On Nov. 7 at The Blue Note, New York rap legend Talib Kweli performed to a packed crowd while platforming multiple local rappers in the process.
Kweli, although not a big name in popular music, is a legend in the New York and conscious rap scenes. Kweli got his start in the ‘90s with albums like “Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star” and “Train Of Thought.” Both pieces of work were foundational albums for conscious rap, not only innovating in the genre but also popularizing it.
The Blue Note’s doors opened at 7 p.m. with the audience slowly flowing in throughout the night. When initially walking in, the blue lights that lit up the stage and the dance floor gave the venue a mellow atmosphere.
At 7:30 p.m., DJ Requiem started mixing it up before the first act came on. Requiem’s song selections and transitions were smooth and satisfying to listen to. One of his best transitions was when he used a calmer part in the hype “Blow The Whistle” by Too $hort to seamlessly transition into the mellow “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest.
With the energy high in the venue, St. Louis rapper Reaceyung started performing, and his delivery was on point. Raeceyung’s stage presence demanded attention and put some pep in the crowd’s step before the main event. The highlight of his performance was his delivery of “Endeavors.” The artist’s passionate rapping about how much hip-hop means to him radiated through the crowd.
After Reaceyung’s very raw performance, Columbia-native rapper Damoe Donjuan came out. Donjuan had a more playful style of rapping than Raeceyung as he moved around energetically and incorporated call and response during his time on stage. Although it was difficult to understand him at some points, his smooth flow and charisma made up for it.
Shortly after Donjuan’s performance, DJ Chino Chase played lively old school hip-hop music to keep the anticipation in the room as Kweli’s time to come out neared. The crowd moved in closer to the main floor, and the front of the house quickly started overflowing.
At 9:20 p.m., Kweli came out, and the cheers in the venue reached higher levels than before. The way his booming voice and articulate rapping started his performance shifted the air and let the crowd know that he is a legend. Kweli opened with a song from his previous group, Reflection Eternal, where he worked with producer Hi-Tek. Kweli commanded his presence in the way he rapped with a confrontational but sincere energy, which was multiplied when he brought out St. Louis rapper Tef Poe.
Tef Poe only performed two songs, but his passionate energy was felt throughout the venue. As Kweli bounced off his rapping, the audience was exposed to pure hip-hop. Tef Poe raised the house and made an already high-energy crowd more excited. Kweli’s assertive MCing and conversational delivery continued to control the crowd.
After that standout moment, Kweli switched it up and told the lighting technician to turn the lights red and had the DJ play reggae music. It was a reverse in tone and vibe, but his interaction with the audience calmed everybody down and kept the energy in the venue high.
Whether it was him rapping his song “K.O.S.” on top of A Tribe Called Quest’s “Check The Rhime” beat, or letting the crowd finish the chorus to songs like “Definition” and “RE: Definition” while shouting out Missouri, Kweli made The Blue Note feel like an old school New York hip hop concert. And that’s what makes Kweli’s concerts special. They brim with creativity, show a love for hip-hop and raise up artists within the community.
