Classic Material: Framework "Hello World"

Street rap, gangsta rap, call it what you will, is not a seller in Seattle. Sure their are shows with huge lineups and assorted cats claiming they keep it thorough out here but who knows what’s just talk and who might actually be active in another way of life. Telling stories about this way of life has been a part of rap since it’s inception, yet what’s remained most popular here in Seattle has been anything more conscious leaning and positive.

Positivity is great but their needs to be a balance and it’s an untruth to portray Seattle as an always happy place with no crime or suspect characters. Framework’s debut from 2005 Hello World could have been that wake up call but the street life wouldn’t let him go.

Seemingly always in and out of prison Frame has never really been introduced to the local Hip Hop community. I’ve seen his name on some flyer's for shows in the south end and have found a second album released by him - missing any Bean One production.

The pairing of one emcee with one producer is always an awesome experience. You hear cohesion that can’t be matched by any other system. Bean’s been steadily making his name off a diverse sound that is less boom bap inspired than his peers Jake One and Vitamin D but still knocks. He uses an assortment of drums, his samples are always crisp. Nothing is minimal with Bean, he makes productions of serious magnitude.

Frame tackles these tracks with ease. His flow is impeccable. It’s a reminder why listening to a dude flowing can be so enjoyable. He just does it. Perhaps it’s something he has spent hour after hour on the corners doing, maybe he is just a gifted individual. Throughout Hello World you will be met with images of life and death, violence and crime, hope and stress, prosperity and utter despair. It’s all real and it’s all from one man’s mind.

Framework captures a lot here. His verses are verbose, even when he writes a hook saying “you’ll see me in the club/you’ll see me in the whip” he will spend the duration of his 16 taking you deeper than you ever wanted to be in the mind of a criminal. Food for thought.

Despite the heavy subject matter this record will not stop playing in your head. It doesn’t get old. Bean’s beats are incredible and do not bore. Frame is a captivating individual with a story to tell, and it’s a story Seattle seems to wish it could hide.

Bean One has been nice enough to share this record free of charge on his Bandcamp page, if you have never heard this 206 classic get it now!