Grindin'

Well, I've not had the most productive working week since my arrival. In the next three days I have an essay, an individual programme plan, and mountain of reading to do. And my rather relaxed approach to the first part of this week is catching up with me like a hare would with a tortoise.

Of course, my social life hasn't suffered! This evening (Thurs, 25 Sep) I attended a live music event at the University of Maryland, hosted by the SEE. Get this: Clipse, Wale, Consequence and Southeast Slim at the Grand Ballroom, Stamp Student Union. Not a bad bill for a $7 entry fee.

I must say up front that I wasn't into Southeast Slim, a local rapper from DC's (you guessed it) southeast area. Slim ran through about five songs, all of which documented either how (1) adept he is on the microphone skills, (2) big his "future" (manhood is, or (3) skilful he is with the hoes (excuse me, honeys). Derivative. Trite. Offensively unoriginal.

I felt a bit sorry for Consequence. He's put out a couple of mixtapes. And he's promoting a new album. But he'll for always be in/famous for being a guest on Kanye West's 'Spaceship' and contributing to the train wreck that was A Tribe Called Quest's fall-off album, "Beats, Rhymes & Life". He performed a solid set of songs, except no one in the audience knew them. And the response in general was mute.

Thankfully the arrival of rapper Wale and the go-go band UCB on stand breathed new life into somewhat deflated proceedings. This was my first taste of his Wale's brand of music, and I was impressed with his marriage of hip-hop rhymes and go-go rhythms. He dished up several of his most popular tunes and had the crowd eating out of his hands.

But if Wale was the hometown (technically he is from DC, not College Park, MD, but anyway) hero, Clipse were the stars of the night. They've only released two official albums ( plus three mixtapes), but their catalogue is DEEP. 'Momma I'm So Sorry', 'We Got It For Cheap', 'What Happened To That Boy', 'Grindin'', 'Mr Me Too'. Phew, I could go on...


And they performed with an energy not always evident on their records - which is not to say they're complacent; I was just surprised at how well their songs translated in a live context.

By the way, I am aware that I may be criticised for my praise of the Clipse. And I have to admit that their crack-obsessed lyrics are a guilty pleasure. I just rationalise it all by claiming that their brand of crack music is really a sophisticated critique of capitalism. Brilliance or bullshit? You decide.

Get a sample here for cheap.

* Photographs will be uploaded when it's not 12:15am after a long day at the office.