After hitting the tail end of the Common Market show at Chop Suey last night (tail end meaning I missed all the other acts except CM), I have to say Seattle hiphop is on the next level right now, and the energy there is completely infectious. The makings of a powerful new musical force in a city comprises many different elements, but the way acts like Common Market, Cancer Rising, Blue Scholars and numerous other artists, DJs, producers, etc feed and fuel each other is downright inspiring. Common Market killed it once again last night, every song more powerful and positive than the last, giving an enthusiastic (packed) house songs with a message and the music to make you feel like everything’s just right in the world. For their finale, the duo pulled the opening acts on stage to come together on “Connect Four” (my personal favorite off their debut album) and members of Cancer Rising took the mic to freestyle between and after the song.

I should also note that Cancer Rising doesn’t get as much hype as they should in these pages, as our own My Philosophy columnist Larry Mizell is one third of the trio, but damn they’re so good. I bought a copy of their new disc last night, Search for the Cure and the beats blast hard as rock hits on some tracks and bring the slippery funk on others. They’re another important piece on our local hiphop scene for sure.

All this is to say who knows if 2006 will be the year for national recognition of the strength of Seattle’s hiphop scene, but I’ll say it now: It damn well should be.