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Entering SOBs for the Hot 97 “Who’s Next? Live” concert, to feature Pharoahe Monch, I felt like I time traveled back to the early 90s, surrounded by conscious hip hop that created musical memories of simpler times. With a hip hop loving, diverse cultural mix in the place, it really felt like there was nothing but love for the man of the night, Pharoahe Monch, at the album release concert for his long-awaited new album on Duck Down Records (one of Birthplace Magazine’s “5 Reasons Why New York Hip Hop Doesn’t Suck), W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), now available. Here’s how it went down:
Kicking off the show, I looked up to see a youngster barely tall enough to be seen over the crowd up front. Known as The Brooklyn Beast, Ceddy J is an 12 year old with an old rap soul. You need not let the age fool you, this kid deserves his title. That little monster is in fact a beast. His flow was intense, evenly-paced and he had some good word play, which I love. Hyping the crowd up, he had the energy of, well, a 12 year-old, and used that to his advantage. After his first exposition, I guess he wanted to make sure that the womenfolk knew that he was in the building. “This is for the ladies,” he announced. “You see I’m not a boy… I’m a man.” (Yes, he really said that. And I would have believed him had his voice not squeaked in the process.) Ceddy J then serenaded the ladies and in short, wowed the crowd. Hey, the kid had balls to stay up past his bedtime and perform in front of so many people (even if they haven’t dropped yet).
Up next was Gist the Essence, repping for the north side of Jamaica, Queens. Coming out striking, he used this presence to rap about “sex, money, cars, clothes / ain’t nothing new / it’s all a nigga knows.” That was a little disheartening because, after all, how many rappers out there have that “sex, money, cars, clothes” track, but don’t carry that lifestyle. I say, “rap about what you know, not about what you want the people to think you know.” But before I got salty, Gist dropped the second joint, on a more mellow, “when I shine, you shine” vibe, which I thought was refreshing, rocking over the Issac Hayes/Mary J. Blige/Smif N Wessun classic piano sample. Gist did have some nice hooks, with lyrics within like, “I still got love for you / even though you don’t wanna see me do / all the things you see me do,” and “never sold an ounce of crack / just a kid who know how to rap.” Gist holds a lot of genuineness in his words. For his last listen, Gist the Essence brought up this small little package of a singer named Cocoa Sarai. Whoever said big things come in small packages, may well have been talking about her. She has this big voice that I could sense, but never really got a full grasp of. Sarai played fairly low-key throughout the song, but I could tell she wanted to sing out and loud. At parts of the song she had a bit of a nasally Rihanna-esque ad-lib action that I am just not a fan of. (Me. Not a fan. You can like it, but I don’t.) Fortunately, Sarai moved past that sound, and better showcased her chords, helping Gist The Essence finish his set on the right note.
Well, if a 12 year-old was a shock value, then the next act was cardiac arrest. David Dallas is a rapper, and a dope one at that, who just so happens to be from New Zealand. Yes, New Zealand. You know, that baby-sized country with less people in it than New York City. This kiwi MC has the cutest little accent that all the ladies seemed to just soak right up. So above the gimmick of a white rapper, or even a foreign rapper, [King] David has some serious flow to his repertoire. More impressive than his lyrics were his beats. His DJ, P-Money, was dubbed the “Dr. Dre of New Zealand.” Insane beats with dope rhymes. So multifaceted, the kid is nice. This pair put on a pretty sincere set with “Big Time” and “Caught in a Daze” showing the best work of the two, a la DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Please remember both of these cats’ names.
And then SOBs exploded! OK, what really happened is Skyzoo completely erupted onto the stage. I don’t even think the introduction finished, but Skyzoo wasted no time letting everyone know he was in the building. With the assistance of DJ Prince and trumpeter, OJ, Skyzoo lived up to his name, turning SOBs in a ZOO. OJ delivered heavy horns during an a capella (so it’s not really an a capella because of the horns, but you get it) from Skyzoo’s 2009 release, Salvation, and some new work, with “Speakers on Blast”. Helping fuel the frenzy, Skyzoo delivered a speedy a capella flow (this time, an actual a capella) that fully demonstrated his crazy lyricism, the ideal vibe for a Pharoahe Monch show.
Speaking of the man, soon Pharoahe Monch himself made his way to the stage to represent his new release W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
Another new song by Pharoahe Monch had the most audience participation which I can honestly say was needed. Giving a little synopsis on “Clap (One Day)”, Pharoahe Monch basically addressed the police brutality issues we are still having and that “one day we gon CLAP, which those in and out of the hood know doesn’t entirely mean applause. “Still Standing” is another new track off W.A.R. (album in stores now) which features Jill Scott (who I wish was in the building, but alas…). Backup singers filled in for Ms. Scott, and this is where I must pause…
Hmm. Ok. I am all for giving shine to your background vocals, but I SWEAR, you’d think it was their concert! Mila, the female vocalist repping Brooklyn, has a sweet yet big voice that she controls effortlessly, while Showtime, the male vocalist from Jersey, has a husky, powerful cannon of a voice, with a personality to match. However, there were times when both singers moved around the stage, seemingly trying to out-sing one another, for whatever reason, and it started to feel a little off. I was looking at a calmer Pharoahe Monch, and it was almost as though he couldn’t be in his own space on stage, without fear of tripping up Showtime as he ran to each sides of the stage. But minor criticisms aside, their set was still enjoyable and every head in the building felt what they were singing.
Rounding out the end of his set, the sweet villain herself, Jean Grae (one of Birthplace Magazines “5 Reasons Why Hip Hop Doesn’t Suck”) made her way to the stage and utterly harassed the mic. Simply put, the illest flow. In between spitting fire, and threatening to kick the camera out of a fan’s hand, Grae made it clear she was here, helping make all of Pharoahe Monch, his guests, and the show itself, such a memorable event. Much respect.
Honorable mention to The Hyphy Movement himself (RIP Mac Dre), E-40, who shares an album release date with Monch, was in the building to show love, and rapped a couple verses from “U and Dat.”
In all, shoutouts to all the showgoers, fans, family, followers, freaks, audiophiles and everyone in between. Hot 97’s Who’s Next? Live was full of love and respect with nothing but positivity in the building.
Until next time.
Seriously,
Mecca
(Shouts to ToneRiggz for the great footage. Check out his YouTube page here.)