Northwest Hip Hop Timeline

Northwest Hip Hop Timeline

2008
Jake One
Jake One
Jake One releases his debut album White Van Music.
1995
MAD Krew is formed
MAD Krew is formed

King Khazm and Bler One formed MAD Krew (or Madness After Dark), as a graffiti and Hip Hop crew that cultivated a presence in South Seattle.

1993
Digable Planets
Digable Planets

Digable Planets, a group led by Seattle artist Ishmael Butler, aka Butterfly, releases its debut album, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space).

1991
Coolout Network
Coolout Network

Georgio Brown broadcasts the first episode of Coolout Network on Seattle Community Access Network (SCAN).

1990
Criminal Nation
Criminal Nation

Criminal Nation from Tacoma releases its debut album, Release the Pressure, on NastyMix Records.

1989
Source of Labor
Source of Labor

Jonathan “Worddayer” Moore and Negus 1 combine to form the group Source of Labor.

1982
Emerald Street Girls
Emerald Street Girls

Cousins Mia “Angel Face” Black and Doretha “Playmate” Johnson form the Emerald Street Girls.

1981
Street Life

Steve Sneed and Reco Bembry produce the play Street Life, which includes a dance scene featuring the Emerald Street Boys.

Emerald Street Boys
Emerald Street Boys

Eddie “Sugar Bear” Wells, James “Captain Crunch” Croone, and Robert “Sweet J” Jamerson form the Emerald Street Boys. “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez is the DJ.

West Side Threat

The West Side Threat is formed.

Silver Chain Gang

Duke of Earl, Sir Wesley, Jazzy D, and Foxy combine to form the Silver Chain Gang.

KNHC

Radio station KNHC 89.5 FM begins playing hip hop.

1980
FreshTracks
FreshTracks

1250 KKFx’s (KFOX) FreshTracks hosted by “Nasty” Nes Rodriguez becomes the first all-rap radio show on the West Coast.

The Terrible 2
The Terrible 2

Eddie “Sugar Bear” Wells and James “Captain Crunch” Croone form The Terrible 2. They lose a rap contest to Gary Jam and Big Boss Cross (aka Jam Delight), at Lateef’s, Seattle’s first hip-hop club.

KFOX
KFOX

Radio station KYAC 1250 AM changes its call letters to KKFX (KFOX).

1979
The Rocket
The Rocket

The Rocket, a local alternative arts and music newspaper, is launched.

Robert L. Scott
Robert L. Scott

KYAC 1250 AM program director Robert L. Scott plays “Rapper’s Delight” on Seattle radio for the first time in October.

Sugarhill Gang
Sugarhill Gang

The Sugarhill Gang release their landmark single “Rapper’s Delight” on New Jersey-based Sugar Hill Records on September 16.

1908
Washington Hall
Washington Hall

On May 6, 1908, Local Lodge #29 of the Danish Brotherhood celebrated the grand opening of Washington Hall.