BEACON HILL - Though Gabriel Teodros lays his head in Beacon Hill, his heart is deeply rooted across the pond in East Africa. Teodros, 26, is a first-generation Ethiopian immigrant at the forefront of a revolution in Seattle's blossoming hip-hop scene.
Teodros first made his mark on the scene as one half of Abyssinian Creole - with fellow Seattle standout emcee Khingz - but with his 2007 release, Lovework (MassLine), looks to find a niche as a solo artist in the Seattle movement branded by its socially conscious approach to hip-hop music. I had the chance to sit down with the soft-spoken emcee just a week before he picks up the microphone at Seattle's historic Bumbershoot Music Festival at the Seattle Center.
I think I remember seeing you a few times at Bumbershoot last year?
Last year I played at Bumbershoot with Abyssinian Creole. Actually, last year I think I performed seven times in three days last Bumbershoot. Yeah, it was crazy. I didn't know I was going to do as many shows until, like , the day of - last year.
Is it any different performing in front of a crowd you remember being a part of when you were a kid?
Yeah, it's definitely real different. My earliest Bumbershoot memories where when my parents took me to see Miles Davis when he was there. It's really a trip to perform there now. It's real hectic, you know, a lot of people [laughs]. It's a lot of stages to maneuver from. Last year, there was one [show] where I had literally run from a KEXP sound stage to the Mainstage, and I had to run to the stage to make it on time to rock with Blue Scholars opening for Kanye [West].
It seems like the artists on MassLine share a similar philosophy in their approach to hip-hop. What's MassLine trying to accomplish? Do you think there's a potential to break into the national limelight on the horizon?
I think it's still really young. I know our original vision for the record label is to be an extension of the work that we all do in the community.
For it to be something that directs all of the energy and work that we already do in our communities, and for it to be something that unifies all of us, you know what I mean, within the town, and definitely give it that national recognition.
Is that something you want, that national recognition?
Definitely. For our whole region and our whole scene, and not just for our music. I work with a lot of cats younger than me, that I feel like are going to take this further than we possibly can. Some of my favorite emcees are between the ages of 20 and 23 right now. I listen to all local emcees. My guy Language Arts, Canary Sing, El Dia, Nam, there's a whole lot more too. The other half of my group, though, Khingz from Abyssinian Creole, he's my favorite emcee in the town right now. No doubt.
What are you listening to, nationally?
I think right now, on the national level, my favorite emcee is Andre from Outkast - all the little cameos he's been doing lately. I feel really spoiled, man, because I mostly just listen to my friends these days when it comes to hip-hop.
What do you like about what's going on in the Seattle scene?
It's just so diverse, man. I feel we get pigeon-holed a lot. People like to label what we do as just conscious hip-hop, and that's the Seattle sound. I don't believe it's true. One of the things that's really strong about Seattle is the diversity. You've got everything [here]. Every type of hip-hop that's created in the world is done here and it's done better than most of the regions. That's what I appreciate. I appreciate our intellectual thugs [laughs].
[Laughs] I like that. Is that what you call what's going on here?
Me too. Intellectual thugs [laughs heartily]. I label myself that.
Who are you looking forward to seeing at Bumbershoot?
Zap Mama is actually one of my favorite groups I've seen live. I've seen them twice before, and I'm really excited about seeing them again. Definitely Lupe Fiasco, I saw him earlier this year. He puts on a really good show. I'm definitely going to check out Wu-Tang.
[Bumbershoot] put on two of my favorite local groups at the same time on the first day (Step Cousins and Forgotten Sol), and I want to see both of them. It pisses me off, man. Who ever did that made a mistake. I'm torn. I want to see both of those groups. People don't even know.
What are you going to do this year differently that you didn't do last year during your set at Bumbershoot?
I'm going to have a live band. I'm going to have my cousin, whom I've never done a show with in my life. She's a vocalist from the Bay Area and she's going to open my set. There're just all kinds of special guests that are going to be all through the entire set. It's going to definitely be a Gabriel Teodros show, but it's going to be featuring members of the community. There're probably about 10 little surprise guests throughout the whole hour. It's going to be a really amazing show.
Check out Gabriel Teodros on Sunday, September 2, during the annual Bumbershoot arts festival this weekend. He'll be performing from 4-5 p.m. on the Fisher Green Stage. Single-day passes to Bumbershoot are $35. For more information, visit www.bumbershoot.org.
Central Area writer Josh Sabrowsky may be reached via editor@sdistrictjournal.com.
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