I'm never quite sure if hip-hop artists from Federal Way and Kent are in the Tacoma scene or in the Seattle scene. They're definitely in the middle, and their presence argues for a more unified Washington state outlook on hip-hop. Artists who live in the middle region in between King and Pierce County can have good influence on both scenes. Think about Q-Dot and the Parker Brothaz from Federal Way.

There's a new young MC from Kent/Federal Way. He's 24 years old and he goes by MC S.A.V., AKA Savage Busser. The S.A.V. stands for skills and variety. These are aspects of the rhyme that the MC holds dear. S.A.V. doesn't rely on street cred, swag or over-the-top-energy to win fans over; he relies on speed and technical MC-ing skills. Savage is a fast rapper; he can chop and he's very on-point rhythmically. His buzz is growing at a healthy rate. The last couple shows I've performed at I've had numerous producers and fans ask me about MC S.A.V. I think it's a testament to people in our region wanting some truly lyrical hip-hop that they can be proud of. For me personally, I think the Busser's flow is a little too similar to other fast-chop style rappers that exist. I feel he modeled his style after Sawchosiz, Motamouth Jones or any other speed rapper that exists nationally like a TechN9ne or a Machine Gun Kelly. I'm not calling MC S.A.V. a biter at all, it's just clear that he respects and was influenced by these types of artists. I'm just trying to paint a picture of dude's style for ya'll. His topic of choice is skills. He mostly has battle raps. His latest video, "Frankestein Flow," is hovering around 24,000 views on YouTube, so people are definitely listening! To see more than just a video, go to mcsav.bandcamp.com, and you can download his free EP, "Cadillacs & Dinosaurs." With this man's name growing, this might be the last chance to get a free album. The next one we'll probably be paying for.

A huge plus w/ MC S.A.V.'s music and range is that he doesn't always rap fast. When MCs only rap fast, it can start to get really formulaic and predictable. However, he knows how and when to slow it down and ride the beat. He dips in and out of the fast-chop style. He never falls off though. The man stays on top of the beat. He also can hit a different cadence and style in a verse that keeps the listener on their toes, awaiting the next style of flow. He is a young champion of true hip-hop, and it's refreshing to see such a young, technically skilled MC rejecting all the heavy on the hook and no-substance music that clog the hip-hop airwaves these days. There is hope for the future in MC S.A.V.