Summer is always a good time for hip-hop. There are lots of outdoor shows and festivals that bring people out and together. There's been hip-hop to see outside so far this summer at Urban Art Festival and Tacoma Hempfest. And there'll be much more at festivals like the Capital Hill Block Party and the Grit City Festival coming up later this summer. (Grit City Fest's lineup is scheduled to be released July 5.)

First up this week we have a new mixtape from Serious Mak. The mixtape is available on datpiff and features A R Mastamind and Abom, just to name a few. Serious Mak is a new artist. He's been making a name for himself by not just having an Internet presence but actually doing local shows. Did ya read that, up-and-comers? Ya can mob the Internet with all the posts ya want, but it doesn't mean anything if ya not out there in real life showing and proving.

Blakmic and Freeze recently dropped Unstoppable. This is a collaboration, with Blakmic on the beats and Freeze with the rhymes. Blakmic is one of the more skilled beat-makers out of Tacoma, and Freeze def' pulls his weight on the mic'.  The album is available for free at both artists' bandcamp sites.

I first started hearing music from an artist called Lockcity a few years ago. He had a tricky, street-flow with some clever wordplay. Well, Lockcity is now Leon Swanks, and he's been releasing some dope material as of late.  His style is smooth-street with a touch of a avant-garde, ultra fly-guy vibe. I'd definitely YouTube Leon Swanks if ya want to hear some innovative (and still cool) ish.

Finally, on a bittersweet note, the word on the street is The Firwood Rock Lounge will hold its final show this weekend. From what I hear the venue will be coming under new ownership and changing direction.