Its not Golden Axe...

...its Battleaxe. This weeks Tuesday dig is all about Battleaxe Records an independent label based in one of the greatest cities on earth, Vancouver BC.

The label was created by Swollen Members member Mad Child so that SM could release their own material. It has grown to 9 other hip hop artists including Sweatshop Union, Freestyle, Moka Only, Abstract Rude, DJ Drez, Son Doobie, Buc Fifty and Shabazz the Disciple.

Swollen Members and Battleaxe Records for that matter have won high accalaides in Canada but remain largely underground within the international hip hop community. SM did win a Juno Awards (kinda like a Canadian Grammy) in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Living in Bellingham Washington which is an hour south of Vancouver BC I had the chance to see these guys perform in Van City and at my school. Their live show is filled with a rawkus energy that makes them one of the best live acts I have seen. They stage dive, drink beer, and put on one hell of a show. Their debut album Balance remains my favorite SM record, but Bad Dreams and Monsters In the Closet are both equally as impressive.

Swollen Members have a new album out entitled Black Magic, head over to my man Kev. at So Much Silence to get Black Magic and Too Hot, some tracks off the new album here.

Check out SM's Myspace for some more Mp3z.

Mp3: Abstract Rude - "Stop Biting"
Mp3: Abstract Rude feat. DJ Drez - "Yep!"
Mp3: Moka Only feat. Abstract Rude - "Rolling Along"
Mp3: Moka Only - "I'll be cool"
Mp3: Swollen Members feat. Moka Only - "Bring it home"
Mp3: Swollen Members feat. DJ Revolution - "Take it back"
Mp3: Swollen Members feat. DJ Babu - "Ventilate"
Mp3: Swollen Members - "Killing Spree"
Mp3: Swollen Members - "Dark Riders"

Get yourself some Swollen Members records here, visit their website here for some free music, and check out the other guilty Battleaxe parties over at the official site.

And if you missed the Golden Axe reference check this out.