For a genre regularly associated with misogyny, there was a decidedly respectful approach to love and life on display during the hip-hop heavy Okayplayer Tour Monday at the House of Blues, the first of a three-night stand at the venue.
Named after The Roots’ Web site, the three-hour concert featured a number of hip-hop’s more progressive acts, ones that focus on self-empowerment, family and education. The artists rotated on and off stage during the concert, providing a seamless set that flowed smoothly from one act to the next.
Just over an hour into the show, the R&B duo jazzyfatnastees shunned the lustful longing that accompanies the work of many contemporary soul artists, instead singing about the joy that comes from an innocent crush on “Something in the Way,” a cut, they announced, from their forthcoming album.
The Los Angeles-based duo of Tracey and Mercedes brought a regalness to the stage, as their soothing yet powerful voices and stately outfits made them seem like vocal queens.
Hard-core hip-hoppers dead prez, whose “lets get free” album is one of the best hip-hop releases of the year, continued the good-natured vibe by extolling the virtues of having a spiritual relationship, or “mind sex,” before proceeding to physical intimacy.
The New-York based duo of M-1 and Stic.man quickly ditched their romantic urges, however, by launching into a song titled “`they’ schools,” a condemnation of America’s educational system.
A screen to the left of the stage flashed photos of Malcolm X and classrooms full of students while dead prez attacked what they see as America’s educational shortcomings. Urging the audience to “teach yourself,” dead prez borrowed a page from Pink Floyd, proclaiming “We don’t need your education.”
After explaining the value of eating a healthy diet on “be healthy,” dead prez surrendered the stage to Black Thought, The Roots’ main rapper. The Philadelphian rapped convincingly about overcoming vices on the pounding “Water,” a cut from his forthcoming debut solo album.
Of the lesser-known acts, Newark, N.J., rapper Flow Brown made the most lasting mark. She transformed Brand Nubian’s cautionary “Slow Down” into a chest-thumping exercise that accentuated her lyrical prowess as well as her strong delivery.
Political pair Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek, light-hearted crew Slum Village, the free-flowing Bahamadia, singer Jaguar and human percussionist Scratch each delivered enjoyable, albeit brief, stints on stage.
The only shortcoming of the event was the sound, which was muffled enough at times to have left anyone unfamiliar with the material struggling to decipher the lyrics.
Each of the acts was backed by The Roots’ musicians, keyboardist Kamal, drummer Ahmir ” estlove” Thompson and bassist Leonard “Hub” Hubbard, throughout the concert. But, even with Black Thought serving as somewhat of the host for the event, there was surprisingly little of The Roots themselves; Black Thought merely performed in brief spurts during the three-hours.
In fact, it was dead prez who closed the show with a frenzied performance of “hip-hop.” All of the evening’s performers joined M-1 and Stic on stage for the grand finale, making for a deservedly celebratory curtain call for a concert that generated and thrived on unity.
