Artists: Edan, Prefuse 73
Venue: South Paw, Brooklyn, NY
Date: May 7, 2006
In hip-hop, you have an MC and you have a DJ. The MC raps and the DJ spins the records. There is no concept of ‘live music’ because the DJ is usually not mixing anything more complex than a jazzy hook and a danceable drum track together. This is the way it’s been and this is the way it’ll always be.
This is where Edan comes in and wrecks shit. With a big ‘fro and a somewhat goofy personality, this kid from Boston changed my ideas on how much more awesome a live hip-hop show could be. First, his rhyming skills were incredible, and with his stage partner Duplex, they engaged in friendly battles and duets that fit together like the two halves of a zipper. I mean literally back and forth word-by-word, and at some ridiculous speeds! So if both of these guys are the MCs, who’s DJing? Why, Edan, himself, at the same fucking time!
Also, it’s high time that other producers take note of the fact that there’s so much amazing music that’s been created over the years, so there’s no need to limit yourself to the same old type of tracks. I can understand the mainstream producers using the same radio-friendly hooks; after all, they gotta keep people dancing in some overpriced shitty club with a 2 hour entry line, and they gotta sell a lot of shitty alcohol every night, but the indie guys — the guys trying to make good music, what the hell? Where are you? Listen to Edan’s Beauty and the Beat to see the posssibilities…
As if that wasn’t enough, Edan also played guitar, harmonica, and did live analog electronics mind-fuckery, in the style of Four Tet (hmmm maybe White Boy + Afro = 1337 Live Electronics?). Most Impressive.
The main act was, fortunately or un-, very very similar to the last time, except even louder. The South Paw felt a lot like a larger version of the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, although all the walls here are covered with posters, postcards, and knick knacks. However, with a packed hall, and a lingering sense of deja vu, I was getting a little uncomfortable, and so I left about 20 minutes into the set. (BTW I still don’t know which guy is actually Scott Herren, the guitarist or the drummer of the DJ; also, I still don’t know if the 2nd drummer is ?uestlove or not.) I stepped out into the beautiful Brooklyn night, and walked around for a while, before heading home.
Leave a Reply