Northern State
Can I Keep This Pen?
Ipecac Records
http://www.myspace.com/northernstate
http://www.northernstate.net

While many women find it hard to make a name, scratch that, a credible name for themselves as an emcee in a male dominated genre of hip-hop, three white women have done just fine.  Think a female version of the Beastie Boys, well sorta.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The three white women of Northern State have established themselves as credible emcees in the male dominated genre of hip hop with rhymes so suave that you have to wonder if what they're saying really makes sense.  The answer is in fact, yes, the rhymes that flow from their mouths come with catchy adjectives and witty pronouns that make simplistic rhyming seem obsolete.

Don't get the wrong impression about these girls, they are far from bubble gum pop with a sqeaky clean image that need some hidden songwriter to make their catchy rhymes.  Need proof?  Listen to their less than polite but oh so catchy single "Sucka Mofo" from their latest effort Can I Keep This Pen?  Fueled with opinions on everything from "sucka mofo's" to the upcoming election, Northen State manages to keep the flow and integrity of their song whole while still delivering powerhouse rhymes with simple, but authentic hip-hop beats.

What may be even more surprising is the list of credible producers and artists in hip-hop that have put their stamp of approval on this trio from Long Island.  Everyone from  The Roots, Le Tigre, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, The Gossip, to the Gym Class Heroes, all have put a small boost of street cred to these girls who would have normally been overlooked and laughed off as a joke.  But it's obvious once the album is placed and the sound starts pouring from the speakers that these three girls have managed to tap into a source of rock, hop-hop, and just a little bit of soul to make their presence felt in a way that most groups can only hope to.

You can catch Northern State on tour now with Tegan and Sara as well as their latest effort, Can I Keep This Pen?, in stores now at all major outlets.