Song of the Day: Common Market - Black Patch War

photo by RealLowVibe

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Every Friday, the Song of the Day podcast spotlights local musicians. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is “Black Patch War” by Common Market from the forthcoming EP of the same name on Massline Media.

Seattle’s thriving hip hop scene features a wide variety of socially conscious and stylistically diverse artists including today’s Song of the Day contributor, Common Market. The group formed in 2004 when Sabzi (also of the Blue Scholars) contributed on RA Scion’s album Live & Learn. The two bonded over common musical influences and their political and spiritually infused style of hip hop. Their second collaboration focuses on an early 20^th century farmers’ rebellion in Western Kentucky (RA Scion’s home state), where a group of vigilantes rallied against a tobacco monopoly that was preventing local farmers from profiting from their labor. Today’s song, “Black Patch War” (also the name of the rebellion), explores this from the vigilante’s perspective as they do what it takes to preserve their way of life: “This is in the name of the father we ride. Whether right or wrong only God’ll decide.”

Common Market is set to release their EP Black Patch War on May 13^th as a prelude to their upcoming second full-length album Tobacco Road in September. Common Market will be live on KEXP at 7am today (May 9^th) and will be at the Vera Project later this evening for part one of their CD Release Party. Part two will be at Hell’s Kitchen on Saturday May 10^th. More information can be found at the band’s website or their MySpace page. Here’s Common Market performing their remix of “Come Together” at The Program last December: