Tulsi

Seattle MC Tulsi doesn't receive the degree of shine some other local rappers attract, but his mic skills are tight and deserve to puncture many more receptive ears than they're currently reaching. Tulsi's hiphop persona is an everyman going through everyday struggles, an underdog striving to overcome mundane shit that gnaws away at a significant chunk of the population on the regular. On his two full-lengths—2006's Fresh Points on Life and 2007's Waterflow—Tulsi benefits from his producers' true-school funk imbued with soul that's gimmick- and bling-free. This approach is exemplified by "The Bullet" (from Waterflow). Producer Confidence—a solid Premier/Pete Rock/Large Professor disciple—buttresses Tulsi's True Crime tale with slick Bo Hansson–ian guitar licks, distant Rotary Connection–esque female backup vocals, and one of those funk breaks for which collectors spend three figures to score the original 7-inch from where it derives.

Tulsi currently has two releases ready for mastering in December: the Nothing to No.One EP (produced by the great loco local beatmaker Specs One) and his third full-length, Cold Smoke. They're part of his master plan to burnish those Golden Age hiphop verities to an even higher gleam. - The Stranger

Yes, Tulsi is a holy herb with amazing healing powers, but it’s also the name of a Seattle-based artist/emcee who’s striving to "keep it true school," he says. Drawing from the four essential elements of hip-hop: graffiti art, breakdancing, emceeing and scratching, Tulsi has polished his steadily evolving craft to turn out "Waterflow," his follow-up to 2006’s "Fresh Points On Life." Released late last year, "Waterflow" is a poignant portfolio of personal struggles, triumphs and socio-political commentary more aptly suited for the golden era of rap. It just happens to be current reflections set to dope beats and flawless production.

"The art of emceeing got me into hip-hop. I was able to follow the words at a young age. I liked the Beastie Boys and Run DMC early on, which transformed into Public Enemy and NWA. The lyrics and rhythm drew me in the most. There was a lot of personal stuff in hip-hop that I connected to. I thought it was cool that you could say anything you wanted as long as you said it in a fresh way. I did dig and still dig the other elements too. I remember being completely fixated on graffiti," he divulged.

On "Waterflow," Tulsi spits about relevant themes littered with style and substance that clearly profess his dedication to preserving the integrity of real hip-hop. With influences ranging from the Juice Crew (Masta Ace, Kool G Rap) and Ice Cube to the Clash and Elliot Smith, Tulsi "soaked it all in," he admits. That explains the eclecticism of both records. However, "Waterflow" is a bit more cohesive.

"With this release, I didn’t feel like I needed to introduce myself. I made the beats consistent by using my guy Confidence from Boston. He did 10 out of the 14 tracks. I made the vocals consistent by recording with a vintage microphone over two separate weekends. I almost lost my mind recording by myself in the emotion of ’Waterflow,’" he said.

"Bleeding" expresses nothing but emotional vulnerability, which reveals Tulsi’s special connection to the lyrics. "Come and Get It" delivers one of the tightest beats on the record with DJ Modul8r adding signature cuts throughout the song. Another standout track, "Pay Attention," is beautifully orchestrated. Backed by a simple old-school beat and an eerie sounding piano, it gradually gains momentum until culminating with a sample-filled scratch session. Tulsi is actively working on an EP produced by Seattle artist Specs One called "Nothing To No.One" and finalizing his third LP, "Cold Smoke," slated for a fall release.

Solidly clever and innovative, "Waterflow "is worth exploring.

-Kyle Eustice - City Weekly