Wednesday, June 18, 2003 will go down in history. Sharing the stage with Talib for his one-night only gig at SOB’s were some of hip-hop’s finest, Mos Def, Common, Pharoahe Monch, Kanye West, Skillz, Craig G and more. Kweli started promptly at 11PM (in the words of Ali G, ‘Respect!’) with solo joints like “African Dream.” Soon after, Black Star partner Mos Def jumped up to drop their classics, “Re: Definition,” “Respiration” and “Brown Skin Lady.” Mr. Khalil stepped in for “Fortified Live” from the first Soundbombing CD. Then Talib kicked the first of the night’s many freestyles over a Joe Budden track and Roc-A-Fella Records’ Kanye West came on, giving us a preview of his solo ish, “Jesus Walks” and spitting his verse from Jay-Z’s “The Bounce.”
Though Common missed his cue for “Respiration,” he made up for it with a hot freestyle, and then stayed on stage, playing his position as yet another of Kweli’s heavyweight hypemen. The lone lady of the eve Res joined Talib for “Too Late” and “Where Do We Go,” followed by Pharoahe Monch, who caused chaos with his verse on “Guerrilla Monsoon Rap” and then with his smash “Simon Says.” He also previewed his new single, “Agent Orange” from his forthcoming CD, Innervision. Craig G from Queens and Skillz from Virginia spit freestyles and then it was ’bout time for a Kweli medley: “Good To You,” “Move Somethin’,” “Get By” (which Kanye produced), “The Blast” and “Waitin’ For The DJ.” New York is a notoriously tough crowd, but tonight was an exception, as Talib & co. reminded everyone what they love about hip-hop.
