The festival was great again this year; the performances were energetic and inspired, and there were no knuckleheads there to mess it up for everybody (except for the one dude that got yoked up by security -- props to them for their rapid response time). As usual, there were tons of great surprise appearances from the likes of Jeru, Keith Murray, Brotha J of X-Clan, Crazy Legs from the Rock Steady Crew, and a few others.
For next year, I really hope they get the microphones right, though. The sound did keep cutting out, and the Blastmaster was not happy.
Here's a list of observations, notes, etc.:
* I hadn't heard of many of the artists, but good music is good music. Shout to
Homeboy Sandman for putting it down.
* Concerts are kind of annoying to go to these days, because nobody really watches the show -- they're more interested in trying to get the best photo or video footage possible, so they can run home and post it on Flickr/Myspace/Facebook. Even the press photographers/cameramen are annoying and don't even try to be inconspicuous.
* KRS-ONE freestyles like most people talk, or breathe. It's effortless to him.
*
Marty Markowitz' reference to KRS-ONE as "KR so one" was awesome.
* KRS-ONE's take on voting -- that is, that you shouldn't vote just because you're told to, and that not voting is also a vote, is pretty interesting, and he makes a convincing argument. That said, if I were a citizen, I'd definitely vote. Oh - and I don't know if I see the point of bringing up Barack Obama's
ancestral links to Dick Cheney. Shit, I'm probably related to Dick Cheney, if you go back far enough.
* There was a really annoying chick perched up on the barricade, obstructing everyone's view of the stage. Well, everyone in my immediate vicinity, that is. Jeru saved the day when he strolled by, and the star-struck trollop that she is, she jumped down for a brief pole-jocking session. Moments later, I saw the Damaja mouthing the words "give me your phone number." Blackberries came out, digits were traded, and it was a wrap.
* Saw quite a few high-top fades, complete with dyed stripes, á la Kwame (...and them fuckin' polka dots). I guess what's old is new.
* Poor JS-1. KRS kept embarrassing him when he couldn't get the beats right.
Great night, all in all. My goal is to get a press pass somehow, and gain some legitimacy by the time next year's concert comes around.
