It was an all ages event at a club called The Source. The 21 & over event was
at the Wave down on Kalakaua Avenue (just in case you ever decide ta land on
Oahu =)...). The Liks got paid for the first event. The Source show was done
for free, a benefit.

The Source...nice club. Good size dance floors, enough room for a couple
breaking circles. Good breaking floor.

The first cat to perform was Akira 8. From a crew called Freestilion
Species...a unified force of emcees and DJ's on Hawaii (and this group from
Australia - Killawatts). This kid had serious energy, working to get the
crowd pumped...pumped about him being on stage, pumped about being at that
party and pumped just being on Oahu. He was a battle emcee and nice,
actually. Intimate.

Hoomanahkaz (sp?) were on next. Also part of Freestilion Species and more of
an intellectual group than Akira. There were four emcees in the Hooma. I
don't remember each of their names...but the chubby one was nice.

Both of these groups beats were provided by a DJ named Mr. Rios. He didn't do
much scratching. His beats were the best part of the performances (told him
so after the show), though.

Killawatts were up next. These cats were on the so-so tip. The skinny one let
their set float, otherwise they woulda been just stared off the stage.
Rhyming to a DAT, too. One of em was just insane, name was Boogaloo Buzz.
Singing before the rest of the crew was up on stage, in some typa operatic
voice. I suppose he was the front man, and crowd director...I guess he didn't
realize it was the first time mosta these people have seen their act and came
off a little. Have you ever seen an emcee over hyped? They didn't say
anything that spoke of intelligence.

I gotta mention the host of the evening. He was cool and shit, but speaking
in some typa LSD verbology. Trippin. All freestyle, though (if that matters).
And that the sound guy in the back was fucked. He wouldn't turn up the
mics...and feedback was all over the fucking place. Akira went back there and
took care of shit before the Liks got on.

The last cats before the Liks got up were from Samoa. Older emcees with an
old school flow. The huge samoan guy...I couldn't understand a damn thing he
said. Their DJ was ripping it though. Flares, crabs...he juggled a little bit
but not too long. I forget his name...good though.

Swift was on stage first. Feeling out the tables and making sure it was
all set. I didn't even see J-ro and Tash get on stage...just heard the
bassline of 'Ahh Shit' start up and the crowd went off. It wasn't a large
crowd...120 heads. 30 actual b-boys. And funny actually to see the dance
floor split...b-boys and girls set on one side and the others on another side
(digressing).

The crowd was hype. Jumping and just bouncing all over the fucking place. Got
really shovey. A fucking pit formed...and kids were just bouncing each other
around in there. I stayed off to the side, in front of a speaker wall...able
to shake Tashs' hand and give him props whenever he came over. They had the
crowd hyped. And not because they worked at it, y'know? Because it was what
everyone was waiting for. That's why those kids were there...to see the Liks
do there songs...from all the albums (21 & Over, Coast II Coast, Likwidation).

I didn't have a camera so I got the kid next to me to take my number,
supposed to call me up when he gets em developed (we'll see). He was up on
the edge of the stage. Taking snapshots of it all.

I forget the song order and all that shit. They ripped it. Swift wasn't
scratching as much as I would've liked to see...but Tash and J-Ro were
holding firm on the mics. Tremendous energy. In the middle of the show...they
had the crowd pick the three best emcees there...from the crowd. And Swift
dropped a beat and they freestyled...a little battle. Akira was up first and
was just tearing into the other emcees before they said anything. The next
kid shoulda duct taped his lips. Had no control on the mic...his voice was
squeaking and shit...but oh! the girl next? She flowed...over the mic and
through the crowd. I still think Akira ripped them but the girl won.
Represening D2 DOS...(don't ask me). Her rhyme was pretty incoherent to me
but she put the words together nicely. She won a hoodie.

After that...J-Ro had started talking about a love song they made (Mary
Jane). Dedicated to all the ladies...and lit his doobie up on stage. Told the
crowd it was the last song after that...and Tash belted out, "Psych!". And
they ripped out with one last song.

Everybody was cool after the show. I talked to Mr. Rios, E-Swift, Tash,
Akira...all friendly. While I was talking to Tash some girl came up with a
marker...wanted him to sign her breast (ha). We just snickered. My brother
was with me then too. Tash was bent off his rocker...as one would expect.
Nice guy though.

So were the DJ's. I don't know how many times they get props from the crowd
after a show. When I came up to Mr. Rios and told him I was feeling his beats
(which you all should check on Freestilion Species - CD...) he was cool as
hell. And Swift was friendly when I caught him walking off the stage...put
down his stuff and talked about what's next for the Liks. OH...Tash is
releasing an album this year...end of summer, I believe. No...NO NO they're
not breaking up. He said his album was just a consolidation of the Alkaholics
mind...communitive thought. And to dispell any rumors of otherwise.

We chilled a little after the show...the door girl on the way out was a
highlight, too (for me). Asked me if I remember her...(heh)...had to say no.
My brother reminded me, though...I apologized (was embarrased) for forgetting
and chatted a couple of minutes more. I thoroughly good group of heads last
night.

Overall a dope show. Nice crowd, too. One of the best I've been around in
Hawaii. Figures, though...takes a group like the Liks to bring together a
disuniifed hip hop underground (in Hawaii).

Remember to give those DJ's their props. And have someone with you that
remembers faces a bit better than yourself. Many good nights to you all.

Peace,
john


PS...remember those 'other' girls dancing out of the b-boy crowd. I gotta
point out it was funny as hell to see them walk back to their cars and powder
up and shit and *run* back to the after party. Where...naturally the bouncers
were letting in the tightest dresses. (I forgot mine...figures).