North Carolina’s own Little Brother opened SOB’s Tuesday night hip-hop fest. Boasting four mics from The Source and the hip-hop quotable in the May issue (member Phonte’s verse from “The Yo Yo”), the threesome, whose album sales are steadily increasing, got the job done. By the end of their set, songs from their debut The Listening, the packed crowd was bopping. Quannum Projects’ Lifesavas were up next. Jumbo the Garbage Man and Vursatyl continued in the spirit of Little Brother, spitting raw, conscious lyrics over funk and jazz-fueled beats. Lifesavas will be back at SOB’s on May 21 with Zion-I, Lyrics Born and Odd Jobs.
The headliners, Blackalicious, another Quannum Projects group, managed to rock the crowd minus Gift of Gab. Chief Xcel explained his man suffered complications with diabetes and went blind temporarily. A recent laser surgery operation gave him his sight back but Gabby T was laying low for awhile. Fortunately, the audience and another Blackalicious affiliate were able to fill in the rap gaps.
Across town, Rawkus Records’ first R&B artist Novel was putting in work on stage with his Prince-like delivery at the late night Eclectic Ride party at Joe’s Pub. His debut The Word hits street this July. Star from NYC’s Hot 97 morning show interviewed him Wednesday morning, hailing him that “next n***a.” Novel will be at SOB’s tonight (Friday, May 2).
For more Quannum Projects tour dates, check www.quannum.com. For SOB’s show info, log onto www.sobs.com.
