10/09/2026
1996/97 Portland Hip-Hop… let’s talk about it. Were you involved with the local scene at the time? Do you remember what the landscape looked like? Have you done your Portland Hip-Hop homework and learned the history? If so, then surely you’re familiar with the Cool Nutz “Harsh Game” era. People RARELY speak on the following, but during the mid-90’s I was the official DJ for Cool Nutz (and really the entire “Jus’ Family” records label as a whole). This was my role for probably a decade or so… it’s where I earned my stripes & cut my teeth. At the time, the Jus’ Family roster prominently featured additional artists such as G-ISM and Kenny Mack. Cool Nutz released his “Harsh Game for the People” album around ‘97, and it felt like one of the first Hip-Hop albums out of Portland that had a real impact on our region.
In addition to performing at local shows like the early years of the “Poh-Hop” festival, Cool Nutz, G-ISM, Kenny Mack and I would also travel and perform in cities like Ashland, Seattle, Eugene, Tri-Cities and various other cities around the PNW. In fact, I still have video footage from many of these shows. You can also hear my scratch contributions on several Jus’ Family releases from the 90’s such as the “Speakin Upon a Million” album by Cool Nutz. The “On a Mission” album by G-ISM. As well as the “Western Conference All-Starz” compilation, which featured some of the most prominent Portland Hip-Hop artists of the time. What a great era for Portland Hip-Hop. I got a million stories. ✌️
