Is it live? Is it Live?
Oh, hex yeah it was all the way live at The March
Lyricist's Lounge Show at Chop Suey in Seattle featuring DJ
Sayeed of Black
Anger (Oly/Tacoma), DMX's protege Bizarre Royale, Wu-Tang
affiliate Killah
Priest and The B-I-G D-A Double D-Y K-A-N-E! It was a good
and plenty show
with Hip Hop heads representin' for the Juice Crew Vet's
return.
Sayeed warmed the crowd up with a real DJ set, proving that
Sayeed is indeed
a DJ's DJ. He banged a gang of old school tracks from Mad
Lion to Wu-Tang
and a quick lick off of Kenny from Beat Street's legendary
set in the
projects. "It's Working! It's Working!" Sayeed put it down
for the 253 and
the 360. Kept it live.
Then out of nowhere came DMX's new protege, Bizarre Royale.
With a stage
presence that clearly rivals his mentor, Royale effectively
mixed Hip-Hop
drum beats with thick rock influenced chords - effective.
Royale along with
his rugged raw hype men, used his raspy and gruff vocals to
express some
timely political views about the "war against Iraq."
Needless to say, Hip- Hop heads ain't feeling the violence
and the show reflected the sentiment
convening without one push or shove (at least that's what I
saw.) Royale's
presence was impressive as he hung in there and still kept
the crowd engaged
through a series of soundbooth difficulties. Royale closed
the show with a
resounding track to look for called "My Life" as he blasted
the hook focused
on living instead of dying, "My life, my world, my time -
F**k Bush."
"Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang!", they chanted. And to the stage he came.
Ever the underdog of the mighty Shaolin crew, Killah Priest
hit the stage raw
BDK and
Seaspot.com Founder & CEO, DJ KUN LUV, backstage.
Kane signed a picture from when Kun first got in the
game. Veteran's Day for sho....
with anticipation of his
new release, Black August - due, well, in August. With his
pimped out homeboy Savoy, Killah spit the math straight from
The GOD's mouth when he blessed the crowd with his GZA duo
cut, B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth).
With the crowd in full chant, Priest needlessly left the
crowd begging for some more from Staten...but he
respectfully stepped aside for a legend.
Sometimes, unfortunately, heads don't remember what an MC
really is - some people either never knew or forgot. Big
Daddy Kane quickly reminded the crowd hittin'em off
bangstyle with "Nuff Respect", "Raw" and "Long Live The
Kane" successively. When Big Daddy was rapping it was easy
to hear the difference between cats who struggle and strive
to control the mic, BDK does it so effortlessly - sounding
as if he was rapping right off of the CD. Sure he's older,
but elders are the keepers of the wisdom and Big Daddy paid
tribute to the fallen MCs with a special dedication set
between he and the DJ, honoring Tupac, Biggie, Big L and
Freaky Tah amongst others. And just when the signature crowd
of sexy, dreadlocked and multicultural people at Chop Suey
thought it was over, Kane let'em all know that pimpin'
really ain't
easy closing his set with "Ain't No Half-Steppin'."
Overall, the spot was hot. Big shots to Lamar from
Lyricist's Lounge, Stella from Free Ya Mind, Trevor from
Thrasher Promotions, The Seaspot.com team and the cool a**
staff at Chop Suey. It's good to know that even during a
time of violence and war, we can think of our peoples
overseas and keep it crackin' until they get home. Hurry
home y'all!
