On Tuesday Olympia's legendary K Records released its first hip-hop album in over a decade.

Saturday, April 30, Olympians will get a chance to check out Eprhyme, the hip-hop artist Calvin Johnson and K decided would be a good fit for their popular indie record label. Eprhyme, now living in New York, will be touring the Northwest in support of his new album, Dopestylevsky. 

Eprhyme's name may sound familiar because he once played a major roll in the creation of the Olympia hip-hop scene. 

From playing solo shows and shows with his crew, Saints of Everyday Failures, Eprhyme definitely came, saw and conquered Olympia. The Arizona native spent eight years in Oly from 2000-08, getting his name out while at the same time helping solidify Olympia as a reasonable city for touring artists to stop and play a show in between Seattle and Portland. 

I had the chance to talk with Eprhyme, who's currently in Israel, and chat with him about his past and present endeavors.

"This is the first full-length album I have released with K Records, but they released two 7-inch vinyl singles of mine before this on their International Pop Underground series," says Eprhyme. "I was very happy to link up with them because I've always been a fan of how they are a popular Olympia-based label that are very into promoting music that happens in Olympia or is someway connected. My crew, Saints of Everyday Failures, was so active all over town for so long, and because Compost and myself were throwing a popular show series called ‘Word Life,' I started getting invited to play at K events. Shortly after that I became cool with Calvin Johnson and set up a meeting with him to pitch some of my solo projects. He was into it and we just took it from there." 

As shocking as a hip-hop artist working with K Records might be for some, it's not the only thing about Eprhyme that might raise eyebrows. 

"There came a time when I shifted from being a Jew who rapped into being a Jewish rapper. I was going through a spiritual process of engaging with my religion, tradition and my people's history more and then it started coming out in my music," says Eprhyme. "It doesn't mean I only make music for Jews; in fact most of my fans are still probably non-Jewish. I just hope by doing this maybe other people from all different walks of life are inspired to do the same with their ancestry, traditions and spirituality."

I highly recommend getting a copy of Eprhyme's new album, Dopestylevsky - a reference to 19th century Russian author Dostoyevsky - at either his Olympia or Seattle show. Do this not only to support good hip-hop, but because Epryhme single-handedly may be opening the door for other hip-hop artists to get the chance to work with the mighty K.

Eprhyme

with Smoke of Oldominion, Dionyso's Malaikat dan Singra
and Br'er
Saturday, April 30, 9 p.m., all ages, $5
Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia
northernolympia.org