TOWN LOVE is an online art museum dedicated to celebrating the vibrant past and present of Northwest Hip-Hop. You can browse by artist or browse by year.

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Tag: Neema Khorrami (Unexpected Arrival)

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

Byrd's Eye View

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Byrd's Eye View was created in and features appearances from:

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

The Blank Canvas

Filmmaker and hip-Hop musician Rafael Flores spent six years making The Blank Canvas: Hip-Hop’s Struggle for Representation in Seattle. The film attempts to document the unique identity of hip-hop culture in Seattle, through interviews with over 100 rappers, producers, DJs, graffiti artists, break-dancers, fashion designers, and promoters from The Town.

It takes us on a journey that investigates the origins of Hip-Hop in the Northwest, the legacy of Sir-Mix-a-Lot, the notorious 1985 Teen Dance Ordinance, Clear-Channel’s dominance over commercial Hip-Hop radio, the increasing popularity of white rappers in Seattle, and hip-hop’s struggle for representation in a seemingly liberal city.

The full 96-minute film is available for rent on Vimeo for $5. Watch the trailer below.

The Blank Canvas was created in and features appearances from:

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

COLORS

One of my many favorite moments on COLORS by Eighty4 Fly happens 27 seconds into the second track when the beat reverses just as the verse begins. To say COLORS is a great album is as obvious as saying the Mona Lisa is a great painting. It’s a nearly-perfect first mixtape that emerged fully-formed from marble, effortless, and commanding, with endless top-notch studio trickery and constantly entertaining rhymes. ‘Fly stepped away from the scene after releasing this in 2012–like everyone, I wait with bated breath for whatever he might release next.

COLORS was created in and features appearances from:

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

Mr. Fantastik

I was up in Everett when I came across this Seattle hip-hop gem, Mr. Fantastik by Faded Theory, from 2009. I’ve put all three members of this rap group on vinyl: Mario Casalini, Raven Hollywood on DoNormaal’s double LP, and Max Watters on Gifted Gab’s Cause & Effect. Ten years earlier, they were a threesome of emo experimental Hello Nasty-era Beastie Boys, dropping this seven-song EP with cool Seattle O.G. Neema. It begins with a groovy as hell bass line, as the opening track asks the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Casalini kills the verse here, it’s a boxing match with the beat, sidesteps, and uppercuts. Watters’ guitar on the title track is smooth like taught fabric, and I always laugh when Raven name-drops Sir Mix-A-Lot. Rumor has it that this record–and their other project, HellaWeirdo–was inspiring to a young DoNormaal and was part of what brought her to Seattle. Search for Faded Theory on SoundCloud. Definitely worth a spin to hear the beginnings of three local legends.

Mr. Fantastik was created in and features appearances from:

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

Reigncraft, Volume 4: The Labor

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Do you know something about the history of this record? Do you have a favorite lyric or a favorite memory? Send us an email on why this is one of the great hip-hop albums from the Northwest. Thanks!

Reigncraft, Volume 4: The Labor was created in and features appearances from:

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

If We Try...

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Do you know something about the history of this record? Do you have a favorite lyric or a favorite memory? Send us an email on why this is one of the great hip-hop albums from the Northwest. Thanks!

If We Try... was created in and features appearances from:

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A film about Northwest hip-hop from

Unexpected Arrival

Neema “Unexpected Arrival” Khorrami put out his debut album Unexpected Arrival in 2001. The pillow-soft “Introduction” is rather unusual for a rap project, whispered voices mingle with feathery music not unlike the opening credits for a soap opera. But don’t fall asleep, suddenly “Millennium” comes in with a loud, gruff, Twista-style speed rap, and it’s a peppy kickoff to the CD. The somewhat somber “Life” examines social issues and the choices that we make. “So what’s life? It’s about the good, the bad. So what’s life? It’s the happy times, the sad.”

Some of the songs on Unexpected Arrival reveal the MC’s sensitive side. Things get explicit on “Take Control,” and Unexpected Arrival lists the many ways he will “keep you satisfied.” “Other girls wish that they could be you, and you know I’m always gonna want and need you,” he assures. “Julie” is slow-paced, and starts with the sound of thunder and emotional singing, which fades to rap verses about the titlular character. Unexpected Arrival wants to win her heart, but questions of loyalty and honesty are complicating their relationship. “I told you that I love you, and I hope that you believe me.”

“How We Do” brings an atonal, sandpapery roughness which sets it apart from the smoother production prevalent on the album. “The Arrival” has a hint of West Coast gangsta bounce to it, and a few more punchlines than Unexpected Arrival’s other cuts. “I’ll be getting the five mics if The Source ever get a hold of this,” he brags. “You Know Me,” and “What Do You See” both have slightly more momentum than other songs here, and hint at potential for this new artist.

According to a November 22, 2002 Seattle Times article, in August of that same year a remix of Neema’s cut “Take Control” was the number one KUBE93 request for several days in a row. That “Take Control” remix would be featured on Unexpected Arrival’s second album, If We Try… shortly after. Written by Novocaine132

Unexpected Arrival was created in and features appearances from:

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