New Year’s Eve in the hip-hop underground
By Toriano L. Porter
For the St. Louis American
It’s shortly before 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and hip-hop artist Nite Owl is prepping for that night’s live performance at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room. The Select Records recording artist is calm at sound check, joking around with members of opening acts 40 Til’ Five and Fu Fups.
Inside, the former college football star, born LaMore Kenton Maclin – with years of athletic competition at Ladue High, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Missouri Southern and Central Missouri State Universities – is burning. He wants the night to go flawlessly.
Other members of Team Nitro – band members, backup singers, a deejay, guest-star emcees, PR and marketing reps – arrive between 6 and 6:30 p.m. “We’re trying to put on a good show, and we don’t have time for no b.s. tonight,” Nite Owl says.
Almost on cue, Nitro’s tour deejay, DJ K-Nine, is summoned for an emergency family matter that will render his time and skills on the Ones and Twos useless tonight. “Ain’t nothing about to stop me from doing what I came here to do,” Nite Owl says.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. a cooler-than-ice white rapper named Dugholes opens the show. After Dugholes’ set, which included a hilarious “f*** John Mayer” reference, the Fu Fups trio hit the stage. Their soulful sex-themed tunes play well to the slithering, drunken crowd.
Nite Owl returns from a quick trip home (wardrobe change) just before underground rap legend Jai Davis and his 4 Sale But Not 4 Sale crew go on, and that hard-nosed competitive streak is alive and well. He looks at the gig like one of those old Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football games back at MSSU and CMSU.
Jai Davis and crew are not an easy act to follow. After Davis’ sister and Committee member Toyy wraps up the 4 Sale But Not 4 Sale set with a stirring performance, Nite Owl and Team Nitro are primed. Just before midnight, the collective – backup singer Isis M. Jones, rappers Bee and Lyfestile of Plan B and Altered St8’s of Consciousness, band members David A.N. Jackson (percussion), Byron Hayes (drums), C-Flow (lead guitar) and Jesse James (keyboard) – huddle. DJ Trog of 4 Sale will stand in for K-Nine, Nite Owl tells them. A celebratory champagne toast from the entire crowd precedes Team Nitro’s appearance, ushering in a new year.
Following the lead of the band, Nite Owl breaks into master-of-ceremonies mode, dictating pace and crowd participation. He uses a bevy of chants (“the roof’s on fire,” “party of here, bump them over there”) and classic bars to engage the crowd. Isis Jones’ background vocals are on point, Bee is masterful, Lyfestile shows his hip-hop grace and the four-piece band jams.
“Ya’ll have a safe and Happy New Year,” Nite Owl says, “and be sure to comp my latest album Now You Can Boo Me.”
Nite Owl mills about shortly after the Duck Room’s crowd has dispersed, signing CDs and tee-shirts, collecting performance fees, dispensing said fees to band members, and politicking for future appearances at Blueberry Hill. It’s shortly after 1:30 a.m., and the night is still young. Isis Jones wants to know where he’s headed. Before long, the crew is out the back door headed their separate ways. Nite Owl calls every member of Team Nitro on his mobile phone to express his gratitude.
“Man, we killed it tonight,” Nite Owl says. “But, it don’t stop now. The year is just getting started.”