The Professor Griff of the Better Than Yours Staff is here
Your Boy�s back in the building Q-U we back on the map.
I usually give you a summation of my weekend but not including Saturday my weekend was lack luster. (No offense to whom I spent the rest of my weekend with)
Saturday morning, Camillionz picked me up and we were on our way to the secret boarding area where we were to check in for Dave Chappelle�s Block Party. We got to Chinatown Pathmark at around 11am and skipped our way to a decent place in line. At this point I was still wondering if this was a ploy by the MAN to herd all �backpackers, revolutionaries, n*gger lovers and any miscellaneous people� on to a boat back to Africa. I ain�t ready to find peace in Mecca.
It took us an hour and a half from the time that we joined the line til we got on the cheese bus. The bus makes it way for Brooklyn at around 1pm. Riddle me this how does our bus driver go away from the pack and get us a little lost on our way to the Block Party. When he did find his way he made his way through Downtown Brooklyn and stopped a few blocks from Darryl�s house.
When we got to the stage area I knew that this was less of a Block Party and more of an outdoor concert. While waiting for entrance to the Invited Guest area Dave Chappelle made his first appearance he took this opportunity take pictures with his fans and act a damn fool.
The security funneled in the Invited Guest in to a squared off area closest to the stage. Most guests opted to get as close as possible but I stood near VIP. I�m a big fan of stargazing and if Tamia, Angela Bassett or Deborah Cox happens to be roaming around I would be sure to escort them around the 718.
Then the rain started.
After numerous sound checks the concert begins Dave Chappelle thanks us and informed us that we are in for a historical treat. I�ve heard that before. Actually I have said it before in a few intimate occasions so I took it with a gain of salt.
Kanye West hit the stage with the help of Central State University band. It was weird the band did not take the stage they bleared rendition of from �They Don�t Care� off stage right. So the sound there sound and precision was lost. (Oh well they should have picked a better school). Kanye�s show was ok. I have seen him more times than most people so I was not amped. Mos ran onstage to perform Two words sans Freeway. Common wearing a brown sweater with a lime green button up (he was looking like a square from Delaware) and Kweli accompanied Ye� to perform. Consequence and GLC added their verses from Space Ship. When Kanye was about to wrap up his set Freeway raced on stage to perform his verses on Two words and What we do is wrong.
After Kanye left the stage the WORST DJ entertained the audience. (I know Rome is infinitely better than him) How does a DJ play Nelly and Peety Pablo to a backpacker joint???? This show was plagued with EXTREMELY long pauses to set up audio for the next act. During this intermission I saw Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap, Lil Cease, and Klepto from Junior Mafia.
Next group to take the stage was dead prez. Not much to say about the dp show. If you have seen it once you know exactly what to expect if not expect to be bombarded with RBG flags, chants of F the police and revolutionary gangsta at its finest. FYI Mind Sex and It�s bigger than hip hop will always be bangers.
dp ended the show were treated to another epically long pause.
Jill Scott takes the stage. I am not a really a fan of Jill songs (just telling the truth) but her voice, stage presence and beauty captured me from time to time during her show. The Philly songstress thanked the audience and made her exit.
After another long pause Erykah Badu hits the stage donning an afro wig that was heinous. Badu�s performance was almost flawless. One woman next to me said, �Now that�s a legend.� After some thought I guess to our generation she is. Badu began performing Love of my life and Common ran on stage with the excitement and animation of say a Busta Rhymes. While they were performing Kool Herc took the stage. Kool Herc, people the Grandfather of Hip Hop. I was so amped. Badu went on to show us how nice she is on her beat machine and her set ended soon after.
By this point even Dave Chappelle understood that the time between acts were too long so he began to stall like never before he played the congas, tap danced and even read poetry.
Then the Roots took the stage I have not seen the Roots since last summer. I can honestly say that I forgot how nice they are. The band is so precise and Black Thought is one of the greatest lyricists alive. Their show was solid as a rock but then they solidified themselves by bringing to the stage Big Daddy Kane and Kool G. Rap. Why??? Because they could.
Kane performed Warm It Up Kane and Raw and Kool Genius performed Poison. Only thing was missing was Marley Marl. Common took the stage once again to help Thought perform Hip Hop U The Love of My Life. Roots went on to perform You Got Me with Jill Scott singing the hook, and then Badu crept from back stage to vocally duel with Jilly. I was blown away. The Roots show ended soon after.
LONG PAUSE. Riddle me this why is it that when MC�s bring rappers up to rap on stage during concerts they happen to find the WORST rappers to give this great opportunity. This show was no exception. This dude was the worst rapper I have heard in a while. Then Dave took this time to do some standup. Understand people Chappelle is a fool he is funnier than I expected. (I was jaded because I did not really like his last Showtime special.)
Then Mighty Mos, Kweli and Common took the stage together. They three a good alone but together it was classic. Common gave us a rear treat he performed �Resurrection remix� (I wish Madeline was back on Video LP), �I Used to Love H.E.R.� �The Light� with the help of Erykah Badu. Mos and Kweli performed Black Star material. Mos, Kweli and Common performed Respiration. When �Get By� was performed the crowd went wild. Kweli went on to give us some songs from his new album that comes out next week. And Mos ended the collaborative show with a heart-felt rendition of Umi Says.
After a pause that almost caused me to leave I spotted Ed Norton, Rosario Dawson, David Blaine and a myriad of Haiti flag clad men so I knew we were in for some treat.
I thought I knew what to expect from the shows finale but when I saw Jerry Wonder doing sound check I knew that we were in for a treat. Dave Chappelle appeared once again to give us the bad news that Lauryn Hill did not get the clearance to do any of solo songs but without future ado he brought out the Fugees. When the crowd heard �Mona Lisa can I get a date on Friday� Everyone including me lost our damn minds. They went on to perform Fugee-La, Ready or Not and it�s remix (L Boogie where you at. I�m just adjusting my mic.) Lauryn went on to sing Killing Me Softly. Her voice is so beautiful and soothing.
[Lauryn Hill was looking sooo good. She was wearing a nice tan outfit and a blue baseball cap turned to the right. When the crowd asked her where she has been she politely point to her youngest child and said that�s where I been. Wyclef showed everyone that he is still nice with the guitar. And what can I say about Pras. He was there too. ]
Lauryn serenaded Wyclef with �Lost Ones� she performed it while standing in his face. Then he treated us with �911� (Treated is a strong word but he just sang it) A few drum kicks and guitar picks later there show was over.
Dave Chappelle ended the show by thanking all concert goers and performers and calling all to the stage. So the artists retook the stage and gave us some freestyled verses and singers showed off there octave ranges. The artists that took part in this part of the show were Mos, Kweli, Jean Grae, Buckshot, Jeru, Jill Scott, Baby Powder and Dice Raw and many more. But I did not have the patients to stay a minute longer.
That was the Block Party from my perspective. I know it was long but I hope it was worth it.
�I hop off my pedestal and grab my scrotum.�
-X-
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