Lately we've been seeing Todd Sykes and Qui Vive catch wreck doing solo live MP3 sets with some MC-ing. Another player in this creative movement is Eeetree. Hailing from Oakland, Calif., Eeetree grew-up as an MC, producer and artist in the talent-rich Bay Area hip-hop scene. Musically he's worked with everyone from Too Short and Living Legends to Hieroglyphics and Kev Choice. Now residing in Tacoma, Eeetree is picking up steam as a solo performer. Since he's been here he's also produced tracks for BlockRepp, Doughkain, the Academy and me. Eeetree's beats are vast. He samples, gives tracks bounce and funk and his music has a "futureness" to it. On the mic he's powerful, militant, abstract, passionate and a strong freestyler. Follow @_EEETREE_ on Twitter and see him performing at the Asian Hip-Hop Summit with Lok Skywalker and Shao Sosa Wednesday, April 25, at Hell's Kitchen (more on this event in a future column).

I recently read in City Arts that Seattle producer OC Notes grew up in Tacoma. This makes Erik Blood (engineer for Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction), Stasia from THEESatisfaction and OC Notes all hailing from Tacoma. These are three huge players in the most creative hip-hop music coming out of Seattle. I don't think this is a coincidence. Tacoma and these artists from Tacoma are a huge part of the fabric and roots of this movement. This is something to recognize and be proud of. These are musical geniuses that we should celebrate as our own.

Last week I asked if ya'll have seen Second Family's new video "Curtis Mayfield." By now ya should have watched it on YouTube and heard them say "Casket Fresh." In the last two Second Family videos we have seen them romancing it up with the ladies and now we see them getting freshly dipped in all the latest street wear and fresh, clean formal attire. Second Family is showing us that they can make songs about more than just the street-hustle. They have a lot of good shows coming up in Seattle and Tacoma. To see some of the best street-lyricism in the game, like them on Facebook and go catch a live set.