S.O.B’S Concert Review (TUESDAY, OCT. 6th): TANYA MORGAN, BLACK SHEEP, THE REAL LIVE SHOW
Classic Hip Hop music in its recorded form was known for being vibrant, aggressive and most of all unpredictable. However, even the best artists would occasionally destroy their momentum with uninspired live performances marred by muddy sound and a weak stage presence. It is with great relief that I can say underground super group Tanya Morgan have managed to sidestep this problem…And then some.
It all began with a bleary-eyed trek to NYC’s downtown hotspot, S.O.B’S. Still feeling the after-effects of a brutal war with the flu(‘Shit was hardcore. Must’a been from Brooklyn!) I knew I needed some musical uplift. T.M And company didn’t disappoint. First up, THE REAL LIVE SHOW; two smooth emcees(Stimulus and Malik Work) with flowing dreads, lyrics to go and energy to spare worked the crowd into a frenzy. They quickly schooled the audience on street tactics, love and loss as well as “the art of going broke.” Accompanied by a live band, the group ran through track after track with the skill and precision of hip hop veterans. What? Never heard of ’em? Me neither. But I WILL cop the album! Put this group at the top of the list of artists to watch for ’09 and beyond.
Next to rip the stage was BLACK SHEEP. Dres didn’t miss a beat. Looking and sounding exactly as fans remember from his 90’s hey day, he brought down the house with classic gems like, “The Choice is Yours” and soulful new tracks such as “Forever Lovely” from the upcoming release, FROM THE BLACK POOL OF GENIUS. Dres was always one of the most underrated talents in hip hop. His microphone mastery and command of the S.O.B’s stage was all the proof one needed to drive home that fact. Much credit must be given to the S.O.B’s house band and Black Sheep’s latest deejay (replacing Mister Lawnge) for bringing additional layers of sonic excitement to the set.
After a brief interlude, TANYA MORGAN finally stormed the stage. Attacking the venue like hip hop warriors, T.M. showed all pretenders to the throne who was truly king. Von Pea thrilled the audience with brilliant lyrics, humorous asides and a hypnotic delivery that kept the crowd transfixed with every word. DonWill epitomized the true essence of what it takes to be an emcee by owning the stage with his raw energy and compelling vocals. Last but NEVER least, Illyas took the show to new heights of excitement with his intricate, “let me rewind that again” lyrical dexterity. Effortlessly, gliding through “So Damn Down”,”Plan B”, “Hardcore Gentlemen” and other assorted tracks from the BROOKLYNATI album, T.M. never failed to excite. With an appearance by Che Grand, flawless accompaniment by the incredible S.O.B’s band and a deejay accenting songs with clever snippets of O.C’S “Times Up’ and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario”, the Tanya Morgan show was nothing short of spectacular. Days later, I find myself still reflecting on the performances. THE REAL LIVE SHOW, BLACK SHEEP & TANYA MORGAN have resurrected the authentic, live energy so sorely needed in hip hop music. Check out their next show. You too will become a believer.
-Kevin Keith
