Tacoma is a hotbed of talent. I've shown in this column before how even though T-Town doesn't get all the credit, we are often making big moves right under the surface (check out my columns on Erik Blood, OC Notes and Thee Satisfaction). Another huge player behind the scenes is Parkland's own Mike Weed. For more than five years now, Weed has been the go-to guy for Tacoma street bangers. This is no secret. Many Seattle heavy hitters have used Weed's tracks. Go to www.beatsbyweed.bandcamp.com to see for yourself. He's produced for the South Seattle monster hip-hop crew Dyme Def and for underground national artist Logics. Weed doesn't forget about the local scene either. He produced John Crown's entire "Coffee and Beats" and Bruce Leroy's "Lucifer Jr." Weed stays relatively active on the local scene also. I've caught him from time to time entering local beat battles in Tacoma and Seattle. Many consider Weed to be the best producer in Tacoma, and I would have a hard time arguing otherwise.

SeaTac M.C. J. Bre has been having a productive last couple of months. Riding off the strength of his last release, "The Revelation," he opened up for Wacka Flocka Flame for all three of Wacka's Washington shows in April. On Aug. 11, Bre will be opening up for Nikki Minaj at The Paramount in Seattle. J. Bre's albums have always been stellar and quality. It's the energy at his live shows that could be improved. Hopefully, with these larger shows Bre will be able to break out and get some good performances under his belt. He's still young and could grow to be one of the main players in the scene if he continues to make the right moves and keeps improving his craft. Many local artists can learn a thing or two from J. For being so young, he really knows how to market and promote himself and his music professionally. Sometimes it's the wrapping on the rapper that makes them get noticed.

Next week we'll catch-up with another huge local producer teetering on the verge of national hip-hop notoriety and I'll introduce ya'll to hometown fav', 50 Cow.