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As of last week, I'm officially covering hip-hop concerts for BrooklynVegan.com. You can check out my first review, Mos Def @ Highline Ballroom, published today at BrooklynVegan.com. I'll have a more in-depth take on the Mos Def show in a few days (week?). For now, here's a photo...
More Photos: Mos Def @ Highline Ballroom 5/26/07
It was obvious from my ticket stub, which had Ghost's name in fine print, that he was not headlining last week's concert at Highline. My expectations were minimal at best and inside I dreamed of a solo performance, minus the T-Unit. Something along the lines of Ghost sitting on a stool performing songs like Holla to a hushed audience. That didn’t happen. His performance was a straight up pay check performance with the T-Unit and all the accoutrements. If you think about it, Ghost made out like a bandit. He pocketed a nice chunk of change for a short set in exchange for filling up the venue.
The down side to a limited performance is obvious. But in actuality, the short set list fostered an atmosphere of spontaneity. Ghost performed without preplanned skits so there was no Cherchez LaGhost groping girls with breast implants bit. This freed Ghost up, creating a performance that was loose, fun and without a whiff of going through the motions, which generated more energy in the crowd. Funny how that works. Ghost performed around six or seven songs, two of which, Triumph and Shimmy Shimmy Ya, the audience carried.
Since the vibe was loose and the show was short, interjections from the T-Unit were made all the more tolerable, if not enjoyable. I even found myself liking Wiggs. Maybe I’m beginning to understand the subtleties of the Teddy-Unit and I've reached a level of maturity where I can fully appreciate their quest to redefine our understanding of the posse?
The only note worthy part of the show was provided by the RZA, who popped in for a cameo. I do believe the Rza was accompanied by Shavo from System of a Down. I swear these two are dating because they go everywhere together, much to the chagrin of the Inspectah. Word on the street is that Shavo’s ruining the Wu dynamic Yoko style. Some have commented that Ghost was surprised to see RZA. I didn’t catch Ghost's reaction because I was fixated on RZA’s Wu-Wear velour jumpsuit. Assuming that Ghost was surprised, and RZA showed up unannounced, something must be in the air. It's my contention that RZA hopped in his Wu-Tang pickup truck, picked up Shavo, and high-tailed it over to the Highline ballroom to convince Ghost that his presence is sorely needed on 8 Diagrams. Recently, Ghost made comments that would lead one to conclude his interest in 8 Diagrams is not as high as say, U-God.* Why should he be excited? His status has grown while the rest of the clan has slowly faded. Ghost is the only member with any modicum of mainstream success. It’s funny how he’s gone from supporting actor to the one guy reping the clan. A new Wu album needs Ghost and Ghost knows it. Here's to Ghost and RZA getting their shit together and making a good Wu-Tang album.
*I’m basing this on an “article” I read a while ago where Ghostface expressed some reservations about the new Wu-Tang album. Of course I can’t find the article so its contents might exist only as a figment of my imagination. Based on the evidence in my possession, which I will not share with you my readers, I’ll venture to guess that the article does exist. But, its contents have been rendered irrelevant based on an interesting comment Ghost uttered during the concert. He said “Yo, watch out for 8 Diagrams” which implies that his participation is a given. Carry on.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3 Ghostface Killah f/ RZA - Who's the Champion?
MP3 Ghostface Killah - Paychecks
More Photos:
Ghostface Killah @ Highline Ballroom 5/15/07
Ghostface Killah @ Nokia Theatre 4/22/06
Wu-Tang Clan @ Webster Hall 8/17/06
Wu-Tang Clan @ Webster Hall 8/18/06
On Friday night I hopped on the 7 train to Shea Stadium to watch the Yankees slide further into mediocrity. I walked out of Shea and back on the 7 train dejected over the realization that this could be the year in which the 200 million dollar hegemonic dynasty kicks the bucket. I stepped off the 7 train and into the bowels of the Times Square train station. As I weaved and side-stepped my way through the train station on my way to the N line and home, I came upon an enclosed circle. I figured it was a performance by one of the many musical acts that populate the subway system and make New York City’s underground a place where the music never stops. But I noticed something different about the crowd. I didn't hear the normal complimentary claps, and the circle was too big for your run-of-the-mill subway act. I circled around and walked back and forth in an attempt to locate a sight line around the many heads, which would offer me a glimpse inside the circle. Finally, I gently elbowed my way up to the front and spotted a group of kids carrying on a tradition and filling the 42nd Street-Times Square Subway Station with enough good vibes to last a life time. I can't put into words the kind of excitement and joy that was generated inside and around the circle. It’s a feeling that can only be experienced by standing or sitting on the outskirts of a breaking circle as a rush of air generated by a leg or torso flies by. On one end, an elderly woman clapped loudly in excitement at what had to be her first encounter with such moves. On the other side, a child no older than five tried to mimic a downrock move to no avail. A b-boy in training.
DOWNLOAD
MP3 Afrika Bambaataa - Looking For The Perfect Beat
Check out these power moves...
Spin moves...
You need to make Spank Rock one of your favorite MCs. I'm not talking about nominating him the greatest of all time or granting YoYoYoYoYo top 25 status. That would be too much praise. But I'm talking about putting Spank Rock on your short list of artists to see live. Forget your preconceived notions concerning Spank Rock’s image, which genre they comfortably belong in and whether their sound fits in the overall hip-hop landscape. Live and direct all that nonsense falls by the wayside. The electronic bleeps, burps and stutters kept the crowd moving but didn't overpower the sound system, which gave everyone enough time to ponder the eternal question, one that should be asked more often, which is, can he rhyme? Not only can Spank Rock rhyme but he can dance too. That’s the total package. But more than rhyming and busting a move, Spank Rock can move a crowd, which according to Rakim is essential.
Spank Rock came out and performed four or five songs, including Rick Rubin, for an eager crowd. After Spank Rock got the crowd hyped and cemented a nice foundation, they handed the stage over to Ghostface and his cronies for twenty-five minutes of pure energy. More on that later (check my Ghost and Rza photo over at BV). Right before Spank Rock came back on stage for his second set, Ghostface applauded his effort and led the crowd in a Spank Rock chant, prompting Spank Rock to comment that the last year has been crazy but opening and closing for Ghost is the craziest thing to ever happen to them. Their second set, propelled by Ghost's energy, built off of their first set and was accompanied by more dancing, something rare for a New York City show let alone a hip-hop show. Good times all around, Ghost and the crowd would agree.
Download:
MP3 Spank Rock - Bump
MP3 Spank Rock - Rick Rubin
More Photos: Spank Rock @ Highline Ballroom 5/15/07
Just Ice @ B.B. Kings
This particular
performance by Just Ice, which occurred last November, almost slipped through
the cracks here at Angry Citizen. It would have permanently slipped through the
cracks if not for Prodigy’s Return of the Mac mix-tape. Return of
the Mac, which is one of the better albums of ’07, managed to remind me of the photo lurking below. Here's how...
You see, on the same night and on the very same stage that Just Ice performed on, Prodigy made an appearance, accompanied by his G-Unit/Queensbridge clowns. These were weed carriers to the nth degree. No flow, no rhymes, just a bunch of whack rappers yelling over each other as if grunting and making nasty facial expressions can make up for a lack of skill. The performance didn’t start out bad. When Prodigy hit the stage I was excited along with everyone else around me. I thought we’d get at least one song, or at the very least, one verse. Preferably his fourth verse on Cradle To The Grave. But no, Prodigy just stood in the background and allowed his boys to pollute our eardrums. Not only did Prodigy not touch a mic, he didn’t even move. He just stood there, eyes rolled in the back of his head, drink in hand taking that New York sip. He looked like the ghost of hip-hop past. It saddened me and quite frankly threw me in a funk.
But let’s not get too sad or shed a tear. I used my Prodigy sighting to introduce the main point of the post: Just Ice and his flash like performance. I’m not going to front and act like I’m a big Just Ice fan. I know of him and have a few of his more popular songs. I’m more interested in the historical position he occupies. In the mid-eighties Just Ice was as influential as any rapper on the scene. He was also someone who rapped about things he actually did as opposed to being a studio gangsta. Just Ice used to run around New York wielding Mac-10’s and Prodigy writes stories about running around New York wielding Mac-10’s. I’m not justifying the use of Mac-10’s, no matter how proficient they may be, or so I hear. I’m also not knocking Prodigy; A.C. has no beef with Queensbridge. Nor am I requesting swift appointment to head the Just Ice fan club. I’m just here to discuss Just Ice. I would love to give a more detailed description of his performance, but he only performed one song. Basically, he ran on stage star-search style for a one song engagement. He was halfway through his one and only song before I realized who was standing two feet in front of me. Quick thanks to the guy behind me who pointed and said "that's Just Ice." When he finished he bounced quicker than he came. Without photographic evidence I would have thought it a dream.
DOWNLOAD
MP3 - Just Ice - Cold Gettin' Dumb
MP3 - Prodigy - Return of the Mac
If you clicked on the link above it took you over to an amazing website. Basically, it's a website run by someone obsessed with pre Run-D.M.C. hip-hop. Click this link to read all of his interviews with the pioneers of hip-hop. Here are some excerpts from his Just Ice interview.
When did you become Just Ice?
When I first got locked up I was twelve. I think I was 13 when I first became a 5 percenter. I was first locked up at a place called Holy Cross, Pius Twelve. It was way upstate New York in Ryan Beck, New York. I was really sent there because I was too much for my parents to handle. It wasn’t a reform school and it wasn’t a lock up, lock up. I stayed there until I was sixteen. On my visits I was still coming back to Castle Hill. I would go home to Fort Green to put my bags down, but I would be on the train right back to the Exactly.
How did you get on with Mantronik?
I met Mantronik at a club called Danceteria.
I remember the place.
One night Africa Islam was up there playing, I was rolling with him. Islam is Islam, he is playing records nobody else was playing. So I grabbed the mic and tore it up. Who was standing right there? Mantronik! I didn’t know who the hell this little nerdy looking guy was. He asked me my name and I tell him Justice. He said what was my m.c. name? I tell him Just Ice. He was like you want to make some records? He gave me his number blah, blah, blah. One thing led to another with me and Ben. I took my last twenty two dollars, went to the studio right on Myrtle avenue and Saint Lawrence, (In Brooklyn, and recorded “Put that record back on.” That was the first joint I ever did. I took it to Sleeping bag records. Sleeping Bag was cool, but they said they need something else to go on the other side. They said they didn’t want to put the vocals on one side and the instrumental on the other side. So me and Ben went back. I took them $17, they said they would give me 2 hours for $17.
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