Elevated

From the coffee shops of Portland, OR. Elevated has emerged as a major contender in the future of hip hop. Comprised of Dust (the lyricist) and DJ Weather, the duo has created a unique new-old sound, blending samples from blues and funk with hard-hitting bass and drums. Elevated's DIY method has led them to such outlandish ventures as a manic stickering campaign and constructing a mobile DJ unit to entertain the lines outside other band's shows.

Dust's passion for music drove him to turn his basement in to a recording studio in which all of Elevated's music is meticulously tweaked, and relentlessly fine-tuned. With a stack of notebooks that stretch over his head, Dust's lyrics are as sharp as they are passionately earnest. In addition to songwriting, he can be seen on youtube delivering lyrics at a speed that rivals the world-record holder. On the decks DJ Weather shows that the turntable is truly an instrument, brining a musical ear to classic turntablism. His record room is cluttered with crates of old vinyl and he's most often found at dying record-stores digging for new samples.

For the past year Elevated has been sweeping the west coast with their fast-paced, improvisational sets. They've shared a stage with Grandmaster Flash, Gift of Gab, and Busdriver to name a few. Recently the duo has teamed up with Portland artist Nate Luna, who paints graffiti-style characters live on stage during performances. Together, Elevated will continue spreading their uniquely- common brand of hip hop, breathing some of their soul back into the world of music.