Stones Throw tour ... CD review ... Shows to check out
Stones Throw label showcases hip-hop artists to energetic crowd in Baltimore By Brian Halprin
Time has been hectic the past couple of weeks for the local hip-hop head. Baltimore has been holding it down at The Ottobar showcasing such acts as Ugly Duckling, Abstract Rude, Aesop Rock, Mr. Lif, Eligh and Grouch of Living Legends.
Stones Throw Records, a hip-hop and funk label founded in Los Angeles in 1996, visited Baltimore Oct. 24 with performances by Dudley Perkins, Wildchild and DJ Romes of the Lootpack, and the final act and founder of Stones Throw, Peanut Butter Wolf, who reflected on managing a hip-hop label.
Wolf said he could expose more people without jeopardizing the product by "[Doing] more tours and [meeting] people face to face and [showing] them live what we do." This philosophy was evident at the show as every member of the tour was easily approachable.
While some people pride themselves in only listening to underground music, Wolf said that he listens to a lot of "commercial rap," but the problem lies in the fact that after constant rotation on the radio the music begins to wear thin. This could be prevented if radio stations played more underground music, thus putting more songs in rotation.
In the future, Wolf hopes to work with Edan, which would likely be an instant connection between two excellent artists. Wolf went on stage to spin a set using only 45s. Unleashing the boom-bap of the '80s as well as funk breaks, the crowd grooved to classic sounds until they were kicked out of the venue.
But to start the show, Wildchild first rocked the crowd with gems off his new album "Secondary Protocol," as well as classics off of the Lootpack album "Soundpieces." Wildchild's offbeat flow rode over Madlib beats unlocking the freshness for fans.
The energy flowed through the crowd as Dudley Perkins, aka Declaime, staggered on stage. Perkins asked for the lights to be dimmed so as to vibe off the dub-jazz bump of Madlib's production. Although many people question Perkin's latest attempts to sing rather than emcee, it is amazing to see the soul that exudes from his every vocal lunge. Twisted off of life, Perkins performed joints from his latest album "A Lil' Light" to a scattered crowd at The Ottobar. With all of the talent encompassed in this label, it is crazy that more people do not show up for Stones Throw shows on the east coast.
The Oct. 25 show went exactly as expected. High energy and a huge crowd dominated the scene as fans gathered to hear the ill sounds to come. The lineup: People Under the Stairs, C Rayz Walz and Raekwon the Chef from the Wu Tang Clan.
People Under the Stairs came out first to catch recognition in a true b-boy manner. Covering songs from all of its albums, the highlights were "Hang Loose," "Acid Raindrops" and "San Francisco Nights." The bass boomed and the drums thumped, "like bricks hitting a hard hat." People Under the Stairs definitely dug the energy Baltimore had to offer and it showed ten-fold with its performance.
Next on the set was C Rayz Walz, who, although not the highlight of the night, still records. After his set the DJ on stage began mixing various Wu Tang bangers as the crowd, now packed like sardines, anticipated The Chef. Then the beat dropped, and out rushed Cappadonna invading brains with "Slang Editorial" and other jams off "The Pillage." The scene got rowdier than any hip-hop show in recent memory. Fans were throwing each other around just to bounce their fists in the air closer to the energy on stage. Although the club should have brought Raekwon out after Cappadonna, they brought out the Chef's affiliate crew Ice Water Inc - so about eight guys on stage tried to hype up the crowd. After about 15 minutes Raekwon stomped on stage with the confidence of a Shaolin Warrior and his presence enabled the crowd to erupt. People were throwing elbows to people's heads like Niagra Falls flows, yet it was all out of love for the music. He came out Timberland-rugged rocking "Incarcerated Scarfaces." His eyes showed that he welcomed the Baltimore love and proceeded to perform such classics as "Protect Ya Neck," "C.R.E.A.M.," "Can It Be All So Simple" and finished off the set with "Ice Cream."
One question was left lingering in the night, "What's the deal with D.C.?" Although Stones Throw performed at Club Five the previous night, Raekwon and People Under the Stairs completely skipped over the District. Is it a lack of fans? Is it the lack fans' intensity? Whatever the reason, Baltimore seems to be doing a better job of keeping hip-hop alive and bumping.
Stones Throw tour ... CD review ... Shows to check out
Duo 'Champions' its latest hip-hop album
Jaylib
"Champion Sound" Stones Throw Records
3 / 4 stars
Previously ... our heroes were last left hard at work in the beat lab. Then, KABLAM! It seems something has gone terribly wrong -- or right? From the dust emerges the hybrid of underground hip-hop producers Jay Dilla and Madlib. Known as Jaylib, the duo's album, "Champion Sound," is the latest release from Stones Throw Records. In true hybrid style the album is half Madlib rhyming over Dilla's production and half Dilla rhyming over Madlib's production. The LP is solid with guest appearances by Frank-N-Dank, Talib Kweli, Quasimoto and others. Madlib lays samples over loose breaks creating the gritty and dirty sound he is known for. Jay Dee's tracks are also sample based but with a cleaner, less lo-fi, feel. The topics covered range from Dilla's talk of "mackin'" to Madlib's "disses" of whack emcees and producers. Put this in your player and let Jaylib drop science.
- RACHEL SPIKULA
Stones Throw tour ... CD review ... Shows to check out
Thursday, Nov. 6
Prefuse 73, Beans (Anti-Pop Consortium), Dabrye at the Black Cat. See Page 8.
Saturday, Nov. 22
Scratch Tour feat. X-ecutioners, Rhazel, Q-bert, Mixmaster Mike and Z-tri at the 9:30 club.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Cage, High and Mighty, Akrobatik at The Ottobar.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Rza and Das EFX at Fletchers in Baltimore.
Every Sunday night check out Ben 'n' Mo's at 1225 Connecticut Ave., NW for local hip-hop performances, DJs and emcee battles.
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