2007 has been the biggest and most important year for Northwest hip-hop. We’ve seen new albums from the region breakthrough nationally, local producers contributing tracks on some of the year’s best selling albums, and national press and radio giving shine to the Pacific Northwest scene which seems ready to explode.

Local groups continue to pack clubs, regional press and radio have taken notice, and new websites and forums have sprouted giving a voice to the community. The strength of the current scene played a decisive factor in Blue Scholars signing this year to the legendary Rawkus Records to release their latest album “Bayani” worldwide and touring nationally to a rapidly growing fanbase.

As Blue Scholars’ following has continued to grow, it has taken them from the mainstage of the Sasquatch Festival to the mainstage of Bumbershoot performing in front of 22,000 people, and several sold out shows at Seattle’s 1200 capacity Showbox Theater. Since releasing their new album this past June, Blue Scholars have been packing shows wherever they play, from New York and Atlanta to San Diego and Bellingham. Having just opened the Atlantis Music Festival in Atlanta and CMJ with Q-Tip, they are wrapping up a Midwest tour with Psalm One. Closing out 2007, Blue Scholars bring it back home for a 5-night run of intimate shows alongside the Northwest’s finest. The Scholars’ hometown throwdown is called “The Program” and brings together the most exciting hip-hop artists in the Northwest over 5 nights at Neumo’s December 18 – 22 for the filthiest celebration of Northwest hip-hop Seattle has seen. Each night will also feature sets by the Northwest’s leading DJ’s, gallery art by some of the scene’s best visual artists, booths from local labels and community activist groups, online interviews with the show’s producers and instructional demonstrations from local producers and mc’s. The whole thing will all be broadcast live with a three camera shoot on SynchronicityLive.com. And there you have it: The Program.

The Program
December 18 – 22, 2007

Tue Dec 18 – Blue Scholars, Swollen Members, Unexpected Arrival, Siren’s Echo :: DJ DV One
Wed Dec 19 -Blue Scholars, Common Market, D. Black, Sleep of Old Dominion, Can-U :: DJ Vitamin D
Thur Dec 20 – Blue Scholars, Saturday Knights (Light In The Attic) , Khingz, Grynch :: DJ B-Mello
Fri Dec 21 – Blue Scholars, Dyme Def, J. Pinder, GMK :: DJ Jake One
Sat Dec 22 – Blue Scholars, Ohmega Watts (Ubiquity), Cancer Rising, The Physics :: DJ blesOne *Neumo’s