of the in-crowd. believe me, i have made amends with those who deserve apologies, and if i've never offered my regrets to you then, quite frankly, you can wait.

11) it's crazy to me that i can be so certain i'll never return to live in KY, yet i'll never feel comfortable calling this place home.

12) yessir. me and the djembe hollered at the monday night open mic a time or two. i doubt roc'phella would remember, but you could definitely ask sonny bonoho.

13) i probably wouldn't have said shit two years ago, but seeing as how things turned out the way they did, blake lewis owes me $500.

14) honest to god, can you believe after all mr. mineheart has done for local hiphop that it's taken this long to get a freekin' namecheck? IT'S A TRAVESTY, I TELL YA! well, within these 2 bars i have carved out my place in the annals of seattle hiphop; already it's hot in this motherfucker.

15) it's your cousin, gabe. shout out to toni hill.

as promised:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/172112348b507fd4/

and i leave you with this: