CONCERTS/SHOWS

I'm so excited to talk about the concerts i've been to in the last year. Honestly, i was never one for live shows because i've always associated shows with things like Summer Jam where there is absolutely NO intimacy between the audience and performers. anyway, before i get into that, i'm going to start where i really started to fall in love with live shows. it was october 2008. a couple of my girlfriends suggested we go to the Jay-Z and Lil Wayne concert. i had no reservations about this, but at the same time i had no expectations about the show. i'm thinking, 'aight, i know all of Jay's songs and Lil Wayne got some bangers, it couldn't be a bad time.' Ne-Yo and D-Block opened up for the show, Ne-Yo knocked it out the park with his fly songs complimented by even more amazing dancers. D-Block killed it too, but i did feel their set was super short, i know i could have listened to them all night. Now, i'm there and its time for Jay to come on, Lil Wayne took the stage prior but honestly i could have done without his performance because he seems like he's always heavily intoxicated and being sloppy doesn't make for a good show. Needless to say he was rapping lying down on stage, and when i say rapping, i mean he was mumbling in the mic. ANYWAY, Jay comes out, and starts with his collage of songs with Memphis Bleek and then went into bangers such as "Roc Boys", "Show Me Watch You Got" and the forever classic "Can I Live." DJ AM made an appearance and began to play throwbacks like "Can I Get A.." Beyonce made a cameo appearance and told everyone if they liked it then they shoulda put a ring on it. Jay then finished the concert by shouting out people in the audience. I believe its because this was my first time seeing Jay-Z that i really realized the catalog that this guy has. there was not a song that didnt come on that didnt make me feel like the first time i heard that shit. and all i wanted to do was scream the lyrics so he knew that i straight co-sign with his every lyric and rhyme. Regardless of perhaps liking some songs over others, i really applaud Jay for being able to not only keep us hooked for so long, which is damn near impossible nowadays, but he ALWAYS leaves you with wanting more. this was the beginning of my fetish with seeing people live, i wanted to fall in love with hip-hop again

Next was Boyz II Men. a definite throwback, i randomly googled to see if they even did shows anymore, and it turned out that they were going to be at B.B. King's. Let me tell you, out of all their songs, "Motown Philly" is seriously one of my favorites. THEY OPENED THE SHOW WITH THAT SONG! it was the perfect way to start off the show, it got me so hyped which was good because it was towards the end of the show where they went through their archive of ballads where everyone starts to wind down. These guys are even more amazing live than they are on their albums. i think singers have it so much harder than rappers because they are forced to sound exactly how the album does, and if not, they are deemed a fake. Boyz II Men are truly the definition of entertainers, not only do they sound amazing, but the pain and joy that you felt when you heard their music was obviously present at the concert, being that it was in a smaller venue, you had the best seat in the house anywhere. they sang their hearts out to "Mama", "End of the Road" and "Water Runs Dry" just to name a few. They went back to their Motown Days as we listened to the classic tunes paired with old school moves. there is something about singing that really touches my soul, when someone can move you with only a sound, a noise, a note, that's real talent. 

The next concert i went to was the I AM Tour with Beyonce. now i dont know if its just me, but i think Beyonce is one of the baddest bitches in the entertainment biz. this chick is so versatile its ridiculous, she can easily rock to an R&B beat with a song like "Dangerously In Love", she slams upbeat dance tracks like "Get Me Bodied", she murders jazzy joints like "Ego" and just recently she went to the house side of things with and Michael Jackson inspired beat with "Sweet Dreams." of course Jay made his cameo, which made me think about how amazing it must be to be on stage with your significant other who shares the same love of performance. but enough about him, her concert was a damn timeline of her entire career up until now, even with a Destiny's Child tribute where all of her dancers rocked out to the songs as Beyonce had a wardrobe change. i went with one other friend, we have a mutual respect for Beyonce so it definitely wasn't just a concert, it was an experience. There was a point where she was lifted off stage and suspended in air over the audience as she basically "flew" to the other, smaller stage in the middle of the floor audience. now, i know that Beyonce is a master when it comes to choreography, but i always wondered if we were in a club situation, if Bey could do her thang. they start playing reggae, and she starts singing "You dont love me and i know now"...tell me why this chick starts doin the dutty wine like ive never seen anyone before. this was the defining moment for me, she really is a bad bitch. the whole concert was everything i expected and more, she was definitely someone "i had to see before i die." 

thats what i got for now...i'm coming back soon with the brooklyn hip-hop festival, a couple jam sessions with The Roots, and i'm super excited about this upcoming Major Lazer concert....catch ya soon....