It's Bigger than Hip Hop, Hip Hop.............................

"Right here what we gonna do is go back

Way way
Way back

I met him when I was a little girl he gave
He gave me poetry and he was my first
But in my heart I knew, I wasn't the only one
Cause when the tables turned he had to break up
Whenever I got lonely, needed some advice
He gave me his shoulder, his words were very nice
That is all behind me,
Cause now there is no other
My love is his and his is mine,
My friend became my....
Love of my life, you are my friend
Love of my life, I can depend
Love of my life, without you baby
Feels like I sampled true love, yeah"

Love of My Life (an ode to hip hop) - Erykah Badu

"Rap is a gimmick, but I'm for the hip-hop, the culture.
Method Man "


So after first blog post and mainly positive reviews from friends I was pondering on next topic to blog about. I thought that the best place to start would be me trying to write a comprehensive list of who I'd actually seen in concert since my first real concert experience (INXS - 1991, Wembley Stadium a pretty good way to start) - and having the organisational skills of my good friend H aka Puds rubbing onto me sub divided list into the following genres:

Hip Hop
Pop
Soul/RnB/Dance
Other <---- By this time figured to sub divide further may mean lists with one act

I don't know if sub consciously I put hip hop first but I did and lo and behold what genre had the most concerts, hip hop.

Yes to quote the urban dictionary ( which does have 41 definitions of hip hop):

"A culture and form of ground breaking music and self expression with elements that consisted of the elements of graffiti art, DJing, MCing, and breaking."

or

"What urban music was before gangster's got their hands on microphones. Known for smooth, soothing beats; intelligent, sincere rhymes; and a solid representation of urban life. Most commonly from areas in and around New York City. (See A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.)"

I like the second definition as it sums up where I pitch my hip hop flag - and would like to state right now that apart from a slight glitch in the early 00's ( which will become evident as I go through gigs attended below) - I have stayed true and avoided gangsters where possible.

Now don't get me wrong the one thing I am not is a music snob - I have no problem with a good pop song or mainstream hit - I do have a problem when I perceive the music as "soulless" an obvious attempt at some record company executive jumping on bandwagon to cash in on latest fad in music, or as an extension of a brand and the music is one part of the lifestyle package available...............and hip hop is rife with examples of this.

Right now it seems like all I hear is another "rap-star" taking a 90s eurotrash house anthem and adding a hip hop lyric ( which they probably didn't write) to it - I mean crazy frog is sure to be next on the hit list ( maybe I should get there first any MC's wanna take the challenge??)

Back to the gigs - I thought I would do a 5 line synopsis of all the hip hop gigs I've been to so far with at least one UFONWK ( for those who haven't read the previous blog that ='s Useless Facts Only Naima Would Know) for each act. And I am listing these in the order they came into my head i.e. first one I remembered I wrote down - and these are gigs where the act was the headliner not in support. Where I can remember I have listed the venue and the year ( I cannot voice for accuracy of the year - forgive me as old age is setting in). I am starting with the first 5 that came to mind and they all pretty much can be linked weirdly enough.


1) Q-Tip - Camden Roundhouse (2009)
This was a gig I think I have been waiting for for at least 6 years. Without doubt "A Tribe Called Quest" are in my top 3 hip hop acts of all time and I always used to wonder if and when I would get to see them. I had slight hope when they reformed and toured the US in 2008 headlining the Rock the Bells tour but was not to be even though the tour come to these shores ( sans ATCQ but more about that later). So when randomly browsing on the net - I couldn;t believe it when I saw Q-Tip coming here to do one gig at the roundhouse in Camden, to mainly promote his excellent album " The Renaissance". With the small hope that he may do 1-2 Tribe songs and seeing that it was for the bargain price of £20 ( with an unheard of £1 booking fee!) I snapped up 4. I went with a mixed crew some heads who put my hiphop knowledge to shame ( but hey "for a girl I'm pretty cool" to quote them) and 2 girlfriends who love music like me but not not really knowing much about Q-Tip but willing to take that chance upon my recommendations.

Needless to say I was not let down - it helped that Dj Semtex warmed up the crowd nicely ( by smartly choosing to play most of the illmatic album by Nas) so we were charged when the great man himself came on stage ( first time in 17 years in the UK) and we were duly rewarded. With the right mix of new stuff and then at least 6 Tribe songs and not choosing to do the overkilled "breathe and stop" as his finale but the awesome " Award Tour" he had me completely satisfied by the end of the gig. The crowd were all still shaking their heads in disbelief, leaving the venue, with many saying the same as me " he did so much Tribe"

I remember emailing the people I went with afterwards and all of us upon reflection feeling that same sense of knowing we had witnessed something special...... and I typed in an email.........

"so many people have been waiting for this and for him to just bring it at that level beyond any expectation - thats why for a lot of it I was stunned - couldn't quite believe what I was seeing and hearing.

A lot of the time my " serious music head" friends tend to be in the indie/alternative camp and mock my love of hip hop - but its shows like that which prove to me that I am completely in love with that genre the most - it just gets to me and makes me so happy :o)"

Q-Tip - UFONWK - Q-Tip produced the song "Honey" by Mariah Carey and the criminally underated "Fine" by Whitney Houston.
(NB - yes I know slightly more than 5 lines but its Q-Tip!!)

2) Common - Shepherds Bush Empire (2003)

One of the first hip-hop gigs I went to. Was just after the release of the Electric Circus Album. Was a pretty good gig - considering I was sat up in the balcony. I enjoyed the show a bit more as went with K, and he did all the songs I was expecting him to do. What I wasn't expecting him to do was a) spin on his back ( he did) b) be bald ( he always wore a hat and I know on the electric circus album he has shaved head but when he took his hat off he had bald haircut like my dad!)

Common - UFONWK -Common made an appearance on The Jonas Brothers most recent album, "Lines, Vines and Trying Times" as a guest rapper for the group's song, "Don't Charge Me for the Crime." Now my mini obsession with Joe Jonas can have some credibility since he's hanging with Common!

3) The Roots - Shepherds Bush Empire (2007)/Somerset House (2007)/ Forum Kentish Town (2008)

This group and the 3 gigs cannot be justified in 5 lines - in fact they warrant a whole blog post in themselves which I will post at a later date but in case you haven't heard about them - they are from philadelphia and I urge you to type their name in spotify/last fm and listen!!! One of the few hip hop acts who consist of musicians as well as MC's.

The Roots - UFONWK - The Roots have performed on the kids show Yo Gabba Gabba ( which was made by people who had a very tripped out experience on Acid I'm sure check it out on youtube if you get a chance) with the song "Lovely Love My Family" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAndmB5NLI0&feature=related

4) Mos Def - Shepherds Bush (2007)
Another gig where I was anticipating a great show, as Mr Def is one half of one of the greatest rap duos who ever existed (and recently resurrected in the 2009 Rock the Bells tour) Black Star. Unfortunately didn't help that this gig was inflicted by the curse of the late start which seems to happen all too often - but keeping an expectant crowd waiting for over 50 mins from the scheduled start time ( and that's taking into account he additional 15 mins you add on anyway so was over an hour late in reality), Mos was good and did all the standards. Few surprises, only one black star track and a surprising love fest/tribute to Kanye West which kinda detracted from the point, i.e Mos Def himself but overall glad I got to see him live.

Mos Def - UFONWK -He has 8 kids and has designed some shoes for Converse.

5) De La Soul - Jazz Cafe (2008)

Being one of the first hip hop groups I remember being aware of and liking ( 3ft High and Rising one of the first albums in this genre I remember buying when I was 13) I was really wanting to see them and especially happy to see them at such an intimate venue as the jazz cafe. A few things stick out for me:

1) Before the show started, myself and my friend "N" were heading through the crowd to go outside and meet another friend who's ticket we had. Whilst going through the crowd we suddenly spot Maseo of De La Soul heading towards us. Am sure "N" has rehearsed many a time what to say when confronted with a musical icon such as Mase, perhaps a nonchalant "whatup?" or a "how you doing - loved your work on ...." but no "N" proceeded by tapping Maseo on the shoulder, and after he's turned around waving franctically and saying "Hi" whilst grinning sheepishly - i.e like a complete fanboy. Maseo with a slightly bemused expression murmured something back and carried on through the crowd - and at that point the realisation of how uncool "N" had been dawned on his face - a sight I will never forget as it was so funny!

2) They seemed to go through a lot of songs which was good at the time but then I realised it was because they only did one verse and the chorus the majority of the time.

3) Maseo chucking the free fruit from their green room into the audience including apples which narrowly missed our heads!

4) They didn't do "Keepin the Faith" from the De La Soul is Dead album - my fave track of theirs.

5) The feeling of not gettin 100% value for money particularly felt in hindsight with the Q-Tip gig costing half that of De la Soul.


De La Soul - UFONWK - NME named 3ft High and Rising as its Album of the Year in 1989


OK thats my first 5, 5 more to follow soon..........................

Peace
Naima