Power to the Dilated Peoples
by Chris Tarver
The Metropolitan
Because of the lack of good shows, people rarely want to spend their hard-earned cash to see hip-hoppers perform live.
Concert-goers at the Fillmore Auditorium can argue that this was not the case April 12. Making a stop in Denver for the School Spirits Tour, Kanye West, The Young Gunz and Dilated Peoples gave explosive performances proving that good hip-hop shows still exist.
Dilated Peoples opened the concert to a half-packed auditorium, but that didn't stop them from performing as if it were a full-house. The crowd erupted when DJ Babu and emcees Evidence and Rakaa took the stage.
The group invited crowd participation and the audience delivered. In return, the group fed off the energy of the crowd and became more hyped as the show continued on. Evidence and Rakaa showed great chemistry with one another as they worked the stage and the crowd. Evidence dove into the crowd and the audience went crazy.
As Dilated went through their catalog of songs, fans recited lyrics word for word and when they performed such hits as "Worst Comes to Worst," "Clockwork," and "Work the Angels" the audience rejoiced in appreciation. Rakaa and Evidence performed a couple of songs from their new LP Neighborhood Watch as well as several freestyles.
As a tribute to the DJ and the lost art of DJing itself, Evidence and Rakaa gave Babu a solo performance. Though the overall set was outstanding, albeit extremely short, Babu's solo was the highlight of the set because it gave fans a chance to see how a talented DJ operates. Secondly, it served as a reminder that without a DJ, there's no show. Babu created an innovative mix to Big Daddy Kanye's "Ain't No Half Steppin." The audience enjoyed Babu's solo just as much, if not more than, Rakaa and Evidence's performances.
The crowd was at full mass by the time Roc-A-Fella Records artists The Young Gunz took the stage and gave an energetic 30-minute performance. What the group lacked in song quantity, they made up for in performance quality.
The Young Gunz were familiar to the audience; therefore, they didn't have any trouble getting the crowd to participate. The two friends showed great chemistry and energy while on stage together. Surprisingly, Neef dove into the crowd, which really earned kudos from the audience.
Midway through their set, in a move that sat well with the audience, The Young Gunz gave a musical tribute to some of rap's fallen stars. Roc-A-Fella crooner Rell emerged from backstage and the trio closed the set with their hit single "No Better Luv."
Lastly, the man everyone came to see emerged from behind the curtains and the auditorium filled with pandemonium as Kanye West took the stage.
An artist from West's new record label opened the set with a couple of tracks from his upcoming debut.
West went through his catalog of songs including remixes and freestyles using live instrumentation. Energy and humor flowed from West to the audience and the crowd loved every minute of his set. West invited Dilated Peoples to the stage to perform their hit single "This Way."
Overall, the School Spirits Tour proved that creative and good hip-hop is not dead. |
