By Urbansocialight

So during the DMV’s Snowpocalypse 2010, I was able to catch up on a lot of stuff.  I actually cleaned up which was a task in and of itself.  I caught up on some movies and some TV.  And while watching CurrenTV I stumbled upon a show on music from the Pacific Northwest.  Most of the bands were a little weird even for my taste, but I did however discover the hip-hop genius duo out of Seattle known as: Common Market.

Common Market is your typical 1 rapper (Ryan “RA Scion” Abeo) and 1 producer/DJ (Alexei Saba “Sabzi” Mohajerjasbi), but with atypical results.   No newbies in the game, the pair has been making music together since 2005, and it’s clear they’ve reached a comfortable stride together; it just sounds right.  So good in fact that KRS-One invited the on tour with him after hearing an advanced copy of their first album also called “Common Market”.  Since then, they’ve released 3 more projects together, including the critically acclaimed “Tobacco Road”.

If anyone is longing to hear music that is both genuine and relevant;  smart and funny, then you will be able to appreciate Common Market.  While it was snowing I kept watching the video for their track “Tobacco and Snow Covered Roads”, in which RA Scion spit about typical plights of a rapper, shows getting cancelled, other rappers stealing beats, beef, all while he just really wants to dig out of the snow to get a pack of cigarettes.  You’ll love “Trouble Is” which tells the story of a farmer, who is rejected by the community where he settles.  I can only assume it’s a metaphor for gain acceptance in the hip-hop community.  You know typical CrabzInABarrel behavior.

And if dude couldn’t keep it anymore real…wanna know what RA Scion’s day job is?  He’s a maintenance man/janitor for a property management company and isn’t ashamed about it!  Now that’s keeping it real.

While they have received little exposure outside of the Pacific Northwest, they’re definitely deserving of a second look.  I think you’ll find that these Seattle boys hold up to the scrutiny of high standards of the East Coast hip-hop heads and their discerning ears.

Check out their website: www.commonmarketmusic.com

Visit their MySpace: MySpace.com/CommonMarket