Local label, studio and hip-hop crew Burn Money Music’s recurring Bridge City Cypher series returns with its eighth well-produced installment, continuing the tradition of highlighting some of the Northwest’s finest emcees. As the sun fades on summer, it’s time for four lyrically adroit Portland emcees to rise like the moon over the Tilikum Crossing.
Calling out all haters, KayelaJ comes on hot to bring the opening assault followed by Swiggle Mandela and Nick B’s smooth flows before wrapping up with Burn Money’s own Rc $pitta putting the city on his back. Amongst the scenery of the Willamette River at twilight and a laid-back boom bap beat provided by Deadbrainz, NotMikeTate (aka Michael Tate) brought his visual style to the mix and added some vintage VHS home video flair.
For the videographer and editor Tate, he began by witnessing the production of the cypher at Burn Money's studio. “The experience was really special: four creatives in one room bouncing ideas, giving feedback and supporting each other,” he tells. “After the artists finished recording, we went out to location just in time for sunset over one of the many bridges downtown that Portland is known for.
“Typically when you're shooting a music video or anything to music really, you have a bluetooth speaker and the song to rap along to. When we got to the bridge, we didn't have either so everybody performed their lyrics live over Swiggle’s phone instrumental. Luckily everyone had their verses down solid so it all worked out!”
