Dave Chapelle is on stage. He is to Talib what Cedric the Entertainer is to Nelly, and Eddie Griffin is to Xzibit: A little comic relief on their rap CDs. Talib Kweli looks like he walked right out of an Ecko ad as he saunters onto the stage at the Bowery Ballroom in lower Manhattan. It’s the night before his solo CD, “Quality” will be released, and Talib is intent on rocking the mostly college-aged crew watching his every move. Kweli is a veteran performer, starting the show on a high note with “Rush,” a new joint.
For the first of his back-to-back shows (the second is tonight, 11/19), all of his peoples came out to show love and support. Bilal crooned the hook on Talib’s first single, “Waitin’ For The DJ,” and then another Philly artist Res joined Kweli on “Where Do We Go.” The night’s highlight: Black Thought of The Roots and Pharoahe Monch ripped “Guerilla Monsoon Rap.” Black Thought got much claps but heads went wild when DJ Chaps dropped the beat to Monch’s “Simon Says.”
Cocoa Brovaz repped for Boot Camp Click on “Gun Music,” and no Talib night would be complete without the BK MC kicking his signature clever lyrics like on “The Proud.” Of course, classics were kicked and the night ended on a sweet note with “Four Women.” But nothing was sweeter than seeing Nas in the crowd, throwing his lighter in the air.
