Rolling Stone Names Lifesaves One of Ten Artists to Watch
Talk about out-of-left-field! You and I know just how good the Lifesavas are (and trust me, Gutterfly is good), but who knew that Rolling Stone knew that, too? Confused? Rolling Stone just named Lifesavas as one of the mag’s 10 Artists To Watch. Whether this content is web-only or will run in the magazine, I’m not yet sure. But the exposure is huge either way, and Portland’s favorite hip-hop crew is there—nestled among celebrity daughters and makeup-faced rockers—and RS could not have been more right. From Rolling Stone:
After spending the Nineties releasing material on their own label, Lifesavas dropped Spirit in Stone in 2003, on Quannum. But it’s their follow-up, Gutterfly, that should put them over the top. “We put it all on the table with this album,” says Vursatyl. “Who knows what will come after this?”
RS also notes that the Lifesavas’ “Gutterfly Movement” is something that has taken two decades to build, which is a big part of my surprise when an article searching for the ‘next big thing’ wound up with its sights set on one of Portland’s longest-running musical institutions. Which isn’t a dig on Rolling Stone, it’s huge props: There is no one in this city that deserves the recognition more.
Vurs, Jumbo and Rev. Shines are intimately linked to Portland’s musical community, both in and outside of the hip-hop world. They’re one of very few hip-hop outfits to work with members of Portland’s indie rock community as well as with many of its hip-hop performers. You see these guys everywhere: in the community, out at shows, riding the MAX. Shines has a handful of DJ nights where he can be seen smiling and shaking hands with everyone in the room. It seems like Jumbo is in the crowd at every major Portland hip-hop event. Vursatyl teaches Hip Hop 101 at Jefferson High School, for chrissake. These are some of the most down-to-earth, open-minded guys in town (who just happen to be really, really good musicians to boot). To see them grab this attention and run with it would be watching the good guys win, for once. I’m very excited about that prospect.
Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists to Watch”
An extended version of my interview with Jumbo from the WW.
Lifesavas on Myspace
Hear “Night Out” from the Lifesavas’ upcoming “Gutterfly” album.
Special thanks to Arya for the heads-up.
Photo courtesy of the Lifesavas.
Dj Wicked
says:RS also notes that the Lifesavas’ “Gutterfly Movement” is something that has taken two decades to build, which is a big part of my surprise when an article searching for the ‘next big thing’ wound up with its sights set on one of Portland’s longest-running musical institutions. Which isn’t a dig on Rolling Stone, it’s huge props: There is no one in this city that deserves the recognition more.
Cool Nutz does without question. And that’s not up for debate.
Posted @ March 23rd, 2007 at 2:30 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalink-DJ Wicked
DJ Wicked
says:“There is no one in this city that deserves the recognition more.”
COOL NUTZ!!!!!!!!!!
Posted @ March 24th, 2007 at 12:45 am (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCASEY JARMAN
(post author) says:Saying that Lifesavas really deserve this wasn’t meant to take anything from Cool Nutz. He’s about to release the most important album of his life, and I think that the national spotlight will be his to take. I also know how much he’s done for the hip-hop scene and the larger community. But I would put the Lifesavas in the same category as him. At the moment though, Lifesavas are closer to what should be their biggest album yet while I think Cool Nutz is still a few months away from that with “The Miracle.” But how lucky is Portland to have two of its highest-profile hip-hop acts be as approachable and involved in the Portland scene those guys? I think that’s pretty special.
Posted @ March 25th, 2007 at 2:35 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCASEY JARMAN
(post author) says:I guess what I’m trying to say is “I agree.”
Posted @ March 25th, 2007 at 2:38 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkLEAK: Lifesavas, “Gutterfly” from Gutterfly (Quannum)-- local Cut
says:[…] Links: Lifesavas’ ’space Rolling Stone showing the Lifesavas love […]
Posted @ April 2nd, 2007 at 3:01 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCool Nutz
says:Congrats to the Lifesavas for getting the very important ink for the upcoming album. 2007 looks to be an exciting year for a number of people in Portland hip-hop. The Rolling Stone press is great, and should help greatly with the push of the album.
Make sure that you check out Luni Coleone & Cool Nutz “Every Single Day” in stores June 5th
Cool Nutz “So Portland” July 2007
E-40 Presents Cool Nutz “The Miracle” on Sick Wid Records Fall 2007
Everyone should be afforded the luxury to pursue their dreams.
Posted @ April 4th, 2007 at 6:19 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkSmoke Buddah
says:Then why hasn’t Cool Nutz received that recogition????????
Posted @ April 11th, 2007 at 6:05 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkSmoke Buddah
says:Then why do you think Cool Nutz hasn’t received the same recognition? Also, what makes you say that in the first place? Because that really makes you (Dj Wicked)come off as a real hater. Why wouldn’t you just be happy for the town. Maybe this will help Cool Nuts finally get whatever it is he deserves. Personally I can’t wait for Gutterfly. Spirit in Stone one of my favorite albums period and I’m sure Gutterfly will end up the same. Keep up the good work fellas.
Posted @ April 11th, 2007 at 6:10 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalinkDJ Wicked
says:In response to “Smoke Buddah”….
I’m a year late, but I’m not letting you slide….
Yeah, I’m a “hater” because I think Cool Nutz should get the much deserved recognition that he has earned??? Don’t be a fucking moron.
Why hasn’t Cool Nutz received the same recognition as the Lifesavas you ask? That’s a GREAT question! It baffles my mind actually. It’s an unjustly situation that I can only attribute to two possible reasons. The first being that the young, new, timid, WHITE generation of HipHop fans might possibly feel threatened by a lot of the “harsh reality” content that Cool Nutz speaks about in his music. Cool Nutz always gets undecorously lumped into this “gangster rap” category, and I honestly think that it tends to scare off a lot of young, white hiphop fans. Not only because they can’t relate to a lot of the street substance in Cool Nutz lyrics, but because it may also make them feel a bit “uneasy” (for lack of better words). As ridiculous as that may seem, and as much as it frustrates me, I’m betting that it’s not that far off from the truth.
On the flipside, if you’ve been to multiple Lifesavas shows, then it’s not news to you to find out that the crowds at their shows always consists of about 95% white fans, if not more. White fans that more than likely don’t find the Lifesavas music to be threatening to them.
The second reason that Cool Nutz probably hasn’t received the same recognition that the Lifesavas have, is perhaps because of the uninformed flocks of newjack dickriders that jumped on the Lifesavas bandwagon as soon as the Lifesavas signed to Quannum? Let me ask YOU something….Where were all the diehard Lifesavas fans before the Lifesavas signed to Quanum??? Where were all the diehard Lifesavas supporters during the years in which the Lifesavas were just another one of the opening acts at a Cool Nutz show? You know, the years in which Cool Nutz would headline a show at LaLuna and sell out the venue with 1,300 plus HipHop fans. I highly doubt that you were there in the crowd throwing up an “L” in support of the Lifesavas. And if you WERE there supporting the Lifesavas back then, it was more than likely Cool Nutz himself that made that opportunity to see the Lifesavas possible. I’m not trying to discredit the Lifesavas here, but it wasn’t until they teamed up with Blackalicious and Lyrics Born, and then signed to Quannum that all these Lifesavas fans started coming out of the woodwork and supporting and embracing them. That’s not an opinion…That’s an undeniable fact. The Lifesavas never used to get the amount of love from Portland (or anywhere else for that matter) like they started getting once they signed to Quannum. Again, no discredit to the Lifesavas. They are a very talented group. Good for them for signing to Quannum records. More power to them. I hope to see them ride both their talent and their Quannum association to the very top. But again, real recognize real. If you’ve been involved with the Portland HipHop scene over the past decade, then you would know exactly what I’m talking about. However, based upon your uniformed, borderline delusional comments, it makes it crystal clear to me that you in fact weren’t there.
Whether you’re too uneducated on the subject, or just too proud to admit it, you need to respecognize the fact that Cool Nutz undoubtedly opened a lot of doors, created a number of opportunities, and paved the way for a lot of hiphop artists in Portland (INCLUDING THE LIFESAVAS).
I’m not gonna sit here and alter the truth for anybody in an attempt to maintain some silly, superficial relationships.
I’m sick of biting my tongue. People need to know the truth….especially people like you “Smoke Buddah”.
I’ll tell you what….I’ll start being “happy for the town”, as soon as jackasses like you start giving credit where credit is due.
-DJ Wicked
Posted @ March 30th, 2008 at 5:38 pm (March 21st, 2007) | Flag this Comment | permalink