A sampling of new rap CDs

To experience the staggering amount of local rap planned for 2008 release, use MySpace and jump from artist to artist — they're all connected somehow — or engage the helpful nerds on local rap message boards at www.masslinemedia.com and www.206proof.com. They'll be first to tell you the list below is far from comprehensive.

— Andrew Matson, Special to The Seattle Times

Common Market, "Tobacco Road"

Common Market's 2005 self-titled debut was a landmark Seattle hip-hop album. MC RA Scion's precise raps and left-leaning politics with producer/DJ Sabzi's (Blue Scholars) warm melodies brought socially progressive hip-hop to a new standard of excellence. Says manager Dave Meinert by phone, CM's completed sophomore album "Tobacco Road" is "less preachy" than its predecessor. "It's also the best thing Sabzi's done," he says. Last November, Sabzi won Seattle's Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle with dramatic, high-energy compositions completely unlike the deeply relaxing work he's become known for. As before, RA Scion is on the rhymes and Sabzi is on the beats, but "Tobacco Road" (out this summer; record label TBA) is new, improved Common Market (www.myspace.com/commonmarket).

Jake One, "White Van Music"

Producer Jake One remixes Blue Scholars and sells tracks to Nas and 50 Cent. Royalty in Seattle, he's a sought-after style chameleon on the national scene, and with "White Van Music," the former King County file clerk will finally put his name on the front of an album. Guest rappers range from established stars (Freeway) to unsung Seattle heroes from the '90s (C-Note of Narkotik). The label Rhymesayers Entertainment (Atmosphere, Grayskul) will release the disc early this summer (www.myspace.com/jakeone).

D. Black, "Life and Legacy"

Following his massive-sounding 2006 debut "The Cause & Effect," the rap ambassador for Seattle's South End, D. Black (Damian Black), is back this summer with "Life and Legacy" on Sportn' Life Records. On stage, he is a wrecking ball surrounded by fog. On record, he promotes his own myth to epic levels. Black raps life and reps Sportn' Life, but he's bigger than both (www.myspace.com/dblackmuzik).

J. Pinder, "Recipe 4 Success"

Under-aged MC J. Pinder is a Seattle sensation in the making. His buzzed-about 2007 mixtape "Backpack Wax" (produced by local legend Vitamin D, released on Sportn' Life Records) was a Lupe Fiasco-esque lyrical statement that, yes, Pinder is that good. Now off Sportn' Life and under the full-time tutelage of three Seattle rap vets (Vitamin D, Jake One, Jonathan Moore), Pinder's debut album "Recipe 4 Success" is due late summer/early fall, and a project with MC/producer Brainstorm (of Dyme Def) is rumored in the works (www.myspace.com/jpinder).

Grynch, "My Second Wind"

The two best tracks on John "Grynch" Overlie's just-released sophomore album "My Second Wind" couldn't be more different. "Summertime" (featuring Geologic of Blue Scholars) is poppy, warm-weather nostalgia, lovingly packed with Seattle imagery. "Youngest In Charge" (featuring Fatal Lucciauno and D. Black) is a speaker-exploding synth-slap — a gut-check reminder that the kids are a'ight. Self-effacing, no-nonsense lyrics are consistent through Grynch's many styles; "My Second Wind" portrays the King of Ballard as a uniter (www.myspace.com/grynchmusic).

Producers' picks

Tons of Seattle hip-hop is coming out in 2008. Albums from the Saturday Knights and Common Market will be impossible to miss — they'll be the ones with Sonic Boom and Easy Street window displays, every bit as anticipated as any local rock album.

I spoke with local hip-hop producers DJ Suspence (The Saturday Knights), DJ blesOne (Cancer Rising), Mr. Hill (Grayskul) and Bean One (Dyme Def) about who to look out for in 2008. The sound architects are all intrigued by new West Seattle group the Physics (responsible for 2007 regular-guy opus "Future Talk"). Excitement about the almost-done solo album from Grayskul member JFK was expressed across the board, but the wording among all four producers was identical when it came to another rap act: "Of course, Dyme Def."

Dyme Def's "Space Music" was the best local rap album of 2007 (right next to Grayskul's "Bloody Radio"). Its second album is being kept under extreme wraps and The Seattle Times will report as information is gained.

Andrew Matson, Special to The Seattle Times