Anybody who wants to dispute that the talent pool in St. Louis is not on par with any city in the world should have stopped through Red Bull Music’s presentation of The Mind of Jay E Friday night at The Pageant so they could have their argument shut all the way down. Not only did we get a taste of latest project from the super producer who put his sauce all up and through Nelly’s “Country Grammar,” but some of STL’s finest from the hip-hop scene got a chance to flex – both with their familiar hits and the features on Jay E’s “In The City Vol. 1,” which dropped two weeks ago and has some super STL rap heavyweights. Keem, Fresco Kane, The Knuckles, J.R. were just a few of the folks who hit the stage Friday night. Rising rap star Mvstermind got things started. Bay area rap legend E-40 was a special guest, and he gave a whole doggone show up in there. I was so thrilled, because plenty of times the special guests at shows like this tend to only give a sip. I forgot how many hits he had – and how he’s been repping for Oakland’s rap scene for more than 30 years. I thought I was gonna need a hip-replacement after bustin’ a move to “Snap Yo Fingers.” The show went on a lot longer than I expected – like after midnight longer – but it was a great time.
