On the eve of his debut album release on Sub Pop, rising Seattle rapper Porter Ray drops a dream-like video for previously unheard track, Past Life.
 
Filmed in Porter’s hometown of Seattle, the visual is directed by Patrick O’Brien-Smith.  The bittersweet Past Life - featuring Cashtro and Black - finds Ray reflecting on his eventful teenage years, lost family and friends, highs, lows, misadventures and more.  The rapper’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.   
 
Porter Ray signed to Sub Pop after catching the attention of Shabazz Palaces founder and label A&R Ishmael Butler, his debut album Watercolor drops tomorrow AND he plays at SXSW next week.
 
Porter Ray’s current live dates include multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. Additional live dates will be announced soon.

Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Swan Dive Patio
Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Dozen Street - Kosher Dillz Show
May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
 

Watercolor is out tomorrow, March 10th, on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop right over here and in finer independent record stores the world over.  LP orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.  

Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood.  Guest appearances include Cashtro, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.

[Photo Credit: Jay Scroggins]

Follow all things Porter Ray everywhere in the galaxy via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
 

What “The People” are saying about Porter Ray:

“A star in the making.” [Watercolor] – Uncut
 
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] – MOJO
 
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor]  - Crack Magazine
 
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring ShabazzPalaces, Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] – Stereogum
 
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great StasThee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear

“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER

[Photo Credit: Jay Scroggins]

Seattle rapper (and the first Sub Pop signee of Shabazz Palaces Ishmael Butler), Porter Ray has shared another stellar new track “Lightro [Looking For The Light]” (feat. Stas Thee Boss)” taken from his forthcoming debut album, Watercolor, out March 10th. “Lightro…” also features fellow Seattleite, Stas Thee Boss of THEESatisfaction, and premiered today via Uproxx.

Uproxx says of “Lightro…” and Watercolor, “Over a wafting cloud of synthy production Ray tackles the grimness of death and the fleeting nature of life, before the track bleeds into Stas’ starlit harmonies....When he starts spitting, you know it’s him immediately. He runs through various cadences and countless rhythms like it’s nothing to change up, but never loses a sense of cohesion in his rapping…In many ways, Watercolor is a distillation of Northwest rap told through the region’s most promising newcomer (see premiere February 21st).”

Porter Ray’s current live dates include a hometown release show on March 8th at Barboza (with guests Jarv Dee, Cam the Mac, and Bruce Leroy), multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. More live dates coming soon.

Tour Dates + Ticket Links
Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA – Crocodile (w/ Pickwick for ACLU Benefit)
Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA – Barboza (Watercolor Release Party)
Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW
May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival

“Lightro…,” and the forthcoming Watercolor, find Ray blending thoughtful portraits of Seattle streets with cathartic biographical accounts of an eventful adolescence and early adulthood, during which his father passed away, his brother was shot and killed, he became a father, and saw his son’s mother go to jail.  Possessing insight beyond his years, Ray’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.

Watercolor is available for preorder in all your favorite formats.  LP pre-orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.  

Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood.  Guest appearances include Cashtro, Stas Thee Boss, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.

Follow all things Porter Ray everywhere in the galaxy via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

What are “The People” saying about Porter Ray? Well, since you asked:

“A star in the making.” [Watercolor] - Uncut
 
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] - MOJO
 
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor]  - Crack Magazine
 
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring Shabazz Palaces,Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - Stereogum
 
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great Stas Thee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
 
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER

Porter Ray’s ”Arithmetic” is the 2nd single off Watercolor, his forthcoming full-length debut, available worldwide March 10th from Sub Pop. The vibe-worthy track features guest performances from Stas THEE Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction and current host of KEXP’s Street Sounds) and the legendary Infinite (of Narkotik and Tribal Productions).

Gorilla vs. Bear premiered the track today (see here) and said of the track, “Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his forthcoming LP Watercolor…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great Stas Thee Boss and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” 

Watercolor is now available for preorder on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS.  LP pre-orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.  

Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood.  Guest appearances include Cashtro, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.

Follow all things Porter Ray everywhere in the galaxy via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

[Photo Credit: Jay Scroggins]

Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Feb. 17 - Seattle, WA - Sole Repair*
Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile**
Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA - Barboza (Watercolor release party)
Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW
May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
* w/ Sisters
** w/ Pickwick

You can now sooth your ears and eyes as you watch the video for THEESatisfaction’s “EarthEE”, the title track from the group’s stellar 2nd album, premiering via I-D Magazine. 

The new video, which director Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes calls a “A short visual meditation on the textile traditions of home, sacred Geo Metrics, theta based communication and the whirling dervish.  A sonically driven work of ancient Afro continuum…” stars the group alongside label mates Porter Ray and Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces.

I-D says of “EarthEE”: “Utterly mesmerizing, this four minute video employs compelling graphics that helps propel the song even further into the light fantastic.”
 
In other news, Pitchfork recently included THEESatisfaction’s EarthEE in it’s “Overlooked Records 2015”, and said: “You could imagine THEESatisfaction—the Seattle boho rap duo of Cat Harris-White and Stasia Irons—recording in accordance with the phases of the moon. Their second album, EarthEE, is alluringly cosmic, no doubt, but their neo-soul has more resonance given its powerful sociopolitical critique…Unbound by genre or modes of thinking, EarthEE keeps tugging at the shapes of music and minds to come (see Pitchfork July 2nd).
 
THEESatisfaction’s current summer tour schedule in support of EarthEE resumes Tuesday, July 21st in Madrid, ES at Sala Siroco and ends August 29th in Seattle, WA with a Black Weirdo DJ Set at Northwest African American History Museum. Additionally, THEESatisfaction’s SassyBlack has a few DJ sets and individual performances coming up as well.
 
EarthEE  is available to purchase from Sub Pop Mega Mart,iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp.

TOUR DATES ::  THEESatisfaction

Jul. 21 - Madrid, ES - Sala Siroco
Jul. 23 - Lisbon, PT - Galeria Ze dos Bois
Jul. 24 - Barcelos, PT - Milhoes de Festa
Jul. 29 - Madeira, PT - Estalagem da Ponta do Sol
Jul. 30 - Azores, PT - Walk & Talk Fest
Aug. 07 - Seattle, WA - South Lake Union Block Party
Aug. 27 - Victoria, BC - Eventide Music Series @ Continental Square
Aug. 28 - Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club
Aug. 29 - Seattle, WA - Black Weirdo DJ Set @ Northwest African American History Museum*
*w/ Chocolate Chuck, Topspin
 
DJ SETS / SOLO PERFORMANCES  ::  SASSY BLACK

Aug. 01 - Sitka, AK - Homeskillet Fest
Aug. 06 - Seattle, WA - Neumo’s
Aug. 21 - Seattle, WA - KEXP

Sub Pop & Hardly Art at SxSW 2015 / March 15-22:
Danny Bland, Chastity Belt, King Tuff, La Luz, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Luluc, METZ, Rat Fist (Randy from No Age), & THEESatisfaction
 
Sub Pop & Hardly Art SXSW Rdio & Beats Playlists
Rdio: http://goo.gl/WvCPgq
Beats: http://goo.gl/a8wlr7

 
Sub Pop & Hardly Art artists Danny Bland, Chastity Belt, King Tuff, La Luz, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Luluc, METZ, and THEESatisfaction, along with our friends Rat Fist (feat. Randy from No Age), will appear at the 2015 edition of SXSW. Please find a complete schedule for each artist below.

THEESatisfaction dropped the title track to their upcoming full-length, EarthEE, out February 24th on Sub Pop, and it can be described as a smooth ride in a deep groove. The song features THEESat labelmates and fellow Seattle hip hop stalwarts, Shabazz Palaces and Porter Ray. Pick up the duo’s amazing Sub Pop sophomore record, EarthEE right here.