A few columns back I brought to your attention the video from Dip of The Nuggz, "I'm a G." Now it's time to school ya on The Nuggz. Not only is that a great name for a hip-hop group, it does actually stand for something, Never Underestimate God's Gift. Now don't get it twisted, The Nuggz are far from a gospel hip-hop group, but they are not devoid of all meaning either. Their music does have a certain deep meaning to it, often showcasing the slower, more somber, thoughtful side of the hood. Dip came-up during the mid-90s of local Tacoma hip-hop, meaning he's not as old school as say Criminal Nation, but he's far from a newbie. I'd say he makes up the second class of Tacoma artists that came-up after Criminal Nation, High Performance, Miztah Zelle, etc. This second class of prominent local M.C.s would also include the likes of Awall AKA 2-Piece, Ghetto Baby, Black Caesar, etc.

  After listening to Dip, one can hear a distinct Southern hip-hop influence in his flow and vibe. His songs are often slow and thoughtful, coming at the listener at a nice, slow, Southern pace. He was born in Tacoma and raised here but he almost has a Southern drawl to his flow. This comes from Dip attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. It's no doubt that Dip picked-up some down south hip-hop influences while he was living there.

 The Nuggz have garnered deep respect in Tacoma. Many fans from all sides of the city admire and think of The Nuggz as one of the top hip-hop groups in the area. They often rock shows in Seattle. They are sort of a monster hip-hop squad that is barely under the radar - kind of like an iceberg. You can see the tiptop of it, but have no idea how massive it is underneath the surface. The Nuggz are the elephant in the room of Tacoma hip-hop. Everyone loves them, but they're often left out of top Tacoma hip-hop artist lists. I feel as if all of this is about to change for them. They're starting to get the true props that they deserve. Other weaker hip-hop crews need to beware and step their game up. The Nuggz don't need to rely on gimmicks or spazzed-out, inflated energy on stage. Their lyrics, beats and music lead the way. Go to www.thenuggz.bandcamp.com and checkout their extensively deep catalog.