WHO ARE THE PHYSICS?

Representing Seattle’s South End and possessing unparalleled freshness, The Physics are one of the region’s most critically celebrated hip-hop crews. Real-deal brothers Thig Natural and Monk Wordsmith and Just “Justo” D’Amato have been collaborating and making music for over a decade since their days at O’Dea High School. The group’s evolution from a refreshing, promising rap trio to a sophisticated collective of lyricists, vocalists and musicians is a narrative of hometown pride. One cannot have a conversation about Seattle’s ever-strengthening hip-hop scene without noting The Physics. Beyond their considerable accomplishments and featured performances as a premier local act, it is the sound and vibe that The Physics lend to the city’s sonic landscape that many say express Seattle at its finest.

The Physics first gained recognition with Future Talk (2007), an 15-track LP packed with hooks and candid raps that were both lively and laid-back. The album featured their bold introduction “Ready For We,” as well as the anthemic “I Heart Beer,” a theme song for barbecue appreciators and brew aficionados of all kinds. High Society EP (2009) marked the arrival of what has become The Physics’ signature musical sensibility: classy, irreverent and catchy as all hell. In just a handful of songs, High Society showcased a breadth of moods, memories and meditations—sunshine-tinged, shadowed with introspection, cleverly crass—with a cohesive, soulful sound.

In August, The Physics released Love Is A Business, a sweeping, meticulously-polished work. It ranked No. 1 on both KEXP’s hip hop and variety charts for eight weeks, and has been recognized by media outlets like The Seattle Times, NPR, BBC. The Stranger’s Larry Mizell, Jr., called LIAB “a sparkling, seductive suite that’s as totally accessible as it is unassailably Seattle […] It might well be one of the greatest ensemble works Seattle hiphop has produced, and it’s undeniably one of the best things to come out of this town in years.”

The Physics have performed at South by Southwest, Bumbershoot Music Festival, Capitol Hill Block Party, and every major nightclub in Seattle. This fall, they toured with Blue Scholars, garnering fans from Vancouver, CA to San Diego. They concluded with a sold-out show at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom. Beyond the three core members, the Physics includes a four-piece band and the striking vocals of R&B duo Malice & Mario Sweet, celebrated in their own right with this year’s release of Happy Two Year.

With the upcoming experimental electro-hip hop-R&B Digital Widlife, The Physics are one of the top groups to watch in the Pacific Northwest. Their sound is as effortlessly smooth as a Jameson served neat, and they manage to evoke a rare golden-era authenticity as priceless as a gorgeous Seattle day.