The force of the Shotgun: A look back at Samurai Shotgun’s Riptide Album Release Party at Crowbar

Josh Saint and Lynnsey June, aka DEA + Saint, are a local hip hop duo who not only boast a rather active performing schedule but juggle day jobs and do some writing, too. I first caught wind of their DIY journalistic talents via local skate-and-music 'zine Misprints, which featured an interview they performed with local prog-hop group Samurai Shotgun. It had a loose, laid-back, fun and lively vibe, its a gonzo feel spurred much in part by the duo's own roots in the local scene and connection to the subjects. I wanted to see more of it, here, on Ear Buds — content produced by local musicians about local musicians, with all formalities and pretense you find in standard media-artist interviews absent, making for a more authentic exchange between people actively sharing the common goal of enriching the local scene while trying to make a living in it… I was also intrigued by the idea of getting pieces covering the local scene as told from the perspective of those neck-deep working it. This is their second contribution. —Leilani Polk
Every so often you encounter a group that's a little bit different than the rest, one possessing a certain something that sets them apart — a knack for not only spreading their passion for life and sharing their dreams with you, but also, taking you along on the ride and making you want those dreams to come true, too.

Our brothers in music, Samurai Shotgun, are well on their way when it comes to fulfilling their dreams and the celebratory vibe was evident this past Saturday night at 

Crowbar. They made believers out of every single soul in the building and left not a single salty individual within miles. It was all love, and we were situated in a prime spot to experience this extravaganza from top to bottom.

The entire line up was comprised of "The Family" — a collection of some of The Samurai's closest comrades-in-arms. Of course, the familial connection expands beyond the stage to countless others entrenched in the local scene, but these were the Day One homies.

We got snug with a couple of tacos from the man Mic Deluxx throwin' down on the back patio just as RUDE 100 got cozy on stage. We chewed through bites of chicken infused heaven as groovy bass-driven melodies touched our ears. Laid-back rhyme schemes fell effortlessly and confidently over classic, no-frills beats and that feel-good vibe that made you fall in love with hip-hop in the first place. Rude was the perfect kick-off for the night, and the rest was just a domino effect of quality.

Mighty Jai is a local hip-hop heavyweight from just across the bridge, and he was next into the fray. He and the Samurai boys went back a handful of years, he explained with Southern etiquette as DJ Wally Clark gave him some time to air the room out. Jai has a way of "Marinating" the listeners with a flavor that makes you put on that stank face; your nose crinkles and your head shakes, like "I'm Tellin Ya!". Jai is easily one of the scene's boss level emcees, and it was dope to see him in this collection.
The crowd really started to swell as Tampa's own Rising Down hit the stage for their soundcheck. Easily 200-plus anxious bodies were swaying, smoking and tip-toeing around the crowded venue by this point. We'd never had the privilege of listening to or seeing the band before, but Mateo heavily cosigned the group, and spoke about the first show they played together, which was underneath this very roof.

Funny how things come together, huh? Rising Down's catchy breakdowns, passionate energy, and inviting vocals drew in their loyal fan base and captured the attention of dozens of others experiencing them for the first time. The band's cohesive nature can definitely be attributed to the amount of time and work they've been putting in together. Salute!

Now reaching nearly 300 hundred heads and 

counting, the room had begun to swell and rock like the breast of an old ship. We stepped out for fresh air and high-fived a couple of homies dressed for the occasion. The loud scent of some of Florida's finest greenery permeated the patio while huddles of cool kids shot the shit about anything and everything. Suddenly, we heard the piercing royal tone of a familiar friend of ours. The Queen had arrived, and she was ready to rock, right now. We dashed inside as quickly as possible, and perched up near the DJ booth to catch her from an elevated perspective.
If you've never had the honor of being a part of a Queen of Ex set, here's what you can expect: 1) She will command the room; 2) Your energy will become a part of hers; 3) She will manifest this energy and release it back to you, tenfold. With bars like a dozen M-80s going off on the mic, the homie Rogerthomas slapping calculated percussion to keep up the rhythms, and a crowd full of people that were tuned into it, everything was in its right place. And Queen of Ex spit that shit!
It was approximately tequila thirty and the party was LIT! The homies from Bangarang were straight outta the Okeechobee Music Fest, and geared up to take that momentum into the "Riptide."

We fucking love these guys, and were stoked to see them command and conquer a room of about 350 people. They left it all out there with no regrets, which had the same effect as air-dropping gallons of gasoline on a raging forest fire. The audience was a homogenous mixture of equal parts sweat and celebration as they took us home with "Slave Boy No More." Then it was time for the Samurai.

Just after 11 p.m., word spread around the room that the show was sold out. SOLD OUT?!? Bruh, there were over 400 people in the building and more that wanted to get in but couldn't! Our deepest condolences to the unfortunate souls bound to wander Ybor City eternally, never to experience our bit of heaven. Because there was literally not a single place on Earth we would have rather been, than in this space and time for Samurai Shotgun. All copies of Riptide were sold out, the building was sold out, so there was only one thing left to do, fam.

Crowbar owner Tom DeGeorge took a moment to give a spirited send off and salute to Samurai Shotgun just moments before the first note of "Sabertooth" screeched out of the amps.

Then, all hell broke loose.

The moments that followed were a wash of Riptide bangers, a wall of bodies colliding in an aggressive mosh pit, and nonstop screams of dedication and love for the band. It's 

absolutely crazy how hard these guys work. The usual "dick-riding" and pretending to vibe that you tend to see at shows of this caliber wasn't anywhere in the nearest galaxy. This was pure, die hard love.

Samurai brought out a slew of featured guests — Sammy White of Rising Down, Senyo from Bangarang, and the lovely Queen of Ex. This is how you shut it down proper. After announcing that they'd be leaving for Atlanta in the next couple months, the building was overwhelmed by a collage of emotion. Tears flowed, people were smiling from ear to ear, and a feeling of local pride pervaded.

On a personal level, it reminded us, and others like us, why we do what we do. The long nights and the early mornings in pursuit of dreams, it all pays off. Beyond the talent, Samurai Shotgun is a product of cause and effect.

You put in the hard work, and you reap the rewards. As Mateo hung from the rafters like Spider-Man the realization came to us all that they were out of here in more ways than one.

In sum … the new album Riptide is fire, its release party was a success and the night proved a HUGE win for the entire Tampa Bay area. Our hearts break and rejoice as we send off yet more friends to bigger and better things. But it's never goodbye. Just, so long for now. Follow your passion, your peace, and the DREAM.
Love,
DEA & SAINT

This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2016.