“The Borough” – Review Of The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival
GENERAL By TSSCrew on June 27, 2007 at 10:01 am
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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Additional News…
Rapdungeon is doing Common something lovely.
Prefix has up video interviews with Premier, 9th Wonder & Pete Rock.
Former 4-year veteran NFL football player for the New York Giants Famouz (AKA FMZ) Readies Debut LP, Ghetto Passport, 9-25-07.
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
20 Comments
How were the Tanya Morgan and Kidz In The Hall sets?? Those are two of my favorite underground acts. And I already know BCC wrecked it. I gotta see them in concert one day.
Thanks for the review. I might have to make a road trip to another Ghostface show.
Every Ghostface show I’ve been to, I have enjoyed. I’m sure his set was hot.
I’m also interested in the Kidz In The Hall, and TM sets as well. I like both groups, but are they worth paying to see live?
Thanks for heads up on the Common Collection…..
Peace.
Doogie.
thanks for the review. i wish i coulda seen sean p. that’s my guy.
BTW… TSS got beef with Word Press? I see there’s been a lot of people having problems lately. I’ve had some, but I figure if GOD doesn’t let me get my comments up, that they were probably not meant for me to say anyway.
that show looked dope. a concert in the apple would be dope.
btw, that Fixxers tracks is hella old. wasn’t it posted months ago, too?
i thought this was T.I. week?
Doug – No beef that I know of but sometimes the shit fucks up.
Beware – I think that was a cleaner version of that track.
Random – It sure is…but there’s still other shit poppin so we include it to. Like cats need to go show some love on that Big Shug invu.
I got my photo taken by Getty Images at the concert ….
Brooklyn Festival === Back Pack Raps Summer Jam
We too hip-hop for Hot 97 // to thug out for scribble fest Holla
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u33/jimmyvalentime/JimmyGetty.jpg
I enjoyed the other show cause it was more personable//smaller crowd but it was good to see all the progressive rappers unioted. An nobody fight or being knuckle heads.
@ Douglas
Naladge is dope live
I seen kids in the hall twice once with the clipse and here
I think they should been bump higher up the set list. he raps better then most of the acts they open for.
My fav song the one about him going to school drunk
Should made that a single..
man i woulda loved to get out there and see that Ghost performance
i was there and ghostface definitly tore it up, pack fm and poison pen had sum pretty good sets as well.
@ Jimmy v.
which kidz song is that (drunk in school)? that sounds good.
Summer in NYC…ain’t nothin like it.
You could catch me at the Rucker.
That T.i. flow came from a song off his album.. Not that total damn thing but the punch lines & shit.
T.i. i’mma need you to upgrade. Especially since the whole spilt personality thing isn’t not working too well. At first I thought it was just gonna be an album kinda like nellys “Sweat/Suit” deal.. 2 cd’s with different tones to both..
This mf done wildedout and started really believing he got an extra pint sized mf inside of him.
Publicity stunts are a bitch these days I see.
@ Jimmy V. —–> Is that joint you talking about called “Clothes, Hoes, and Liquor”? That is my shit… that’s the ringtone on my cell.
He needed a video for that joint.
ain’t that jump off in the second from last picture lookin all depressed?
I think so….
the one of having a back pack just to hide his Vodka …lol
Honestly I don’t like a lot of Conscious rappers.
I just like it when people rap like a regular person, that song would been huge with the fraternities and white kids if they pumped it up.
@Douglas
I think so….
the one of having a back pack just to hide his Vodka …lol
Honestly I don’t like a lot of Conscious rappers.
I just like it when people rap like a regular person, that song would been huge with the fraternities and white kids if they pumped it up.