Tacoma like many cities has been dealing with the tension of gentrification and changing demographics. The old guard is hanging on to what’s left with bitter distrust of their new neighbors. Many of the new neighbors look at the old urban traditions with disdain. 2020 added fuel to these fires with the murder of Manuel Ellis by Tacoma police and the city had its worst homicide rate in 25 years. Even after a winter which normally will cool off tensions, it can sometimes feel like a powder keg.
Documenting the landscape through all this and before is Makkk Hussien. His latest EP is .38 Special–his third project since 2019–and it speaks to that simmering of tempers with commentary fit for those who live by an old code forged on blocks everywhere under similar pressures.