Spekulation

All Northwest music no matter the genre has the feel and style to it that, I feel, almost all artists coming out of that are under this category. Spekulation or Spek is no different from this. He has a great style to his music that not many, new artists are coming out with, major potential in him. I'm glad I have finally found out about Spekulation and his music, better believe we'll be posting more of his music in the future. - College of Music

After hearing this song on Sunday Night Sound Session on KUBE 93.3 (Seattle) last week, I was very intrigued. It's not often that I hear a new NW artists that sparks my interest, but this song was different. Spekulation is a rapper/producer out of Seattle, who recently just relocated here from the east coast. On the track, he samples some Hall & Oates...which is pretty dope. His new EP, Truth Be Told, is set to come out this February. Get a free download of this track below! - World Premier Hip Hop

The #12 bus carried me across the Hill, to Neumos, where the rest of the night’s music was already in progress. I arrived too late for openers Reptet, “horn-heavy tone bandits,” Spekulation was about to come on, but I bought their CD At the Cabin anyway. You can give it a listen online. Spekulation is a hip hop artist who has assembled a number of jazz musicians (the self-titled EP lists nine players, plus the dj Absolute Madman). I know, if someone walked up to you on the street and said “hip-hop jazz,” you’d strike back and not a jury in the world would convict you, but Spekulation’s hybrid sound is infectiously appealing, before you add in the gutsiness it takes to sample Bob Dylan on “Something is Happening Here.” That was purchase number two. - The Sunbreak

This brief 5-track self-titled EP from Spekulation is sneaky-good. The compositions are the mark of an MC and collaborator (Nate Omdal) not content on building simple boom-bap just for the sake of delivering bars, but an honest attempt at combining unexpected musical constituents.

The previously-released single, “Something is Happening Here,” successfully combines a Bob Dylan sample (“Ballad of a Thin Man”) with driving hip-hop rhythm, and “Inception” finds Spek rhyming like his life depends on it over a Celtic-inspired backing track. Get the EP for free below or throw some cash the artists’ way, too. - 206UP

Everybody here? Okay, so far, so... well, not quite, I guess, as the year kicked off with some bad craziness (read: gun violence) in our streets. Nothing new, I know. And I realize that with these meager words in this alt-weekly, I'm not getting far beyond the reaches of the choir here, but please y'all, just remember to be an example of spreading love and keeping it the fuck movin' in 2012! Whether you believe this to be the year of the apocalypse, the dawn of a new era of consciousness, or just another year to get money (and let's not forget its cousin "fuck bitches"), there's no time for the dumb shit, am I right?

Sure I am. Now, on to this show at the High Dive, going down this Saturday, January 14, with a well-matched bill: Ripynt, Spekulation, Sarx, and DJ Seabefore. I've told you all about Ripynt's bad breath and battle raps before, but Spekulation plies his trade—an overcaffeinated but meticulously rhymed spew (kind of sounding like Doomtree's Sims sped up plus 2)—over some choice live instrumentation and turntablism (via DJ Absolute Madman) on his new self-titled EP. It's not exactly my double Styrofoam cup of codeine cough syrup, but good medicine for somebody, no doubt. Fated Empire's Sarx just released an album with his comrade Graves 33 called Wings and Wounds, similarly outside my bag but not in any way poorly executed beats or rhymes, just a little too doomy drama club for me (I was in theater sports, there's a difference!).

NYC's genre-blind indie fashionista-rap don dada Theophilus London is touching down at Neumos on Tuesday, January 17. I haven't quite had that moment with London's music as yet, but I can say that I dig his instincts and aesthetics. (Naming a mixtape after a Smiths song is a true mark of a refined soul.) Just this last week, I was telling somebody that I really dug "Wine and Chocolates" off of his 2011 Timez Are Weird These Days LP for all of its TV on the Radio–ness, to which they replied that TVOTR's Dave Sitek produced it. Well, whaddya know, don't you just love these days and times? Opening up this show are Queens Supreme THEESatisfaction, who are poised to do some real things during this jaunt round the sun, just you watch.

Something else to watch: Brother Ali's new video for "Writer's Block," a track produced by Seattle's own Jake One. The two have done a grip of great work together, and this is no exception, as Ali wrangles those raw Jake drums to spin a tale of existential despair all too familiar to anybody who writes. Ali even cops to having to break out to the Town for inspiration as he's "lookin' at Seattle from the 23rd floor." This track is included on the upcoming Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, fully produced by the White Van Man, now can I get a breathy a-men? - The Stranger

If you've read my criticism over the past decade, you know how I feel about live instrumentation and hiphop: The two are not a match made in heaven. My reasons for this opinion: One, hiphop is not really music but metamusic (music that's made from the music of musicians), two, it's not easy for a band not to sound like a band, and true hiphop never sounds like a band. Overcoming these two obstacles is not easy, which is why I'm very impressed with the band that works with Spekulation, a local rapper and producer. The beats made by his group, which is mostly composed of Cornish-educated jazz players, manage to maintain that hiphop non-band feel that means so much to me. Spekulation's hiphop is also bold, cinematic, and lusty. We should keep one eye on that young artist's doings. - The Stranger

It somehow seems apposite to get a review written early in the New Year and we head off to a surprising corner for this review. The eponymous EP by Spekulation, is a loosely hip-hop based release, as the vocalist from Seattle in the USA combines with: Nate Omdal (Bass), Absolute Madman (DJ), Jason Parker (Trumpet), Mike Dodge (Tenor Sax), Brian Bermudez (Bari Sax), David Levin (Percussion), Stephen Nielsen (Guitar), Jose Gonzalez (Keys), Jakob Breitbach (Violin), Ben Dietzen (Cello) and Michele Khazak (Additional Vocals) with arrangements by Nate Omdal to create a five track EP Mastered at D-Sane Not2Sane Productions.

Spekulation EP by Spekulation
Opening with the appropriately named Introduction – Spekulation flings open the doors to an exciting release. Strings tune-up as the vocal rap emerges and then we are off to an orchestrated piece which uses the powerful Violin and Cello which form a superb back-drop to the vocal. The depth of texture the strings create contrast with the stark imagery of a black and white photograph against the machine gun rattle of the vocal.
Something is Happening Here takes up the next space: Here the listener runs up against the inimitable Bob Dylan, and yet that powerful protest singer is matched by this revision and the Spekulation update to the 21st Century resonates just as sharply. An extremely well thought out track as the wind instruments are given a work out.
I’m Not Sorry which features Michele Khazak, finds us over the half-way mark in an inventive and successful release. Free-style Jazz, meets hip-hop (ouch neither of those sit on my must listen list), but the combination here brings a smile to my face. The two vocalists are so far apart I can imagine the run through session – Have you lost the plot guys? That couldn’t be wider of the mark, this is sublime and I never thought I would write that about rap or jazz, never mind the two in tandem.
The penultimate track I Want It All, ploughs a different furrow, as the EP heads to a vocal led piece, which is supported by the Orchestra developing a picture frame of chaotic decadence on to which the vocal paints a wild imagery of thick blue oils smearing the canvas. I Want It All is very much of it’s time and slots neatly in to the puzzle of the Spekulation EP.
The EP finishes with Inception, which sits as a bizarre title, given the appropriateness of the opening track name, but as the eternal optimist I assume this portends to some similar depth and exploration from future Spekulation material. The listener is taken back to strings as the track opens prior to a warm percussion which is soon joined by an emotive vocal.
Well, well… the bar has been set high for this year and the release for this is only a fortnight in to the year – 10th January. What a sublime release, a lyrical tour de force which has depth and colour added by some signature instrumentalists.
Thanks Spekulation, if this is a foresight in to the music of 2012, it is going to be a superb year. - Indie Bands Blog

This is good. Really good. And just in terms of originality, its DOPE! Never heard of Spekulation? Well, you will, Spekulation is an emcee and producer from Seattle. He collaborates with bassist and composer Nate Omdal, DJ Absolute Madman, and a Jazz ensemble to blend both live instrumentation and sampling to craft original, boom-bap rap records. His sound really draws you in. Something is Happening Here is the first single off of Spekulation’s self-titled EP, due to be released on January 10, 2012.


Spekulation’s self-titled EP will be released on January 10, 2012. It will be available for free download HERE, iTunes, and all other internet retailers. If you’ll be in the Seattle area, he will also be hosting his EP release show at The High Dive on Saturday, January 14th, with Ripynt and Sarx. Everyone in attendance will receive a free, hard-copy of the album with the $7 admission. - Who Needs a Genre?

This is good. Really good. And just in terms of originality, its DOPE! Never heard of Spekulation? Well, you will, Spekulation is an emcee and producer from Seattle. He collaborates with bassist and composer Nate Omdal, DJ Absolute Madman, and a Jazz ensemble to blend both live instrumentation and sampling to craft original, boom-bap rap records. His sound really draws you in. Something is Happening Here is the first single off of Spekulation’s self-titled EP, due to be released on January 10, 2012.


Spekulation’s self-titled EP will be released on January 10, 2012. It will be available for free download HERE, iTunes, and all other internet retailers. If you’ll be in the Seattle area, he will also be hosting his EP release show at The High Dive on Saturday, January 14th, with Ripynt and Sarx. Everyone in attendance will receive a free, hard-copy of the album with the $7 admission. - Who Needs a Genre?

One might say that it’s hard to review a collection of music that’s under 18 minutes, but i would say that that person is not trying hard enough. They are called “extended plays” because traditionally, it was meant to represent a record that was more than what you’d get from a 2-song single, but less than a full LP when they were 10 songs or more. But Seattle’s Spekulation has been making music for some time and felt like dropping a 5-song EP that may or may not be a hint of more to come in 2012.

The self-titled EP begins with an “Introduction” before kicking in with the appropriate “Something Is Happening Here”, and with most rap music, the first thing you focus on is his rapping. It stands out and may overshadow everything before you focus on other aspects, but by having a voice that stands out, you want to focus on what he’s saying. You can’t help but want to listen for the duration of each song, and then hear the rest of them.

What I also like is how he enjoys mixing up sample-based production with live instrumentation, and balances them in a way where one never outshines the other. I’ve heard many artists try to play with different formulas of that blend and sometimes it doesn’t work how I want (or expect), but here it works.

If one or two more EP’s are on the way from Spekulation, I’m all for it. If a full length is, I want to hear it. If he drops one or two songs every now and then… the point is he’s someone whose music I want to keep track of, and I will. This EP shows someone who could be a risk taker with his music, but it will be cool to hear how he directs his path from this point forward.

(The EP will be made available on January 10th. To hear material previously released, click to his Bandcamp page.) - This Is Book's Music

Seattle artist Spekulation’s career got started in 2009 since then he’s released his music in various formats, mixtapes, singles, eps etc…. and now he’s back again with his latest release, a 5-track self-titled ep. Although he’s been around for awhile this is the first time that I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Spekulation’s music. I learned about him when he contacted me about reviewing the new ep.

Once the music started up on the ep I knew that listening to his music was going to be a good experience. Spekulation’s music mixes hip-hop with jazz, folk and rock elements thru its mix of horns, strings & percussion parts alongside rapping, scratching & samples that are found on it that makes his sound unique and fresh.

The aptly titled first track, “Introduction”, gets the ball rolling. The song starts out with the sounds of an orchestra tuning up that are then joined by rhythmic rapping.

Track-2, “Something is Happening Here”, includes a sampling taken from Bob Dylan’s, “Ballad of a Thin Man.” Lyrically the song talks about how mass-media can control people’s viewpoints and twist the real truth for their own good. The track is also the first single from the ep.

Next up is, “I’m Not Sorry” a track that mixes both rap and singing vocals while also mixing hip-hop and jazz elements thanks to the nice arrangement of keys, string and horn parts along with strategically placed scratching that’s found on it. This song really hit on all cylinders for me making it one of my favorite tracks found on the ep.

“I Want It All” has up front rap lyrics along with background instrumentation that keeps the sound lively.

The ep wraps up with the track, “Inception”, a keys and strings driven song that talks about living in the here-and-now, not let others change your life desires or being too afraid to follow your own dreams.

Website: http://spekulationmusic.com

Review Takeaway: The songs that make up Spekulation’s self-titled ep are quick hitters that get right to the point both entertaining you while also making you ponder their lyrics. While the release does carry a ‘parental advisory’ rating label due to a few well placed f-bombs found in some of the lyrics don’t let that dissuade you from giving it a listen. - CW's Place

On the left, the legendary Robert Zimmerman, better known to the world as Bob Dylan. People have called this album cover “iconic”, but a lot of his albums from the 1960's have received this honor. It’s a way of saying that, in the era when an album cover meant everything, this was one of those that became very famous.

On the right, Seattle MC Spekulation. His homage to Dylan is being used to promote his new single, “Something is Happening Here”, a taste to come from a forthcoming EP due out in January. Spekulation is backed by a full band and DJ, and with a bit of Dylanesque essence in the music itself, it ends up creating a nice vibe from one storyteller to another. - This Is Book's Music

There actually is something going on here. It’s a remarkable alchemy between the rugged flow of area MC Spekulation and legendary folk-ster Bob Dylan. Here, Spek interpolates Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man” into rapped commentary on today’s multimedia-consumed culture. I think Robert himself would be please with the results.

Spekulation showed us his knack for crafty mash-ups (actually, call them “virtual collaborations”) on the previously released Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em (get it here), a reworking of Jay-Z vocal tracks with new, original backing by The Jason Parker Quartet.

Watch for Spek’s self-titled EP dropping on 1.10.12. - 206UP

Local rapper/producer Spek and his group Spekulation are fixing to drop a single Dec. 6 titled "Something Is Happening Here" that gracefully works in a sample of Bob Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man" to create a portentous yet inspirational bit of doom-dap protest rap. The song will be released on Spekulation's self-titled EP, which comes out Jan. 10, 2012. You can download the single for free at midnight.

Spekulation also include bassist and composer Nate Omdal, DJ Absolute Madman, and a six-piece jazz ensemble. - The Stranger

I'm so very beyond leery of mashups, especially of Jay-Z and anything at this point, but this is hitting the spot just right, right about now.

It's smooth and onbeat, as opposed to the sloppy, jarring combinations most try to cook up. Props to producer Spekulation for this one.
- The Stranger

#LatePass. I overlooked this drop admittedly because it appeared to be yet another Jay-Z mash-up. But after some light email prodding by Spekulation (the homie responsible) and after reading a couple other local writers’ opinions (which I hold in high esteem), I finally listened last night.

Can’t say much that hasn’t already been said, so I’ll just relay the same: Spek’s production value and attention to detail are on point, right down to the album’s intro that samples Hov joking with the crowd on his Unplugged album. And now the local jazz musicians responsible for the sonic backdrop, The Jason Parker Quartet, have a nice hip-hop feather in their cap.

If you’re on the fence about downloading this, I’ll make the decision easy for you: do it. - 206UP

Thanks to beatmaker Spekulation, you can hear what a jazz album by rapper Jay-Z may sound like

This is an awfully clever free album. Seattle beatmaker Spekulation combined a cappellas by Jay-Z with music from the Jason Parker Quartet. The result? An unauthorized jazz album by a superstar rapper.

Spekulation took samples from Five Leaves Left: A Tribute to Nick Drake, an upcoming album from Seattle jazzers the Jason Parker Quartet. He then mixed in some Jay-Z verses. Seamlessly.

As far as cross-genre collaborations go, these tracks are infinitely more interesting than Jay-Z's 2004 collaborations with rockers Linkin Park.

If you like the songs on this page, click the "Download" text (right) to own the entire album for free - Commercial Break

Brooklyn mogul Jay-Z is no stranger to dressing sharp and creating music that’s enjoyed by folks in tailored suits and bow-ties. Hip-hop has grown all the way up and its apparel and taste is no longer merely for those rocking hoodies and shelltoes. Yuppies like hip-hop too, or at least, they’re finding space to identify with it. Most of Jay-Z’s fans already know about his classic MTV Unplugged set several years ago when he had (in addition to the Roots backing him up) jazz musicians and a string session on stage helping him to keep his sound pristine. That was most likely the impetus that encouraged Seattle jazz ensemble, the Jason Parker Quartet, to release a creative new project called Smoke ‘em if You Got ‘em a couple of days ago.

The way it works is, fellow Seattle artist Spekulation took a bunch of Hov’s best verses and laid them over fresh jazz sounds from JPQ’s recently released new album, Five Leaves Left: A Tribute to Nick Drake. Spek had the ear to match pieces of an album honoring an entirely different musician and match it all to Jay-Z’s voice. Now that’s production. Everything from “Roc Boys” to “December 4th” to “Can’t Knock the Hustle” gets covered. Checkout the jazzyhiphop mashup below, and then be sure to actually listen to Five Leaves Left as well. We don’t get nearly enough jazz up on this site but this one is worth it. - Last Night's Mixtape

Another Jay-Z remix? You are probably thinking, who cares. Well you should care about this. Made from the master tapes of local jazz group The Jason Parker Quartet, Spekulation does his thing here! Lacing some pounding drum kicks with a beautiful trumpet loop that trades places with some ill dark keys at times throughout the track it fits Jigga’s tone and message. Gone are the MJB vocals and added are an unknown Jazz chanteuse. Give this a shot, might be the breath of fresh air you need to kick off your day. - Members Only

This popped up in my inbox a couple days ago and after giving it a listen I was pleasantly surprised. Billed as a jazz-rap effort, I was skeptical. Too often do these kinds of projects end up sounding corny, with the artists forgetting what made each genre successful in the first place to find some terrible middle ground (re: the last 3 Jazzmatazz records).

Spekulation‘s Depression Era EP, which you can grab for free at their bandcamp, avoids sounding like rappers trying to be hard over Kenny G, though its not without its flaws. A collaborative effort featuring MC Spek, bassist/composer Nate Omdal, DJ Absolute Madman, singer Michele Kazak, and a host of studio musicians, the group claims to have used hip-hop as a starting point with musicians adding jazz touches rather than sampling jazz to begin with and making it into hip-hop. The EP works best when this intent is made obvious on the first half. My favorite cut was “What Do You Do?”, with its hard-hitting snares, dark bass line, Nas scratch, and sultry singing from Kazak with subtle help from the horn section. I also dug “Flew the Coop,” which will probably be the closest a Northwest record will ever sound like a go-go song.

I’ve wondered why hip-hoppers and jazz heads have not collaborated more as of recent in the region, especially given the attention both scenes have been receiving both on a local and a national level. Garfield and Roosevelt jazz bands were written up in the New York Times in an article that pointed to Seattle as a jazz hotbed for a new generation. Other than extremely talented trumpeter Owuor Arunga showing up to play with the Physics or live bands backing local hip-hop acts, there has not been much of a real overt jazz influence since Sabzi brought lush big-band backdrops to the Blue Scholars’ debut LP way back in 2003, a sound that came to define the scene until the recent local explosion of music and its subsequent fragmentation into a ton of subgenres over the last couple years. The Depression Era EP is an interesting entry into the field, one that has its moments and hopefully signals more collaboration between these currently disparate scenes. - Posted In The Parking Lot