[audio:http://www.seattlemet.com/data/publicola-assets/Helladope-Return-to-Planet-Rock-10-Just-So-You-Know.mp3]

One mindboggling aspect of Seattle hip-hop  is this: As much love as groups like Champagne Champagne, Mad Rad, Fresh Espresso and They Live! get for being great party rappers, Helladope often gets left out of the conversation.

You know what? Probably a good thing. Helladope can definitely turn a party out and quickly transform a dance floor into a mosh pit. But that's not all they can do.



The group's two, MCs Jerm and TaySean, are both multi-talented—Jerm can croon like an R&B singer and Taysean crafts all the beats. When they combine talents, Helladope's music is more funk and less punk, more Hennessy and less Pabst, and it's definitely more Beacon Hill than Capitol Hill.

You'll be able to hear that all over their dance-y cut, "Just So You Know." It's the type of song that helped get crowds excited at the recent Go! Machine soiree earlier this month and it's definitely one of my favorite songs of the year.

Jonathan's previous picks are here.