Words by Ernest Wilkins (@ErnestWilkins)
A fixture at local shows and parties, Ernest Wilkins is officially known as Chicago’s wingman (no seriously, he owns the title). He’s one of the bright personalities behind the Red Eye newspaper and Metromix Chicago. No rookie to the rap game, Ernest spent time at Def Jam before making the transition to full-time journalist extraordinaire. Today, FSD caught up with Ernest to talk about half-assed rap concerts, and how they can be improved. He knows a thing or two. Relax and take notes.
By my own estimation, I’ve been to around 168 rap shows in my life. Maybe 20 of them have been amazing experiences. That’s not a good thing, y’all. I know I’m not the only one to attend show after show only to have my loyalty spit back into my face with all kinds of straight-up lazy, annoying behavior. Below are my suggestions on how to change rap shows for the better from all three sides (rappers/DJ’s/people in the crowd).
DJ’s:
- Don’t have anything to say? Don’t say anything: How many times have you been at a rap show and the DJ warming up runs out of go-to “get the crowd hyped” phrases and just starts saying anything? I shit you not, I was at a show recently where the DJ said, “MAKE SOME NOISE IF YOU’RE HERE RIGHT NOW!” The FUCK? Make some noise if I’m..HERE? C’mon, man. “MAKE SOME NOISE IF YOU LOVE THE CHICK YOU WIT!” Uh…why are you trying to get us sent off here, homie? (To be fair, that one worked. He had all the dudes with ladies in the crowd screamin’ like Michael came back or something.)
- Don’t be scared of digging in the crates: I went to school down in Florida and the DJ’s rarely played what was on the Top 40. They’d drop classic songs from that region that people in that region could spit from rootah to tootah. I learned things! LEARNING AT A RAP SHOW!
Rappers:
- It’s a show. SHOW me something: Some lot of you mogs reading these words are guilty of it. It sucks. Stop. That “I’m too high/cool to be aware that I’m being PAID TO RAP IN 2012 so I’mma just do a little two-step” shit? Yeah, we off that. You don’t have to be James Brown or some shit, but I shouldn’t working harder than you do.
- Stop getting high so damn much: If I wanted to look at a zombie, I’d rent Dawn of the Dead. This also applies for leaners, sippers, pourers, and being zooted, geeked up, and rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ we ain’t slept in weeks. Also needs to be said: I’m never hating on recreational indulgence but please know that a lot weed talk is one big #coolstorybro.
- You are not Kanye West, nor are you DMX: Making a metric ton of classic records gives you the ability to do things like rant about what’s on your mind or lead the audience in a prayer. If this is your second show ever and its in a basement? FALL. BACK.
People at rap shows:
- Stop being with people that make you want to fight someone in the club: It’s one thing if some dude just gets foul and cops a feel on your old lady, but come on, man. Speaking of…
- Stop fighting in general after you turn 25: The fuck you doing getting stomped out at a show when you know you gotta be at work on Monday witcho no insurance-havin’ ass? This ain’t Wrestlemania!
- You aren’t the act: I get it! We all want attention. The world is a cold place and you want people to know you’re out here. Go write a book or something, just stop trying to hog the spotlight by acting like a fool in the crowd or trying to get the act to fight you under the “Look at me!!” act.
- Tip the damn bar staff: I swear to Jesus’ natural perm that I’m tired of people telling me my fellow Black brothers and sisters are bad tippers. Get that together.
Wait, one last one…
EVERYONE IN THE WORLD:
Three words: Stop. Being. Thirsty.
Now, before you rev up those keyboards in a brazen attempt to slander the ever-loving shit out of me, hear me out. I’m on your side. I’m tired of my friends who don’t like rap telling me shit like “Oh man, the best rap show ever was *insert atrocious “hip-hop” group they saw play the quad at whatever mediocre-ass college they went to here* That’s why I only mess with Atmosphere/Jurassic 5/whatever Pitchfork tells me to like”. I want rap shows to hold special places in people’s hearts. We can do it, oh yes we can. I love you all.
Dope article, I hope mugs actually read it…
Well said, I’ll add my rock/rap show experience in here as well.
Sound guys: get your shit together before the show, nothing kills momentum like hearing a mic not work just as the show gets started. That’s why we have soundcheck BEFORE the show. Rock shows rarely have these problems but it seems to happen all the time at rap shows, it’s just a damn vocal mic, takes 5 minutes to set up.
Performers: show some damn solidarity, I’m sick of this “show up, perform, then leave after ur set” mentality. Were all here for the same thing, these other performers who sat through your set, so show some support, nobody in these local shows is bigger than the others, stop acting like it.
Fans: move toward the stage, nothing shows u dont want to be there like sitting in a booth, tapping away on your phones, people work hard to put these on. Put it down, buy a drink, and just have some fun, meet people, u never know who you are going to run into. Your experience is much better when u show your enjoying yourself without acting a fool.
In terms of your soundman comment, being both the performer and sound guy at various rap shows, the problem herein lies in the punctuality of the artists to soundcheck. I notice that at alot of these shows, the artists are hella late to soundcheck, don’t get to do a soundcheck, or just blow it off completely.
LOL, you hit the nail on the head with this one. Atmosphere is dope AF
Rap shows would be so much better if every rapper was accompanied by a live band. I can’t stand DJ’s just blaring instrumental versions. It gets all distorted and the quality is terrible. But the worst is when they blast the original song and emcees have to rap over their already recorded voices. This needs to stop.
Live bands is the way to go. The most hype show I’ve ever been to was Elephant Man with a live band. He had tons of energy, had backup dancers and led the crowd in all kinds of jamaican dances. Most shows have rappers yelling or even lip syncing over full tracks, worthless.
I totally agree, thats why when I host shows, I make sure EVERYONE is enjoying themeselves. from the crowd to the bar staff to the performances.
So I see Ernest hasnt been to a #PHeature show yet. One of the best monthly shows in the Chi. do it every 4th Sunday of the month at Tiger O’Style bar in Berwyn.
here’s some footage from February. March footage comin soon>> http://youtu.be/okEOcg3K1xA
Here it is Sharmon
http://gettothepointtv.blogspot.com/
Here it is Sharmon
http://gettothepointtv.blogspot.com/2012/04/march-pheature-madness.html
GREAT – I LOVE IT – WELL SAID @MCTREEG
Two more big ones to add for artists
– Somebody alluded to this above but didn’t take it far enough – DON’T RAP OVER FULL SONGS. The live band thing doesn’t always work, in truth some rappers just don’t know how to work with a band. But you should be able to rap over your own instrumental. You recorded the damn song didn’t you? Rapping over the full track looks amateurish and sounds like shit. Asthma or fatigue (maybe it’s your second show today) are really the only excuses for this
– Don’t bring everybody you know on stage with you. There is no reason to have 20 of your closest cousins and neighbors and guys who buy weed from you on a stage that can barely hold a 4 piece band. You, your DJ, and maybe a hypeman, backup singers if you got them – and that’s it.
I was just saying how artist need to take notes from Cappadonna. He put on a live show last week. Alot of the “zombies” shoulda been there. lol
start the show on time. Show up on time for your set (I’m looking at you Mikkey Halsted). get interesting people to host the show who have something to say other than ‘goddamn im fucking up’ or ‘there’s alot of pretty ass females in here’. I get that it has to be said to get the crowd into it… but it gets tiring fast.
another good example …#HipHopRules stay tune!
http://youtu.be/bXH0B11hB7Q