Big Boi, Killer Mike, & Real T@lk at Park West 5/1 [Recap]
When I think of rappers, I generally don't picture them in bow ties or suits, nor would I expect one to be accompanied by a full live band with dancers who reflect a kind of style and class seemingly lost in a game saturated with mediocre djs and scantily dressed go go dancers. But Real T@lk is that breath of fresh air - with a calculated flow, the smooth pipes of Sohje, a band dressed flyer than they have to be, and dancers who remind you its okay to dance at a rap show. This is more than just rap - this is art. And with an inspiring performance of "Count It Up" off The Talented Tenth 8.0, Real T@lk set the bar higher than most opener's could imagine.
Killer Mike (Photo by Who Dough)
The surprises continued though, as Killer Mike took the stage. Despite the name, Killer Mike ain't no killer - he's a lover. It quickly became evident how Killer Mike loves hip hop, his fans, and his family - at one point taking a moment to say how much he respects his wife, knowing how difficult it must be for her with him on the road - that's love. His love for hip hop - never more evident than in his bare bones approach to the night. It was just him and his dj on the dark stage, a couple of times abandoning the beat to go a cappella on "Untitled" and "Reagan." Its a sign of passion behind his words - because sometimes the message shouldn't be clouded behind a headnotic beat. The crowd has most definitely feelin' it too - chanting "FUCK RONALD REAGAN" during "Reagan," and "I AIN'T NEVA SCARED" as he covered Bone Crusher's classic. And before his time was up, Mike Bigga actually jumped off stage and into the crowd for a transcending performance of "God In The Building."
Big Boi (Photo by Who Dough)
As Big Boi took the stage, I wasn't sure how he was gonna top Real T@lk and Killer Mike, but Big Boi is a crowd pleaser - and Outkast fans were definitely catered to. The majority of Big Boi's time on stage was actually focused on Outkast anthems ("So Fresh, So Clean," "The Way You Move," Player's Ball," "Ms. Jackson") with the help of Killer Mike in Dre's absence. The rest of the set touched on their colabs ("Thom Pettie" and "Kryptonite") as well as highlighting the bangers off Sir Lucious Left Foot and Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. Although Big Boi's performance lacked the style of Real T@lk's set, and the intimacy of Killer Mike's, it was certainly a good time - just ask one of the dozens of girls invited to be on stage for the last couple songs.
Big Boi Live w/ Killer Mike & Real T@lk @ Park West
Big Boi, Killer Mike, Real T@lk
Wed, 2013-05-01 08:00
Park West
Chicago
event producer
event sponsor
Straight out the A - Big Boi's "Shoes for Running Tour" comes to Chicago's Park West Theater Wednesday, May 1. With support from Killer Mike, and (one of our favorite's) Chicago's own Real T@lk, you can look forward to one hell of a show.
At the top of the month, Big Boi hit Letterman with a performance of "Apple Of My Eye" and now this weekend, he doesn't leave Leno out, and brings Jake Troth along for the ride again. Enjoy the performance above if you missed it, and apparently Chris Tucker was one of Leno's guests as well that night. Perhaps this Chris Tucker GIF will cheer up the mega ATL Falcons fan, Big Boi, from the hard defeat earlier today.
After looking over this weeks Top 5, four out of the five songs are really that kind of zone out to music so I hope you all get that same feeling that I did when I was putting this list together. Lets not waste anymore time and get into these tracks.
Easily the most anticipated song that so many people have been looking forward to in a long time. I compared it to the Mayan calendar, and though the song didn't live up to all the anticipation that it had recieved it still did better then the Mayans. I think it was a solid return for Justin, an I'm still pretty confident that the final album is going to be dope as hell.
There isn't much that can be said about this song that hasn't already been said. The obvious new attraction to this song is hearing Big Boi and Andre 3K on the same song again. Hopefully we won't have to wait another couple of years before we hear them together again because this just reminds us how great they are together.
This is a song that I fear people might have over looked because of the unfimiliar name, but your hearing it here first. Mr. Gage is dope. I've known about him because I'm homies with his camp SUH, but this is my first time hearing his music and I am very impressed. Stay in tuned with this guy.
Murph Watkins finds himself in my Top 5 yet again. Every time I hear new music from him I can't help but to think a better version of Curren$y and this song furthered that idea. Listen for yourself and tell me I'm wrong.
The final song on this weeks list is a definite change of pace compared to the other four songs on the list. When I listen to this it serves its purpose, which to me is club/riding music. If your looking for a dope track to kick off the night to "Millions" is for you.
So that's this weeks list, hope you liked it and if you didn't feel free to tell me about it.
Here is the remix to "Pink Matter" - the original version that was supposed to feature OutKast reunited, but ultimately only Andre 3000 made the channel Orange version, since they didn't want the OutKast reunion to happen on someone else's record.
Big Boi's verse is new - and this one's a must-grab for any Frank fans, any OutKast fans... any music fans.
Big Boi links up with Jake Troth for a performance of "Apple Of My Eye", making for Letterman's first musical guest of the new year.
If I had one word to describe this performance, it would simply be: fresh. Everything from the epic intro, the variety of instrumentation and vocalists, to Big Boi's fur coat. It's all here. Big Boi's raps are fast and easy to follow. Jake Troth and the backup singers provide a nice change of pace. And Dave awkwardly greets Big Boi and everyone in the band. Like I said, it's all here. Watch this one if you weren't tuned in earlier tonight, and you can catch this track on Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors in stores now!
And lastly, and only related to the two posts above... rounding out my trio of GIFs tonight, here's Javale McGee appropriately celebrating his first 3 of his career...
"I just wanted to show everybody that I have the most creative 3-point celebration in the league."
As planed earlier this summer both André 3000 and Big Boi from Outkast were supposed to appear on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange. These plans fell through because of Big Boi who explained himself through Twitter, he "didn't want an Outkast Record Coming out on anybody else LP." However, André 3000 still kept his spot on the album.
Plans have now changed and a few days ago Big Boi representatives confirmed a new version of "Pink Matter" which will include Frank Ocean and André 3000 together with Big Boi. This will mark the first Outkast appearance in 6 months.
This doesn't seem to be a one time thing since Big Boi announced on Twitter today that him and André 3000 will also make an appearance on T.I.'s "Sorry", there is still no date to when the single will be released but now we all have something to look forward to.
