OWEN TAYLOR: SWEATSHOP UNION >>>

Americans are peculiarly wired to not really be aware of most things Canadian. It doesn’t even seem to escape us here in the Pacific Northwest, try as we might. (And no, this isn’t going to end in some diatribe about how I think Degrassi had moments of superiority over Saved By The Bell. That’s another beast entirely.) Tonight, Olympia gets the chance to get in on one of Canada’s best kept secrets, Sweatshop Union â€" a Vancouver, B.C.-based hip-hop collective on tour in support of their fourth, and possibly best record, Water Street.

These heavyweights from the Great White North have honed their cuts sharp enough to earn a spot on fellow countrymen Swollen Members’ label Battle Axe Records. They have rocked the masses on national tours opening for Living Legends and Jurassic 5, and have been nominated for a Juno (Canadian Grammy).

With cover art from Ben Tour, another Vancouver native and Upper Playground artist, these gents seem set to decisively stamp their place into the American underground once and for all, and that would be nice, because we may need a place to crash while hustling your free healthcare, neighbour.

[The Royal Lounge, with Junkyard Gang, The Elements, Afrok, DJ Deadbeat, Thursday, March 26, 9 p.m., $7, 311 N. Capitol Way, Olympia, 360.705.0760]