Seattle rapper E-Dawg views Kent as a great spot to relaunch his career Saturday with the help of Seattle rap legend Sir Mix-A-Lot.
“Lately, there’s been so much success in Kent for shows with the ShoWare Center’s Ladies Night Out concerts,” E-Dawg said during a phone interview last week. “And Kent is close to Seattle and Tacoma.”
The large crowds at two Ladies Night Out R&B concerts earlier this year at the ShoWare Center helped persuade E-Dawg to pick a Kent venue.
E-Dawg has lined up numerous rappers for his singles-release party 9 p.m. March 12 at Poppa’s Pub, 510 Washington Ave. N. The performers include Money B, formerly of the band Digital Underground, Ras Kass, West Coast Stone, Maharaji and others. Disc jockeys Nasty Ness, B-Mello and Roc Phella will host the show.
“We’re bringing in people to make it a party atmosphere,” E-Dawg said. “People are going to leave this show talking about how they haven’t had that much fun in a long time.”
E-Dawg, born as Michael Johnson, popped up on the national rap scene in 1993 with the single “Drop Top,” produced by Mix-A-Lot and Rick Rubin. The single came out just one year after Mix-A-Lot’s No. 1 Billboard hit “Baby Got Back.” E-Dawg has rapped on several Mix-A-Lot albums.
After the release of “Drop Top,” E-Dawg tried to make it as a solo act and signed with a couple of Los Angeles labels.
“I tried to do my own thing, I was too hungry,” E-Dawg said. “Like other young artists, I was in a rush and made some mistakes.”
But Mix-A-Lot, who lives in Auburn, signed E-Dawg two years ago to his Rhyme Cartel Records label and continues to guide the relaunch of E-Dawg’s career.
“He’s been like a dad to my career,” E-Dawg said. “He gives me the dos and don’ts of what will kill your career. He tells me to stay out of the streets and going to the nightclubs so you don’t allow yourself to be seen too much and people won’t pay to come see you. You have to make yourself less reachable so people want to know what you’re doing and have to come see your show or buy your record.”
When E-Dawg runs into people now they always talk about his old stuff from the 1990s. He’s ready for a fresh start.
“I’m sharper now,” he said. “As a youngster I had a lot of people telling me what to do and went many directions. I always say it’s never too late and now with Mix’s label, 99 percent of the control is by me.”
E-Dawg will release at the Kent party his latest single “Cars That Go Boom,” a remake of the top-40 hit by the 1980s group L’Trimm. The single also features Tacoma hip-hop artist Lady Tasz.
“I always liked that song and the feeling of it,” he said. “I figure once a hit, always a hit.”
Besides “Cars That Go Boom,” E-Dawg also plans to perform recent singles “I Dip” and “Rocket Ship,” which he will perform with Mix-A-Lot, who also appears on the single. Fans also will be able to purchase the singles.
“It’s a funny song,” E-Dawg said of “Rocket Ship.” “It’s about women who are from out of this world like from Mars or the moon and the cars are like spaceships. It’s really, really ailen-ish.”
With his latest singles and performance, E-Dawg hopes more hip-hop fans discover his new sound.
“People Google (me) to see who he is and find out I’ve been doing this since ’91 with Mix,” E-Dawg said. “I want them to know he still has it and that this cat is still out here and sounding relevant.”
If you go
What: E-Dawg singles-release hip-hop party
When: 9 p.m. March 12
Where: Poppa’s Pub, 510 Washington Ave. N.
Cost: $15
Ages: 21 and older
Tickets: 206-280-8172 or www.therealedawg.com
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