TECH N9NENov. 7 at the Beaumont
Club |
Although it was a smoke-filled room, there wasn’t much chatter about election results Tuesday night at the Beaumont Club.
About 1,000 patrons were there to celebrate a different kind of victory: the release of best-selling Kansas City hip-hop figure Tech N9ne’s new album, “Everready.”
Security was exceedingly tight, and the police maintained a heavy presence outside the Beaumont’s entrance. The crowd inside, however, was united by a shared love of Tech N9ne. The main offense committed by the steady stream of fans escorted from the club by the security staff seemed to be overt displays of over-exuberance. In the words of Tech N9ne, some people got a little too hyphy.
The first order of business was getting over the shock of seeing Tech N9ne without his trademark red hair. His elaborate face paint and modified Nation of Islam red tie and white formal shirt, which his crew also wore, compensated for the visual alteration.
Tech N9ne’s well-paced 75-minute set affirmed the depth of his catalog. “Slacker,” from 2004’s “Absolute Power,” was met with rapturous enthusiasm. The audience’s involvement peaked with “It’s Alive” from the 2001 release “Anghellic.” The confessional “This Ring” was the evening’s dramatic highlight.
The fanatically loyal audience thrilled to each song. Even so, live hip-hop performances often suffer in comparison to studio recordings. Despite his commanding stage presence, Tech N9ne’s show Tuesday was no exception. The nuance and elaborate soundscapes of his albums were drowned in a relentless bass thump. “Bout Ta Bubble,” the most accessible song on “Everready,” should have torn the roof off the Beaumont. Instead, it fell flat. Whether intentionally or not, the track was stripped down to beat and vocals.
Tech N9ne and his crew were accompanied only by a DJ. The humorous vocals and amusing raps of Big Krizz Kaliko, Tech N9ne’s fantastic foil, balanced Tech’s intensity.
Brotha Lynch Hung, the notorious rapper from Sacramento, Calif., joined Tech N9ne to reprise his “Everready” appearance on “My World.” His machine gun-style delivery rivaled Tech N9ne’s impressive speed.
While thanking those in attendance, Tech N9ne said, “You’re the reason I can put my kids in the best shoes and in the best schools.” The performance ended with a celebratory reading of “I’m a Playa,” as Tech N9ne was surrounded on the stage by his family and friends.
Unfortunately, Tech N9ne’s unique vision does not extend to his ability to sign talent. All three of Tuesday’s opening acts are scheduled to release albums on Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label in 2007. Kutt Calhoun and Skatterman delivered tedious sets of predictable gangsta rap. Critical Bill, a Detroit-based rock-rap act, also was devoid of originality but managed to win the crowd over with its sheer energy.
Club |
Although it was a smoke-filled room, there wasn’t much chatter about election results Tuesday night at the Beaumont Club.
About 1,000 patrons were there to celebrate a different kind of victory: the release of best-selling Kansas City hip-hop figure Tech N9ne’s new album, “Everready.”
Security was exceedingly tight, and the police maintained a heavy presence outside the Beaumont’s entrance. The crowd inside, however, was united by a shared love of Tech N9ne. The main offense committed by the steady stream of fans escorted from the club by the security staff seemed to be overt displays of over-exuberance. In the words of Tech N9ne, some people got a little too hyphy.
The first order of business was getting over the shock of seeing Tech N9ne without his trademark red hair. His elaborate face paint and modified Nation of Islam red tie and white formal shirt, which his crew also wore, compensated for the visual alteration.
Tech N9ne’s well-paced 75-minute set affirmed the depth of his catalog. “Slacker,” from 2004’s “Absolute Power,” was met with rapturous enthusiasm. The audience’s involvement peaked with “It’s Alive” from the 2001 release “Anghellic.” The confessional “This Ring” was the evening’s dramatic highlight.
The fanatically loyal audience thrilled to each song. Even so, live hip-hop performances often suffer in comparison to studio recordings. Despite his commanding stage presence, Tech N9ne’s show Tuesday was no exception. The nuance and elaborate soundscapes of his albums were drowned in a relentless bass thump. “Bout Ta Bubble,” the most accessible song on “Everready,” should have torn the roof off the Beaumont. Instead, it fell flat. Whether intentionally or not, the track was stripped down to beat and vocals.
Tech N9ne and his crew were accompanied only by a DJ. The humorous vocals and amusing raps of Big Krizz Kaliko, Tech N9ne’s fantastic foil, balanced Tech’s intensity.
Brotha Lynch Hung, the notorious rapper from Sacramento, Calif., joined Tech N9ne to reprise his “Everready” appearance on “My World.” His machine gun-style delivery rivaled Tech N9ne’s impressive speed.
While thanking those in attendance, Tech N9ne said, “You’re the reason I can put my kids in the best shoes and in the best schools.” The performance ended with a celebratory reading of “I’m a Playa,” as Tech N9ne was surrounded on the stage by his family and friends.
Unfortunately, Tech N9ne’s unique vision does not extend to his ability to sign talent. All three of Tuesday’s opening acts are scheduled to release albums on Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label in 2007. Kutt Calhoun and Skatterman delivered tedious sets of predictable gangsta rap. Critical Bill, a Detroit-based rock-rap act, also was devoid of originality but managed to win the crowd over with its sheer energy.
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