Soul Khan – Pursuance EP Release Concert [Recap, Photos, Videos]

Soul Khan doesn’t battle rap any more. As capable as he was in the arena of trash talking freestyling, Soul Khan decided that his music was more important than running around the country facing inferior competition. It appears as if his decision is paying off. With a solo LP due in 2012, Soul Khan has been honing his skills to get to the next level, blazing a trail of highly acclaimed mixtapes, EPs and guest appearances in his wake.

The December 3, 2011 record release party for Soul Khan’s new EP, Pursuance not only celebrated the MC’s new album, but acknowledged Soul Khan’s emergence as a rapper to be reckoned with. Originally from Woodland Hills, California, and now repping Brooklyn, NY, it appears on the surface that Soul Khan has made a successful transition to the East Coast from Cali. Soul Khan dropped a free LP, Soul Like Khan, in 2010, and two well received EPs, Acknowledgement and Resolution in 2011, along with plenty of collaborations with his group, Brown Bag Allstars along the way, all while ripping through performance venues bringing his unique brand of rap music, and voice, to the NYC soundscape.

The appreciative Knitting Factory crowd, led by host The Company Man (Brooklyn Bodega), nodded their heads to the audible delights that came from the short, bearded, bespectacled man with the deep, booming voice, backed by Akie Bermiss’s soothing vocals on the hooks, and DJ Element on the wheels of steel. Soul Khan rhymes with conviction and stellar production from the likes of fellow BBAS members Audible Doctor, J57, and DJ Element give his tracks a depth not often heard these days. Based on carefully selected samples and beats, the Soul Khan sound seems heavily influenced by old soul, jazz, rock, and golden era hip hop records.

Soul Khan’s catalog is not extensive, so his set was not particularly long, but he delivered on each track he brought to life on stage, including “Speeding Bullets,” “Alec Baldwin,” “Someone’s Pocket” and “Lost Ones Freestyle.” All of his material showcases a purposefully varied amount of subject matter and wit, though “Soul Like Khan” stands out particularly, as it is a lyrically personal song with an infectious chorus that shows Soul Khan at his best.

Assisting on the mic, Akie Bermiss killed it on background vocals and really had the crowd feeling good about coming out on a brisk night.

SOUL KHAN PERFORMING “SPEEDING BULLETS”

There was no filler this night, and that’s because Soul Khan knows his fan base. A few weak tracks can derail your career, but Soul Khan is a carefully calculating MC, and his releases have shown him unwilling to deliver music that doesn’t have a high chance to connect with his tremendous fan base. His EPs are short, leaving listeners wanting more, perfectly utilizing the intended purpose of an EP, to leave listeners thirsty for a full length album. In addition, Soul Khan knows how to work a room, rewarding those in attendance with a free download of his latest EP, the six-track Pursuance produced by exclusively by The Audible Doctor.

During the performance, Big Chief and Sene dropped some guest verses and Brown Bag Allstars members J57, Koncept and Audible Doctor joined Soul Khan to perform “Beerz,” a collective effort that brought a young Wu-Tang Clan to mind. All these guys can spit and the in-house production team really helps to create the unified, distinctive BBAS sound.

BROWN BAG ALLSTARS PERFORMING “BEERZ”

(Unfortunately, I got to the venue just as Maffew Ragazino finished and missed performances by Rasheed Chappell and Julius Smith. So to them I apologize.)

I did catch Chicago artist Psalm One’s full set where she performed “Ginsu Knives” and “Tits and Guacamole.” Also known as the First Lady of Rhymesayers, Psalm One seemed so at ease with herself and performed so effortlessly that it looked liked she could do this with her eyes closed. As for my first time hearing her, I was impressed.

PSALM ONE PERFORMING “TITS AND GUACAMOLE”

Soul Khan closed the show out by thanking his manager, Byron Ward, his Brown Bag brothers and most importantly, the fans.

“Every one of you is the reason I’m here, so I never get gassed up because without you I’d probably be in a desk somewhere hiding internet porn. I’d be getting fired everyday. Instead, I’m doing what I love for ya’ll, so keep on supporting. Thank you very much. I appreciate y’all.”

Soul Khan’s new project Pursuance is available for sale through soulkhan.bandcamp.com.

SOUL KHAN – HOLD ON