Hip-Hop Was In The Building…

sobs

^ A very slim-downed version of Raf and I.

Let’s all be honest and admit that live rap shows are mostly ass cheeks. I am tired of rappers pointing the microphones out to the crowd so that we can sing their fucking songs. I just paid my good money to clap so these dudes could rap. Picture that I paid money to come to a venue and then I gotta be the motherfucker rapping? Fuck no.

Last night I went to see Wale, backed by a go-go band, along with Blu & Exile and the A-O-K collective featuring Fresh Daily, P.Casso, 8th One, Homeboy Sandman and Nola Darling. This was a literal all star night for underground acts. For good measure, your boy Skyzoo, and Skillz, the million dollar backpacker even showed up to spit a few tracks for the peoples.

The show was held in the legendary nightclub S.O.B.’s which is like the last venue left standing from grimy NYC. I love Hip-Hop shows at S.O.B.’s not just because of all the free CD’s I get handed now. I remember the days when Percee P used to try to sell me his joints. Those days weren’t that long ago. I couldn’t get a phone number from a pretty chick back then. I still can’t though, but that is my own choice.

If you are an underground emcee living in the tri-state area and you haven’t rocked the mic at S.O.B.’s or even been to show there for that matter please retire from the game. Get a job somewhere doing anything but rapping because you don’t have the essence of Hip-Hop. Unpredictable glitches in the sound system, janky microphones and an unruly crowd are all part of the flavor. Real emcees overcome these obstacles.

sobs

sobs

So these cats A-O-K were okay. There was so many of them they needed their own show. They brought sufficient energy and rhymes for the most part and they have a female set called Nola Darling that was real nice on ther eyes. They reminded me of a more feminine looking Zhane. This cat from London Che Grand was scheduled to get on next but time constraints and sound issues fucked up his set. He seems like a good joe. I have a mixtape with some joints from him on it that I will play sometime this week. I’m kind of backed up on my new music right now. Moving right along…

sobs

sobs

Blu & Exile is a show that you need to see when you get the chance. First off, these two dudes are so fucking chill I can’t stand it. When I sat down to interview Blu in the green room I didn’t realize that the white dude next to him was Exile. I thought that Exile was a fucking Mexican. Plus that white dude had the look of a manager type (read: weedholder). You already know that white rolls with that good green ish. So instead of making me feel like a douchebag these dudes went in with me and we chopped it up for a bit. Blu & Exile are crate diggers. For me, those are the ultimate types of Hip-Hop heads. Thy use their tour dates to travel the country searching for rare vinyl. I’m going to buy their album on the strength of their crate digging pedigree, and the fact that they gave a supreme stage show.

sobs

sobs

Wale was the next act and he brought every Black dude left from D.C. to get on the stage with him. From DJ Alze to Pete Rosenberg. Wale has been the shit for a New York minute now and I wasn’t disappointed by his energy of his stageshow. Most people on NYC, myself included, only have a cursory knowledge of Go-Go music, but it is very much part of the Hip-Hop canon, or certainly a cousin as is dancehall reggae. Go-go music is classic move your ass party music. If you can only do a head nod then you aren’t built to bounce with a go-go beat. That is what Wale did for his hour long set. He bounced up and down. He rapped fast and then slow. Wale even let the drummer get some.

sobs

sobs

The next stop for Wale is overseas where he will headline for Jay-Z. That’s all pretty well and good for the guy making people listen to go-go music again. If Wale, or Blu and Exile are in your town I stringly suggest you copp yourself a ticket. You won’t be one bit disappointed.

sobs

sobs

10 Responses to “Hip-Hop Was In The Building…”

  1. I don’t know if I would have made it through that show. I can only imagine all the bright colors being rocked lol.

    …so my main question is, is the gogo working outside of the DC area? Are people feelin it? Or is it just failing miserably?

  2. Marvelous Mo says:

    yo D,

    i heard that showcase was popping. was supposed to go but i was grinding. are you going to the nas party tomorrow?

    hawla at ya uptown chick.

  3. Dallas, that Blu & Exile 2007 Below The Heavens is a good album, worth your listen.

  4. the_dallas says:

    Ambassador,
    Go-go was always known for keeping a party rocking. You can’t play E.U.’s ‘The Butt’ and not get a bunch of sexy grandmas to drop their canes and shake their moneymakers.

    What the go-go sound has been missing is an emcee of Wale’s caliber. I think he can put the sound in people’s ears and bring other emcees to add their flows to the rhythms.

    Keep in mind that the foundation for go-go is the sound of the drum. This is also the foundation for Hip-Hop as well. The drum is the call to listen and then action. In rap’s case the action is to nod your head. In go-go’s case it is to shake your ass.

    E.G.C.,
    Shouts to iFux who blessed me with that album way back. I been digging it ever since.

  5. m.dot says:

    Dallas you scandalous. You ain’t say you were on the way to the show when I saw you.

    ****Sticks out tongue.

  6. yeah, I give you that about EU but thing is, a lot of people just knew that song and didn’t really recognize it as gogo thanks to its role in School Daze. I do believe Wale even said that in the interview I did over at DX. IMO, the band/beats > the emcees when it comes to gogo. I’m less concerned with the words than I am with how it pulses through my veins, body, soul, and spirit. I’m shaking my ass no matter what they’re saying lol. But I guess since the new wave of bands like Mambo Sauce are taking the whole “we need original lyrics in gogo” thing to the forefront, people are less accepting of the covers and shit that they mostly do.

    I think I’m just too old school in the head to totally get down with how gogo is evolving. And rap. And hip hop in general. I better lace up the old lady kicks and get ready to start eating dinner at 4:30.

    *looks down at PAWG shoes*
    ….naaaaaaah. Not yet.

    PS – I heard Hot 97 was talking about Mambo Sauce a few months ago. And I heard it from a guy living in London. WTF. Never thought I’d see the day. I guess we really should believe in Miracles and that we can change the world.
    …that was so effing corny. Now excuse me, it’s naptime at the desk.

  7. big rils says:

    Caught Blu & Exile in DC last weekend. Great show. Haven’t seen a better live show since the last time I saw Mambo Sauce live.

  8. Combat Jack says:

    Yo, as for the picture above, the skinny you needs to take his right thumb out of skinny rafi’s arse. [||] of course.

  9. s dot says:

    I was at the show and it was bananas! The DC contingent was doin’ it real big in the pocket! BTW every black dude left in DC is actually a legendary gogo band (so let’s respect it please), and peter rosenberg is not black even though he may wish he was, so you might want to edit that part. Definitely co-sign everything you said though!

    DMV ON THE RISE

    http://www.vimeo.com/1341219?pg=embed&sec=1341219

  10. BlackIce says:

    JUST WANTED TO LET YALL KNOW BLU IS COMING BACK TO THE DC AREA
    OCTOBER 24TH @ CLUB PREMIER 10pm
    8111 LEE HIGHWAY
    FALLSCHURCH, VA

Leave a Reply