Real heads don’t throw bottles. When a Detroit Original Schooler like Elzhi does a show with a stellar live backing band (fellow D-natives, Will Sessions), there better be no trouble. And there wasn’t. A diverse bunch came to get down and that’s what hip-hop’s really all about kiddies. Yeah, there’s funky-ass attitudes but you should keep that shit under wraps unless some real stuff goes down, not penny-ante you-stepped-on-my-Nikes shit. Don’t start none, there won’t be none. The first motive is to have as much fun as humanly possible.
A minor pall was cast over the evening when DJ Dez announced Gil Scott-Heron had passed while he was warming up the crowd. We all took a moment’s pause then kept it moving because a true musician/poet like G.S.H. would have it no other way. The show must go on.
Elzhi (an MC of the highest caliber, for any who are unaware) hit the stage around 12:30 and launched into Elmatic; starting with “Genesis” as any good Illmatic tribute should (and let’s say this about Elzhi’s Elmatic mixtape record, it is far from derivative but how do you rate an album that is not completely original, 4/5 methinks). The Will Sessions Band’s nasty licks and grooves got the crowd moving and the MC’s confident swagger and approach did nothing but amp up the mostly positive energy. As if the D needed any more disco biscuit-styled hyperactivity during DEMF weekend. Stirring renditions of “Halftime,” “One Love” & “Detroit State Of Mind” further added to the fever pitch as the show crescendo’ed with a somewhat choppy version of “Life’s A Bitch.” Guest MC Royce Da 5′9″ made a welcome appearance but as with most hip-hop events, the soundman can only ever get the primary mic right. Royce’s mic wasn’t even on as he burst into the limelight, a shame, but the band and fans alike appreciated the Motown heavyweight’s cameo.
URB doesn’t really do show grades but I’m going to go ahead and rank this one a 90/100. Anytime scuffles don’t break out at a Detroit hip-hop event, it has to be considered a success. As we headed to the exits around 2am, the breakers were getting some love onstage while the remaining crowd lingered for a presumed encore. Here’s to hoping this show, which was scheduled to finish up somewhere around 4am, ended without incident. Detroit needs peace and more favorite sons like Elzhi to continue to showcase quality music.
Earle…
ALL POWER TO THE WORKERS!…