So it was Friday, and there I was all set to check the Amphibians (and maybe Big Juss and Blackstar) the next day when someone at the 3-2-1 event hands me a flyer for the show at Wetlands with Lewis Parker's name on it. Well, as you may know I think he's dope on a rope. But the flyer also listed a pretty mixed bag of entertainers for my tastes. Plus CMJ is on right now, which means these shows are like summer camp with all the rugrats running around. Probably better, I reasoned, to go to the Lifeline. But, damn, it *is* Lewis Parker, and The Lifeline is going to happen again. So with a apprehensive expression on my face, I headed off to Wetlands instead (sorry, Alan).
My confidence in my decision remained low as I checked the crowd. But it turned out to be a night of many surprises. First up that I saw (I got there sort of late) was Last Emperor, who did a disappointingly short 3-song-and-one-freestyle set. But he held down the stage with ease and style. Sound was perfect, and every lyric came out crisp and clear for the world to hear. For "Hip Hop vs. Marvel Comics", he alternately rhymed acapella and over beats from each of the MCs he named. Cool idea. And the other songs were nice too, and he got a lot of crowd response for his lyrics. My favorite was something like "made from elements of great leaders like Serpantor."
Next up was Lewis Parker, who I hope brings it live a lot better on his home turf, BSE. He was like a kid at his first recital, scared and acting like he just wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible. He was bobbing and waving his hands so much that he spilled about half the bottle of water he was carrying. I think the front line of the audience should've had a Sea World-type warning about that. He didn't say anything to the crowd, not even introducing himself (there was no emcee for the night), nor did he even look at us, just stared off into space. Well, maybe he was using the Force to sense our presence. Plus his DJ was having problems and the records kept skipping--and even with a DJ, it felt like he was rapping to a DAT. Very weak.
Black Eyed Peas were next, and I can't front, they ripped it live. I haven't given them one iota of attention, and I have no desire to buy the LP, but the show was most definitely tight, and LONG--they worked hard.
Afu-Ra was nothing special, but did better than my previous experiences, and Guru and Hannibal showed up to drop verses for (I think it's called) "The Trilogy." Guru held it down alright. It seemed to me that he dropped his verse from "Hip-Hop Running Through These Veins" as a "freestyle", but the way he went into it made it confusing as to whether he was making like it was a freestyle or not.
The JBeez did a great set too, also longer than I've come to expect from them. DJ Mike Lowe (sp?) was cutting up and scratching up a storm, dropping other artists' instrumentals into the mix, and Mike G and Afrika were rapping with an energy and chemistry I haven't seen from them in other shows, and busted some unexpected treats, like Black Woman, and 40 Below Trooper.
And all the while in the downstairs room, Sugarcuts (I think) and some Teaneck cats were flexing nice skills on four turntables.
All in all, a good night. And that Hennessy hit the spot.
-T. Tauri