The first generation of supporters for what was said to be a passing fad flocked into the Scottrade Center Saturday night. Some of their outfits paid tribute to the early days – rope chains, Adidas wind suits with matching “kicks,” bucket Kangol hats, graffiti style airbrushed white sweatshirts or vintage t-shirts celebrating the artists they were coming to see.
Most of the audience had been on board before rap music ultimately changed the landscape of urban and popular music. They stood waiting to celebrate what was once a mostly self-contained phenomenon – a concentration of hardcore supporters and a handful rappers, DJs and hype men with unyielding finesse and obsessive dedication to their craft.
And “The Kings of the Mic” Tour featured artists who in their own right left a lasting impression and paved the way for the immersion of hip-hop into a global empire – even creating a multi-billion dollar industry of its own. They laid the foundation for the thinking and buying patterns that stretch far beyond music and extend to apparel, basketball and the most popular of soft-drinks to bottles of liquor in sales pitches to build brand recognition and influence.
Headlined by LL Cool J, the founding father of the hip-hop heartthrobs, the show featured a healthy representation of diversity within the genre. Feel good positive vibes of De La Soul, the politically charged lyrics and rock star energy of Public Enemy and origins of West Coast gangsta rap courtesy of O.G. Ice Cube were on the agenda.
Hip-hop trio De La Soul was first to take the stage and usher in the energy. Though their list of hits was much shorter than the other acts on the bill, they moved the crowd with hits like “My Buddy and “Me, Myself and I.”
Public Enemy followed the good vibrations of De La Soul with a full band and a fiercely paced set of their signature black power music.
Fans were also pleasantly surprised with a reunion of PE staples Professor Griff and Flavor Flav with main MC Chuck D.
Fist pumps almost instantly ensued as they re-introduced the audience to classic PE by way of “Welcome to the Terror Dome,” “Can’t Trust It,” “Don’t Believe The Hype” and “Shut ‘Em Down.”
Recently reduced to a reality show punch line, Flavor Flav enjoyed restored faith as one of hip-hop’s most animated hypemen as he danced, rapped and surprisingly showcased talent as a rhythm section prodigy in separate solos on the bass and drums.
They presented new material “I Shall Not Be Moved” before ending their set with their “Fight The Power” anthem.
Often thought to be a city that is partial to West Coast hip-hop, the audience exploded as the audio visual effects introduced Ice Cube. Joined by WC, Cube kicked his show off with “Natural Born Killaz.” Although it was an impressive showing, his set list didn’t do justice to his contribution to rap music as he opted for the popular club jams over classic Cube. Although he featured a two-song tribute to NWA, fans were left wanting with respect to music from the early end of his solo career. He instead focused on new school with songs like “We Be Clubbin,” and “You Can Do It (Put Your Back Into It).” “Steady Mobbin,” “Jacking for Beats” and “No Vaseline” were noticeably absent from the performance.
Still undeniably a sex symbol in his mid-forties, LL Cool J emerged from the floor of the stage with the same swag that made him a star in the first place.
In a muscle hugging orange “Kings of the Mic” tee shirt and custom colored orange Yankees hat, LL had the audience eating out of the palm of his hands by the time he made it to the front of the stage and gold plated mic stand that bore his name.
He closed the concert experience with excerpts, features and full selections of nearly 30 songs that spanned as many decades.
LL paid tribute to Notorious B.I.G. and offered homage to those who paved the way for him as he rapped a verse from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “La Di Da Di.”
There was hardly any down time – even as he invited audience members to the stage and serenaded a special lady.
“I’m Bad,” “Doin’ It,” “Phenomenon,” “Going Back To Cali,” “I Can Love You Better,” “Headsprung,” “Hey Lova,” “Big Ole Butt,” “Jingling Baby,” and just about every LL radio hit was infused into the performance.
The only downside was that some of the mixes didn’t give the familiar vibe of their original beats.
He connected with the audience and with the exception of “My Radio” left hardly anything to be desired in his song choices.
LL was indeed the highlight of the night, but each of the other “Kings” epitomized their respective lanes.
The rap stars rose to the occasion – all still appearing to be in their prime – as they represented an age before auto tune and assistance via backing vocals, and reminded us why and how we fell in love with rap and hip-hop in the first place.
