In 1995, Andre 3000 was booed off stage at the Source Awards after he boldly proclaimed, “the South got something to say.” He and fellow OutKast member Big Boi took home “Best New Rap Group” honors, but they were outsiders in a field dominated by East Coast and West Coast artists.
A decade later, an emerging Atlanta rap artist named Young Jeezy dropped his commercial debut, “Let’s Get It: TM (Thug Motivation) 101.” With the release, he further solidified the fulfillment of Three Stacks’ prophecy with a culture shifting album that brought the subgenre of trap music to the mainstream.
Jeezy is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking release by shifting the culture yet again through his commemorative tour. St. Louis was one of the lucky select cities to make the cut and “TM 101” 20 made for an epic moment Friday night (August 8) at Stifel Theatre. Jeezy dressed up the album with the accompaniment of a live orchestra and encouraged his fans to put their “good clothes” on. All parties involved understood the assignment.
A play on the hook from one of Jeezy’s most beloved trap music classics best described the night. We put on for our city.
Thanks to Jeezy and his Color of Noize Orchestra – which included orchestral musicians and a traditional live band – a time was had Friday night. And that time began before a single note was played or verse was rapped.
Drivers in both directions along Market Street slowed down when they came towards the venue to see what all the fuss was about. A few thousand hip hop lovers made their way in the building in tuxedos and evening gowns. It was as if they were attending an opera or a night at the symphony during “The Gilded Age” – except for the fact that nearly all the faces of these patrons were Black.
The moment demonstrated the evolution of hip hop – and hip hop lovers. Oversized t-shirts, fitted snapbacks and freakum dresses worn during the era of the album’s release gave way to glamorous grown and sexy attire. Among the best in show were hair maven Tiffany J’s chartreuse jumpsuit, a stunning white wide-leg tuxedo with black trim worn by Dr. LaTonia Collins-Smith, a shape shifting floor-length black gown with black and white ombre fringe worn by Louise Thomas of Epiphany Boutique and the elegant all-black ensemble from Christopher Stevens Salon owner Steve Lacy.
The man of the hour also deserved a best-dressed nod for his impeccably tailored black tux with a red carnation on the lapel.
“We gonna sweat these tuxedos out, I promise you that [expletive],” Jeezy told the crowd. He kept his promise.
The show opened with the orchestra playing alongside a recording of the rugged, passionate baritone vocals of Teddy Pendergrass on the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes classic, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.”
A slideshow of photos from various periods in Jeezy’s career flashed across the screen before he emerged on stage to “Standing Ovation.” An actual standing ovation followed from the sold-out crowd as he powered through tracks from his career-defining Def Jam debut.
“We got any day one’s in the building St. Louis?” Jeezy asked the crowd. They answered with an eruption. “We gon’ have some fun tonight,” he said.
He kept that promise, too.
The show wasn’t long, but it was a great jaunt down trap music’s memory lane by the artist who helped it kick the door in with respect to its footprint on popular culture. St. Louis had a hand in his global success thanks to the second single from “TM 101.” St. Louis-born Akon produced the track – and sang the hook.
The crowd exploded again when Akon’s voice signified the beginning of the track, “Akon and Young Jeezy…time to take it easy…” They rapped every word of every verse and sang every lyric – as they did for most of the songs in the “TM 101” portion of the show. Jeezy could have put the microphone down and directed the audience like they were a choir – in the same manner that the conductor helmed the orchestra. “My Hood,” “Let’s Get It/Sky’s the Limit,” and “Gangsta Music” were amongst the liveliest.
“St. Louis, I [expletive] wit y’all for real,” Jeezy told the crowd. “Do y’all know how many times I been to this [expletive]?”
About twenty years – and he’s played on stages from amphitheaters to East St. Louis nightclubs. Friday night showed how the artist, who now simply goes by Jeezy, and his audience have grown up. And did so without losing any grit.
A DJ break allowed Jeezy to change out of his sweaty tux. He reappeared on stage wearing a black t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. DJ Drama relieved the band and orchestra of their duties for the second half of the show, which featured some of his biggest hits from subsequent albums and features – including “Lose My Mind,” “Super freak,” and “Put On.”
“Y’all know I couldn’t leave St. Louis without giving y’all some [expletive] thug motivation, because that’s what the [expletive] I do,” Jeezy said as he bid the crowd farewell. “When y’all leave up outta here and look up at the stars, just know that the sky is the [expletive] limit.”
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
