Darxiide in "TACOMA WEEKLY NEWSPAPER" - INTERVIEW
LINK - http://tacomaweekly.com/article/3942/
CHECK US OUT IN THIS WEEKS TACOMA WEEKLY - Section C, page. 5
"Performance on youtube"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIuVLp30j4Q
Darxiide is a group of young rappers between the ages of 19 and 22. The five core members are Dru Breeze, Shame, Savi, Sicill and tVicious. These five have been together for about a year. Other variations of the group have been around for several years.
Their name refers to the untapped shroud of mystery in Northwest music, with xii referring to the 12th man of the Northwest.
The group’s press kit is more about their hometown than the rappers. It points out Tacoma is the birthplace of the late singer Bing Crosby and hometown of people we are proud of, such as Seattle Seahawks star Marcus Trufant and glass art icon Dale Chihuly, and some we are not, such as serial killer Ted Bundy. The list of interesting facts sounds like something from a chamber of commerce, noting the excellent views of Mount Rainier from much of the city, the line of trucks Toyota named after the city, Stadium High School being the setting of the movie “10 Things I Hate About You” starring the late Heath Ledger and the installation of a fiber optic network in the late 1990s.
At 22, Sicill is the oldest member. Savi was 14 when he met Sicill. Shame and Dru Breeze met when they were 14. They attended Wilson High School, where they participated in the Hilltop Artists in Residence program, in which young people learn glass blowing.
Their songwriting process begins with a beat. Each member writes the lyrics he raps on a song.
“Everybody brings a piece of the puzzle, then we fix and polish everything into a complete song,” Savi said.
They do all their own recording and mixing in the basement of a house not far from Hilltop. Their new CD is titled “XII: The Mixtape.” They have released five prior full-length albums, but Sicill said this is the first one they have done right.
Darxiide has performed at open mics at Jazzbones and Shakabrah Java and done gigs at 54th Street Bar and Grill and Happy Days Casino in Lakewood.
Savi noted it is difficult to book shows at clubs because of bad experiences with previous rap acts.
“They drew crowds that were more into fighting and arguing than listening to music and having a good time,” he said. “We are trying to change that.”
There are not many venues or shows for rap, Sicill added.
“We have to make our own,” Sicill said.
Savi said there is little recognition on a national level for the rap scene here, even though he feels there are many talented local rappers.
“We are trying to bring attention to Tacoma,” Dru Breeze remarked.
Darxiide will play a free show at 54th Street Bar and Grill at 9 p.m. on Jan. 16, at all-ages venue Viaduct in Tacoma on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. with a $7 cover charge and 54th Street Bar and Grill at 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 with a $6 cover.
http://www.darxiide.com
