Posted in: Hip Hop by speakyou on November 28, 2008 | 0 Comments
Rhyme Sayers’ tour Paint the Nation hits Houston Tx featuring DJ Rare Groove, Blueprint, Abstract Rude, and Atmosphere.
“Why are yall so happy?”
Those were Slug’s words with the mic in his hands in Houston, Texas. It was the tour to promote his new album When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold. Not only was Atmosphere to take the stage, but a handful of the label Rhyme Sayers’ artists were to precede such an indie icon.
I was skeptical entering Warehouse Live to see a real hip hop show. It’s a good thing that’s how it felt before because that is exactly what I did not get.
The tour, Paint the Nation, had visited a handful of cities before landing in HTX, and that was obvious. Blueprint opened the show with a fistful of passion and emotion that radiated from his pores. Spit flew in each and every direction towards the audience. We had a moment… He looked into my eyes and I knew that this was more than a hip hop show. It’s rare that I get the chills listening to “hip hop” and I felt frozen.
DJ Rare Groove held a steady beat to keep the crowds attention simultaneously texting and checking the time on his phone. He held it strong for Blueprint and Abstract Rude.
Abstract Rude didn’t hit me in a soft spot, but he definitely colored the stage with his bizarre presence and obscene antics. For the sake of Rhyme Sayers respect, I will say he was mediocre.
Then it came. The anticipation had built up while I waited at the front being jabbed by elbows and the bars dividing the crowd and the stage. I really like Atmosphere’s past albums, with the classic Lucy Ford, but When Life Gives You Lemons hadn’t rubbed me the right way yet. Honestly, I had hopes for him to play the classics and stick to the roots that made him blow up how he has. Graciously he broke my hopes and dreams.
Ant came out with the rest of the LIVE band to start with a song I didn’t recognize, but he rocked the stage like a true rockstar. The beats banged, guitar screamed, singer sang, keyboards pronounced their presence, and Sean’s emotions felt like rain. The passion and emotion he expressed seemed clear as day on his skin and clothes. His Gap Jeans and American Apparel hoodie seemed so humble, and his words, even more so.
The set carried on and his music struck me like a dagger to the chest. This was no hip hop show; this was an experience. One of the best I’ve ever had. He made me feel like I personally knew him, and we could relate.
Brilliance and intelligent; cunning and witty. Atmosphere, it’s a ten letter word.
