The Independent’s Day Showcase Review [April 13, 2011]

Birthplace Magazine is hardly the only supporter of the New York area underground and independent hip hop scene, as plenty of websites and organizations have been holding down such support for years. Two highly respected friends of the scene, iHeartDilla and The Mad Bloggers, have been staging an ongoing independent artist showcase series for a while, and it was about time we came through and witnessed the festivities. The latest Independent’s Day Showcase, held on April 13 at Southpaw (one of our recent “5 Reasons Why New York Hip Hop Doesn’t Suck”) delivered a varied, energetic and exciting assortment of underground and independent artistry, and our Mecca Meyers was on hand to soak it all in, and report it to you.

Happy Independence Day!! OK, well not that one. The day finally came. I had been so hyped to see an iHeartDilla/TheMadBloggers Independent’s Day show and really get a chance to see some of the upcoming and promising iNYdies headed for greatness. Being a fond follower of Southpaw festivities, I had yet however to make my way to a show in the basement, or “Down South.” To just say, that space is so legit. It was like every dream I’ve ever had about capturing the perfect action still shot of an underground (literally) concert. Hosted by one of my favorite iNYdies (who failed to shout me out but it’s ok: I’m not greedy), Warren Britt was his usual cyclone of energy to get this crowd ready (though he did tell me pre-show that he was going for a calm approach on the mic. Mmm hmmm.) Divided into two parts, the open mic contestants kicked the door down first, followed by the billed acts who marched over it. So without further ado:

THE OPEN MIC

First up we had 100 Grand. 100 Grand bucked out the gate with some crowd participation for his first track “Hard” that fellow MCs definitely felt lyrically. Some memorables were, “Do you niggas copy?? Kinkos” and “Real recognize real and y’all don’t look familiar,” which sparks the question if 100 Grand intentionally chosed “copy” as a double entendre (copy: to comprehend and copy: use others’ style). When I can think in multiple layers of your lyrics, you have a good sound. Nice work for the kid.

Hailing from Queens, Elijah Black (no relation to the event DJ, DJ Jon Blak, well, unless you ask Indie Day host, Warren Britt). As Black was about to speak his truths, I catch wind of a nice and smooth “jazz rendezvous” beat. It just became that moment where you instantaneously knew you were going to like whatever was about to follow. I was right. “Traveling Man” tells of the times when Black is asleep and his dreams float “higher than Afroman.” Lines like “So much on my mind I just can’t recline” immediately went into reverb throughout Down South as the audience related to the chorus line (I know I feel that way every so often when my eyes sit open at 4 in the morning, knowing I have work in the five hours that follow). After the rendezvous sailed away, another mmmmmmm beat grooved in. This one had some summer-Cadillac-drop-top-diamond-in-the-back nostalgia feel that just begged you to make some lemonade. Elijah Black was definitely in the building to rep that feel-good music. If you haven’t, check out his mixtape, Brother from Another Planet, and/or follow him on Twitter at @mcelijahblack).

Out of the Sunshine State, Dada Powell stood up for his new home of Queens with his comic-relief-yet-conscious-thinking song “about irresponsible spending.” If there was any song I needed to listen to, this was it. As this lukeybaby beat-like dream sequence came through the speakers, Dada announced that this Troubadour produced sound was not the joint. So as a different, live beat replaces the funk in the room, Dada starts by asking, “since when does jeans cost $80 for a good pair?!”

Oh I can relate.

“And yo,” he continued, “I spent the whole check though and can’t pay the rent. Can’t really get those but they fresh though.” Now I can’t promote forgoing paying rent to buy accessories, but to each their own. It was just one of those songs that makes you want to reevaluate.

The first Jersey act for the night, SoleGC Let everyone know that Jersey was in the building. As his record dropped, I made a note to self to “find his producer because this beat” was just ill. The song, however, had his vocals in the background, so the doubling up made it so hard to just hear “him.” But that damn beat was mmmm. Then it happened. He just said “factualism.” I still haven’t decided if that is a real word, but I have also avoided dictionaries and Google just so my heart wouldn’t break if it wasn’t. Needless to say, I like this kid. He succeeded to mention that others “can’t step in [his] lyrical palace.” When you use words like “factualism,” I’ll tip my hat and walk away in agreement. If you haven’t, go get The Writers EP and support this artist.

Straight Outta Jersey (as his vintage Redman tee proudly posted), Josh Craig proved he was ready to get it in. This rebel had a steady post-war flow to let all know he focused, man. (Speaking of post-war, we wore matching army jackets, so obviously he was my favorite just for that.) “If you don’t live by the book, you die behind bars” reverberated throughout his set that brought it all home. Few words but much respect for this performer; keep an eye open.

Queens definitely had a hold in the building with more than one MC gracing the mic. Case in point, Jose Nova zooming in from Jamaica came for “The Kill,” with his track of the same name. “I rap, but mostly I live,” he declared (which I approved, like I matter) as this J Dilla/Soulquarians beat hazed out the speakers with a ?uestlove groove that you could literally see. “I’m so com-plete you can’t com-pete” had some crowd agreement as Jose began scatting like jazz. That boomclatboombap would have jilted other audiences, but these heads were nodding and even got to scatting as well. Check out Jose Nova’s site or follow him on Twitter at @ElJoseNova)

NEXT: The Billed Acts/Headliners