Too many to name, but here goes(Deep breath)...Tribe called Quest, Jonny Pate, Tupac, The Roots, Pete Rock, Leroy Hutson, Slick Rick, The Smiths, Too Short, Outkast, Bob James, Ice Cube, Sergio Mendes, Al Green, Common, Radiohead, Wes Montgomery, Kwame, Deadato, E-40, Death Cab, Stevie Wonder, Yuckmouth, The Beatles, Mac Mall, Little Brother, Jay Dilla, Dr. Dre, Beach Boy's, Diamod D, Buckwild, Mac Dre, David Axelrod, L.L, Jay-Z, Nas, War, AWB, The Police, Fourfifths, Vitamin D, Mr. Supreme, Bill Evans, UGK, Michael Franks, Carol King, Spice One, Channel Live, KRS, Biz Mark, D-Nice, Aretha, BloodStone, Zap and Roger, Hiero, Living Legends, The Isely's, The Jacksons, Company Flow, Curtis Mayfield, The Crusaders, Mc Lyte, Nice and Smooth, Isaac Hayes, Dip Set, Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, The Artist, Gangstar, Blackstar, Will Devaugn, Pink Floyd, Marley Marl, Organized Confusion, Dylan, The WU, The Ramones, B.I.G, Boot Camp Click, Mobb Deep, Hendrix, Lil Weezy.... the list goes on and on...
If Grayskul epitomizes Seattle’s predilection toward dark skies & never-ending rain and Blue Scholars the city’s earnest preoccupation with political activism & elitism, then The Physics, comprised of South End natives Thig Natural, Just “Justo” D’Amato, and Monk Wordsmith personify the 206 as it is on a clear summer day: laid back, refreshing, and most importantly, at its best.
Created while attending High School in the mid-90’s, the group immersed itself in hip hop, finding inspiration in everything from A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, and The Roots to Nas, Jay-Z, and Tupac Shakur. Locally, however, it was the Do the Math compilation that became an overarching influence. Says Thig, “[That was] inspiring too because it was cats from the Central and South End who were making dope music. And that was the first time we got introduced to Vitamin D’s music. He is a huge influence on us too.”
In 1998, Thig & Justo left Seattle to attend college while Monk remained in the city, attending Seattle Central Community College at a time when the hallways & classrooms boasted ciphers & battles featuring lauded local emcees such as Yirim Seck, Gabriel Teodros, and Khingz. Despite the distance The Physics continued to hone their craft, with Thig & Monk sharing emcee duties and Justo focusing on his role as deejay and producer. However, when Monk headed to Philadelphia in 2000 to pursue higher education at Temple University, Thig & Justo made the decision to continue making music without him. Monk would later return to Seattle in 2007 to pick up his role as co-emcee & hypeman on the forthcoming Physics offering.
With the 2007 release of The Physics debut full-length effort, Future Talk, Seattle got its first official taste of the group’s warm, engaging brand of hip hop. Showcasing production by Just D’Amato (who also lends vocals to a number of tracks), with additional contributions by BadFM, Phee Dill, Jihad Molet, Mario Sweet, & David DeJesus, Future Talk features soulful, smoothed-out beats that act as the ideal backdrop for Thig’s expressive, direct vocals and conversational, on-point delivery. In an age when excessive hyperbole threatens to dumb down hip hop music, content that is at once universally relevant and personally meaningful is important to the group, according to Thig. “It’s real life, we talk about things we go through, stuff we know about personally and stuff that the everyday person can relate to, i.e. having a 9-5; tryna stack enough money to live a comfortable life; relationships; and of course, kickin’ it with friends.”
From the wildly catchy single “Ready For We” (featuring Miss Malice on the hook) to the highly relatable musings of “I Heart Beer;” from the unapologetic swagger of “They Call Me,” to the lay-it-on-the-line neo soul breakdown of “The Let Go” featuring Ike James, Thig Nat and Justo manage to keep it real in the truest sense, minus the clichés.
The Physics have performed throughout western & central Washington, sharing the stage with notable local acts such as Blue Scholars, Macklemore, J. Pinder, Dyme Def, Common Market, Grynch, Absynnian Creole, and Good Medicine, in addition to nationally known artists Little Brother, Darien Brockington, and DJ Qbert. 2008 will see continued performing in support of Future Talk, including stage time alongside Sportn’Life’s own D. Black and Rhymesayers’ Grayskul, as well as the release of their first music video for “Ready for We.”
i got fridays and saturdays off now. I've been in hibernation...need to get in the studio. need to get you that cd. need to buy records. need to make beats. need to make time. get at me fellers.
member that time i proofed the physics bio, i "tracked changes" and made really thoughtful suggestions? why did i just notice that none of those insighful and carefully tracked changes made the cut. ha! i think i took that assignment too seriously. srsly.
i heart beer is so real. i carry a bottle open with me on my key chain. and im always down to drink. when im drinkin im goin hard. shit is so real. it's like my anthem
hey i've been here for about a month now! we can all be lunch buddies!!! good luck on your interview.. they're so cool here! SCCA has a dress code tho. we don't! YES! and i would put in a good word, but i dunno to who or where or know what your full name is. HA!
Just getting ready for this vacation. Gonna be in Spokane till Sunday and in Vegas till the 15th. Great show the other night. You'll were great and Dyme Def murked it. I need to work on gettin in that basketall shape. Hopefully I'll walk that talk. Peace
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