YO!
First of all, let me dispel any rumors…NO KB didn’t play RTB last week as the tour kicked off in lovely (opposite) San Bernadino, CA but I was fortunate enough to have an all-access pass thanks to the fine folks @ Guerilla Union.
Funny story: While on tour last summer with De La, we played HOB in Dallas and during our set we normally invite someone on stage to play keyboards on the last song (Good Day). On this fateful evening, Jason and I chose an older lady and a younger, very pregnant lady (preggo). We had learned earlier that day after escorting the two ladies to De La’s dressing room, that the older lady (Mama) and her daughter worked for Guerilla Union and that the preggo was the older lady’s daughter-in-law. Like most of the people who sit in and “play” Milk’s keyboards, Mama didn’t really “play” the keyboard. I don’t even think she touched it, but she did sit on his stool while her daughter-in-law danced with me, with her baby inside still incubating, all while my band was still jamming, which left the crowd of about a thousand true HIP HOP heads shall we say, “intrigued”?
The reason I’m painting such a vivid picture is because later that night, as I signed on to my Twitter account which I always do after the show to see if anyone is talking about me behind my back, and low and behold, someone was. Obviously the gentlemen had misinterpreted OUR goodwill gesture, as we had promised to bring the ladies out, but his tweet read something like this:
“This idiot Keenan Bell just brought a preggo out on stage & now she’s freakin’ him!Smh”
I wish I saved the actual tweet and of course older tweets are temporarily unavailable, but YOU get his gist. Initially, I was Smh too because for 1, who cares what anybody else thinks, and B) she wasn’t freakin’ me. I said freakin.
Anyways…its a small world and like @Big_Sean said earlier this week on his Twitter
“u never know who’s gonna be what one day, so leave a good impression”
10:50 AM Aug 24th via web
The moral of the story is YOU should always be polite & courteous, just on GP (Good Principle), but also because YOU never know when YOU may need something from somebody, and if YOU go around burning bridges, YOU might miss out on an opportunity that doesn’t even exist yet…what?…enough about the business, back to the music!
Hip Hop was most definitely in the building…actually there were a couple buildings (including freestyle room, V.I.P. “Hospitality Suite” and Paid Dues 2nd Stage) surrounding the perimeter and a giant main stage tucked in the corner, with booths for vendors scattered through out and a murky fountain/wishing well at the entrance. If you’ve ever been to the National Orange Show, you know that the facility is perfect for this type of event (and raves) and by the end of the evening, it looked (and smelled) like a hip hop Woodstock.
My dude Milk is working with Tom Morello & Boots Riley’s Street Sweeper Social Club on this tour & after sound checking last Friday, he warned me about the dreadfully hot conditions at the Orange Show (about 60 some odd miles outside of LA though the show is billed as an LA show…there’s no biz like showbiz) and also informed me I’d be in for an amazing night of music.
The Paid Dues 2nd Stage had artists like Wiz Khalifa, DJ Muggs & Ill Bill, Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, Big Sean, Murs & 9th Wonder, Street Sweeper Social Club, Yelawolf, Chino XL, and others. (The Clipse were also slated to perform on the 2nd stage but were no shows at both SF and LA gigs)
I had a chance to chat with a few of the performers and I was privileged enough to share a wonderful conversation with both Sway from MTVNews & Ms. Mary (Tom Morello’s mother)
Big Sean wasn’t too thrilled when he stepped off stage, especially after having technical difficulties AND his set cut in half, but I think what awaited him in the green room helped him hold his head high and remain positive. He’s a good dude and I told him at least he was in the building and on the bill though I can understand how coming all that way and not getting a proper look is unfair. All part of the bizness boi!
Jedi Mind Tricks played my favorite song of theirs “I against I” and the crowd seemed to have similar taste as they sang along almost word for word the entire song. Chino XL sent the room into a frenzy with his bulldoggie-style of rap and I was honestly afraid to talk to him but gave him The Nod even though he’s not a Black.
Immortal Technique is probably the act I was least familiar with but I enjoyed their passion and stage presence as they paced back and forth, circling the stage around 100 times. They definitely brought a ton of energy and the crowd responded well considering they still had a long day ahead. The next day in SF, someone threw an empty water bottle on stage during their set and they immediately stopped the show, leaped into the audience and personally sent the heckler on his way before continuing to rile up the backpackers.
Brother Ali was my favorite act on the smaller stage because he’s a genuinely good dude doing good music but what set him apart was the melodic and refreshing tone of his voice (and music). There was an organic nature to his (& DJ Snuggles) performance that added a cool breeze to an otherwise hot boxed and stuffy atmosphere. Once his set began, it was kinda like someone had turned the channel from The Wire to Planet Earth’s episode on the Tropical Rain forest.
Wiz Khalifa would have been the episode on cloud formations as no matter where he moved through out the day, a dark, yellow cloud seemed to follow.
Yelawolf was skating backstage and the 1st image of him I saw was him landing a pretty clean 360 flip. Impressive first impression and after a brief convo, he challenged me to a game of S-K-A-T-E. I had to decline of course because it’s been a minute since I’ve kick pushed and without health insurance, its a little riskier than it once was. Sk8 or DIE! FO’ Life…
Murs was mobbing around in his pajamas like he owned the place (basically, he does!) and interestingly enough a few people recognized me at the concert. Sadly, they thought I was Murs though my hair compared to his is like his skills on the mic compared to Tom Morello’s skills on the gee-tar.
Street Sweeper Social Club did exactly what Tom said they would do…”Put the Rock in Rock The Bells”. The crowd had been waiting on day to release their inner angst and SSSC allowed for that opportunity. The mosh pit that ensued directly in front me consisted on 4 men (1 white dred) who all looked as if they had done some time. I don’t judge but certain muscles can only be developed to this extent via hard time behind the walls. Glad they’ve found another outlet for their aggression (rap/rock) but I wondered as I did yard work at my parents house yesterday: if I got swol from manual labor, is it as attractive as if I had a gym membership?
The Main Stage was packed with some of the biggest names in OUR culture…
Slick Rick, who almost didn’t make it because of a traffic jam outside the venue until we used our van as a road block to let him in, went through a list of hit songs that most of the kids in the crowd weren’t even old enough to remember. I don’t remember if he had an eye patch on or not, but he looked great and it was good to see him allowed back in OUR country.
Rakim, being one of the greatest MC’s of all-time, was dope to see live but once again the majority of the audience was unfamiliar with his classic material. I could tell he felt dated in their lack of participation, though the trues in the crowd appreciated every last drop of his jewels.
Lauryn Hill, or Ms. Hill, was who I was most interested in seeing from up close so I made my way through the crowd and ended up in press pit, where the photographers are permitted to take pictures during the 1st 3 songs of a set. It took a while for the event staff to set up TV moniters positioned on the floor of the stage so that Ms. Hill’s lyrics could be broadcast across the screen during the set just in case she forgot, so during the delay one of the promoters put his son on his shoulders and handed him a hose to douse the dehydrated crowd. Once they finally got everything squared away, Ms. Hill came out hot-stepping in knee high heels singing “You’re So Special” before blazing through an assortment of her original songs as well as Fugee cuts in rapid fashion. I mean, really fast! Think Twista or Bone Thugs. People were not happy that she was speeding through her set, but when she asked for a change a shoes, WE knew she was giving us her all (she needed her flats because she wanted to dance).
DJ Premier received a warm welcome and the recent passing of GURU united the audience as Preemo went through Gangstarr’s collection and the crowd basically filled in, rapping along to the King of Scratches.
What four letter word in HIP HOP most positive reflection? ATCQ
Being heavily influenced by Tribe and Native Tongues brethren, I was geeked to see Q-Tip, Phife, and Ali after hearing about them reuniting for RTB. Unfortunately, they went on as I sat down to eat and I wasn’t able to watch them but I listened from across the pavilion and it sounded like they hadn’t missed a step. The moment Busta Rhymes emerged from backstage and the crowd erupted, I knew I was witnessing (hearing) history in the making. Their set list played like my favorite iTunes playlist and provided the perfect backdrop for dinner.
Wu Tang Clan is FOREVER! Even though from a distance, I really couldn’t tell which of the 17 people on stage holding mic’s was actually rapping, but those distinct voices bellowing out of the speakers made it that much easier. Ol’ Dirty’s son (Young Dirty) who looks and acts just like his father is doing his best to replace his pops & seeing the entire Clan represented and performing such groundbreaking music was really special. I may even start tagging the “W” all over everything again.
Snoop Dog. What can I say? West Coast pioneer and hip hop entrepreneur. I was born in Long Beach and grew up in the Hills right next to Chino. I wrote my very 1st rhyme ever to “Gin & Juice”. I was in 5th grade and was doing a report on the Revolutionary War and changed his lyrics “got some freaks in the leaving room getting it on…” to “got some soldiers on the battlefield getting it on…” He brought out the entire Dog Pound and did almost every song of his that I wanted to hear (including all the skits off Doggystyle too) I heard he’s trying to be the voice of GPS. What can’t he do? Very inspiring concert to say the least, but what a long day. All I could think of was getting home and writing more music!
GOOD DAY
Stay up
KB
P.S.: THE STORE IS FINALLY OPEN!!!! PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT & MAKE PURCHASES DIRECTLY @ WWW.KENANBELL.COM/BUY
