Been gone like Satyricon” is how IAME opens his PDX-centric new single in collaboration with Oregon-based beatmaker Tapewürm and Portland heavy hitters Milc and Old Grape God.
The line is in reference to the fact that IAME – once a notable fixture in the Portland hip hop scene and a member of the large northwest collectives Sandpeople and Oldominion – has been out of the city since 2017 and has since relocated to Vermont’s sparsely populated Northeast Kingdom. “Satyricon” is named after a historic Rose CIty venue (where Kurt met Courtney according to the folklore) that closed years ago but not before IAME and some of his NW cohorts brought a little indie rap to its rock-accustomed stage. The track features a slew of quotables from IAME, Milc and Old Grape God over a Tapewürm beat that is as whimsical as it is unhinged. The digital single also features an alternative mix (by Zebulon Dak of Momentum Studios) with beefier drums as well as instrumentals for both versions of the song.