Hip hop shows? Who goes to hip hop shows anymore? If you live in OC, virtually nobody. Luckily my associates Toney Clifton and Black Steffan from The Uncouth dragged me out last weekend to attend the Aceyalone / Planet Asia show at The Blue Cafe in the LBC. The last time I saw Aceyalone live was in 1997, at a rave in some wherehouse in LA, right after the release of "Book Of Human Language". I also had the good fortune to see Freestyle Fellowship a couple times durring their reunion shows, so of course I was stoked for this event.
Getting to the venue a lil early, we stopped at Hooters... for some wings. No wonder Chris Rock said "no one goes to Hooters for wings". Ive only eaten at Hooters twice in my life, and this time was the last. The wings were battered with the drumstick and wing attached (weird), they charged extra for ranch (wtf??), and very few of the waitresses lived up to the establishments name. Black Steffan was saying he wanted to open a restaurant where all the waitresses have fat asses, but he didn't know what to call it. When I suggested "Glute-ers", he called me a genius. Likewise, sir.
Anyway, we headed back to the show and caught the end of Mic Saberz performance, the dopest opening act of the night. After that, a whole slew of up and comers took the stage before Soul Elevation (MC Toquon and DJ Icey Ice of the Beat Junkies) finally blessed the crowd with some actual SKILLS (and just a lil bit too much seriousness, but it was ok). Then you had Aspect 1, (March's Producer Of The Month) laying down some serious beats with some wild samples (one of them sounded like Spanish matador music?!?!?) that had the crowd fiending for more. Next, Planet Asia and his crew (who ive gotta admit, I never checked for that much) came to the stage and straight RIPPED IT: crazy energy, clear vocals, dope beats, best performance of the night.
After a quick intermission (which we used to check out the smokin' reggae band upstairs... fiyah!) it was time for Aceyalone, who we had already spotted in the building before Planet Asia went on. Guess he spent Asia's performance at the bar, cuz Acey AND his DJ (producer Bionik) were both tore up by the time he took the stage. After performing a couple of his more recent tracks, I watched Ace shoot a double whiskey and drink half a Heineken on stage (Damn, fam!) before launching into "Arithimiticulus" from "All Balls Don't Bounce", one of his more difficult works. All I could think was, "What an ASSHOLE!! Not so much the getting drunk, but then performing one of his most underground songs right from the jump?!?!?"
Anyway, as Acey swayed and staggered through his albums of the past couple years (at least he's been busy, recording with RJD2, plus a reggae album and his new soul album with Bionik) I began to notice that DESPITE the alcohol, dude didn't miss a beat. Even when he performed "Guidelines" (My favorite Aceyalone song) and turned the pitch on the turntable up to plus 10, he still stayed perfectly on beat (like I said, ASSHOLE!!) In the end it was an okay show, but nothing like what I saw at that warehouse in 97'.
Glad that the homies got me out of the house for once, gonna have to do it again soon!!
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