Words – Drew Ricketts Photos – Grant Colon

Summertime in the big metropolis means shows galore if you can find them. It also means TSS will be there sunning at all your favorite events, in the cut with observations seeping in as the concert rolls on. Brooklyn Bodega presented the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival for its third straight year with a bigger billing than the previous two. What once was a chill local event turned into a major public concert drawing fans to the meeting point of the two bridges out of Mecca, dead smack in the middle of waterfront development and art explosions. This would be a different sort of medley because of the precipitating coverage of the Wu`s undoubted illustrious figurehead, Ghostface. Preceding among other acts of note were Consequence, Skillz, El Michels Affair and Tanya Morgan. Some familiar faces of Brooklyn hip hop were also floating around including Tonedeff, Pack FM and Mecca of QN5 crew. Kidz In The Hall represented freshly both with custom shoe game popping and a potent set to break up the initial lull. Tanya Morgan, the Brooklyn-Cincinatti connection, surprised all comers first by not being an R&B singer with a female name but also by blessing the stage with a soulful set to get heads moving.

Around mid-afternoon, Ralph McDaniels started dropping hints about a special guest but the din from Tanya Morgan and Kidz in the Hall had died down. Skillz injected the much-needed momentum building in the Golden Era babies’ hearts. Few realized the litany of familiar bangers he had been responsible for until they were fully orchestrated by El Michels affair who had been making “oh shit” exclamations rise with Wu-Tang covers by the pound. When the band of shaggy-haired white boys from Upper East dropped “Winter Warz” the contingent of die-hard Wu heads in the front section jumped unanimously as if to Pavlovian instincts. What followed was a throwback session to put everyone where he needed to be.

A mist of cannabis smoke gave way to Skillz introducing the Boot Camp Clik, who jumped into Originoo Gun Clappaz mode with abandon. Big Rock added the most distinct ad-lib vocals from pre-Jeezy rap while Smif n Wessun held it down. Sean Price entered and tore it down with “Le Fleur Le Fla Eshkoshka”, which made me absolutely astounded at how much of a hit single that was when I was coming up. I began to hear phrases that expressed the same thought along the lines of “I feel like I’m in high school oh my god” and “Yo they’re doing this shit?”

I tried mightily not to get hooked by nostalgia; needless to say it was difficult when every song hailed from a place in my memory far removed from writing music reviews about Lloyd Banks. It was just different to feel connected to music personally again. Sean P. transitioned into his newer work with the hard-body flow he’s spent years perfecting. The other Boot Camp alum stood back admiring proudly. Consequence followed with a decent showing maybe wanting for some of the vocal command of Rock and Ruck.

The act of the night engaged hopes for more historic stuff. Ghostface walked up with none of his usual adornment, just sweatbands, tee and jeans. “Be Easy” came out of the speakers to raucous approval. Theodore Unit looked more like a regimented back-up team than mere hype men. Cappadonna performed “Ice Cream” with the man of honor but after it there were all Ghost fan favorites and some unexpected turns. From “One” to “The Forest” he bopped along the stage holding rapt dedication from the now enormous crowd. They all came to see Ghost. Fat Joe graced Brooklyn for a moment with his “New York” verse, a nod to his staying power in hometown environs and beyond. The concert was free, the day was breezy and you couldn’t have planned a twenty thousand onlooker block party better.

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T.I. Rap City Freestyle (6.26.07)

6th Sense – I Wanna Tell Ya (Video)

Audio Streams….

Suphala With Edie Brickell – I Feel Awake Even Though This Is A Dream

Ciara Feat. 50 Cent – Can’t Leave Em Alone

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Loosies

Rick Ross – Big Shit Poppin Freestyle

Smitty – A Bay Bay Freestyle

Dj Quik & AMG – Can You Work With That

Nelly Feat. Pimp C & Sean Paul Of YoungBloodz- Cut It Out

Twiztid Feat. DJ Quik & The Dogg Pound – Hurt Someone

Talib Kweli – Hot Thing

Gucci Mane Feat. Ludacris – Freaky Girl Remix

Loosies