Help me get my Seattle crunk on!

April 3, 2007 4:32 PM

I have a spare morning in Seattle (and surrounds) on Saturday morning - and I want to buy some hip-hop/rap vinyl, some mix CD's, and maybe some t-shirts. Where can I look?

I've been to a few record shops, but they have been mainly indie/rock - and have been excellent, but I'd really like to buy some hyphy tunes, and some more mainstream urban music before I return to the UK.

Bonus points if I can park, its in a safe area and I can get clothing there as well - I really would like some giant sized hip-hop shirts to wear back in the UK!

posted by mattr to shopping (8 comments total)

Cellophane Square on Broadway
Easy Street Records in Queen Anne
posted by Roach at 4:40 PM on April 3, 2007

Now, you know that Seattle is the second whitest town in America, right?

I'd second Easy Street Records, it really is quite excellent for any type of music.

The nearby Tower Records might actually have a better range of rap.
posted by Artw at 4:51 PM on April 3, 2007

Also, you should check out the Blue Scholars, Grayskul,
and Boom Bapp Project for some dope local MC's. I'm especially partial to the Blue Scholars.
posted by Roach at 5:02 PM on April 3, 2007

You want to get a REALLY cool and some what rare local T-shirt: Shorty's is goofy little bar on Second Avenue with GREAT T-Shirt designs. When ever I wear mine in other cities people ask me where I got it.
posted by tkchrist at 5:23 PM on April 3, 2007

Gabriel Teodro's new album Lovework is also really strong and worth picking up while you're in town. He's half of another local group called Abyssinian Creole.
posted by ga$money at 5:29 PM on April 3, 2007

Tower Records is closed, dude.

There's a Reggae store called Zion's Gate on Capitol Hill on Pike Street near Broadway. There might be some overlap in their audiences so give them a call and see if they can point you in the right direction. There used to be and may still be a DJ/Turntablist-oriented vinyl store across the street from there (or maybe on Pine somewhere, I can't really remember - it may be Respect Records that I am thinking of). Obviously I don't know much about this area - most of the hip hop I buy is the more alternative/indie hip hop that they sell at the indie stores like Easy Street and Sonic Boom - so please accept my apologies for my [fe]male answer syndrome - but at least hopefully these places can point you in the right direction.

A Google search revealed Georgetown Records which is in South Seattle, a more ethnically diverse neighborhood.

P.S. I second the recc for Blue Scholars, and also try Common Market, who shares the DJ. Great positive-message Seattle hip hop with great DJing.
posted by matildaben at 6:09 PM on April 3, 2007

It's probably got an older and less urban stock than you're looking for, but if you're into vinyl and looking for a world-class destination, you can't go wrong with Bop Street Records in Ballard, just north of downtown Seattle.
posted by Inkslinger at 6:33 PM on April 3, 2007

There's a cool place on Pike street just east of Broadway, between it and 11th on the north side of the street. It's big, it has turntables and stuff, I imagine there is some hip hop action going on there. Worth checking out, anyway.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2007