I’m admittedly not a huge fan of gangster rap. It doesn’t often find its way onto my iTunes rotation, and there aren’t many situations where I find I need hardcore hip-hop as my background music. Hip-hop live shows are also touch and go for me. The bad ones are usually really, really bad- canned tracks, listless emcees. However, there is nothing like a really good hip-hop show–the crowd, the energy, the all-out chaos that ensues. And last Friday’s Swollen Members show was the best hip-hop show I’ve seen in years.
These cats killed it. Swollen has been on the scene for over a decade and their experience was obvious. These Canadian veterans know exactly how to put on a show and they brought their best to the Domino Room. Playing to a packed house, Mad, Prevail and Rob cycled through all the old-school stuff everyone was waiting for as well as a bunch of new tracks that brought down the house. When their new single, “Warrior,” started up, the crowd went insane. Their new album, Armed to the Teeth, is solid, but nothing compares to hearing the live show.
The highlight of the night was when Mad asked the crowd, “Do you want to hear Prevail freestyle?” Then Prevail, the stoic, father figure of the group, went nuts on the mike, spitting sick rhymes for minutes on end. After the show, when the smoke cleared, I realized that these kings of the underground hip-hop scene are straight-up pros. Consider me a fan.
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2009.
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A person must be brain dead to like hip-hop music. Also, it’s a bit lame to use a jazz term such as “These cats killed it” for hip hop anti-life, anti-cop, gang-banging music.
Actually Winston, you don’t have to be brain dead to like hip hop music. Infact, I think you need to be brain dead to listen to a lot of other music becasue they have no lyrics or meaning, its all guitar riffs and whatever sounds good over them. You are right that a lot of hip hop you would find on the radio is bullshit. I agree completely. But I bet your favorite non hip hop groups aren’t often found played on repeat on the radio. You just need to know what to look for. Swollen members is an amazing group. So down with your narrowminded ignorance. Glad you liked the show sara! @thisisfat
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I aggree it really takes a certain element to pull off a live rap show.I have payed near and even twenty dollars! To see bad lip syncing,poor speakers,empty rooms and the fun of waiting all nite for the headliner to come on for five minutes.I would say its like one in five hip hop shows really get my head bobbin and it really looks like that is happening in this photo.I like your article Sara I didn’t make it to swollen’s show but, its good to hear that crowds are still packin it in local venues.
Yea, being an older lad I’m not much into hip hop. When I heard these guys via my nephew, I was an instant fan. Great to ski to and talented lyrics. Missed to show but love ’em. p.s. the only hip hop / rap you’ll find on my ipod.