Madlib’s Space City Invazion

Hip Hop Antidote: Madlib’s Space City Invazion Featuring
J-Rocc of The World Famous Beat Junkies and H.I.S.D.

Words by: Blaze
For the first time EVER, Madlib a.k.a Beat Konducta, and a slew of other pseudonyms, mixed in the H. Known for his wicked productions, and knack for music, this Grammy nominated DJ/Producer/Artist blessed Spaced Out City with classics, and the illest throwbacks and exclusives that the city has probably heard-ever.

The Venue: #’s (Numbers)-

From the start, I could tell this had all the makings of a great show. The line is wrapped around the side of the building, and off top I made a instinctive judgement call that I was gonna fade all that and slide straight to the front.

Steadily the crowd spewed into the building. The diversity was as varied as the animals of Noah’s arc—every flavor was present.

A B-Boy circle breaks out amongst the crowd where members from Assorted Flavors Dance Crew showcase their skills, and as it goes, no night is complete without the spastic dancing of a white boy or girl.

Crunk and Disorderly: On with the Show!!

As the time on the clock ticks away, the crowd becomes a little bit ansy, after all they came to see a show. Hosted by B-Boy Craig, the show begins with H.I.S.D. (Hueston Independent Spit District), the local rap quartet whose The District LP garnered props from the city’s former Mayor Bill White. After a solid six, just like Bill, they were outta there.

Next up, J-Rocc of The World Famous Beat Junkies, a group which also consists of DJ Babu (Dilated Peoples) and Rhettmatic. His set was like Hip Hop trivia, although there were songs that were instantly familiar, some were beyond my repertoire, and had me both excited and frustrated at the same time.

After 10 minutes I heard someone yell, ‘I love J-Rocc, but I want to see Madlib!’
J-Rocc did his thing on stage setting the tempo, but the Beat Konducta arrived on stage prepared and, clearly ready to execute and orchestrate the ensemble of devoted fans.

Konducta? Spell It!

To be a conductor you must first have an understanding of the basic elements of musical expression such as tempo, dynamics, articulation and the ability to communicate them effectively. Also, the ability to communicate subtleties of phrasing and expression through gesture is also beneficial.

Madlib moved like a thief in the night… like a crate robber, running through joints like Pre-Badu Common and Q-Tip, he played it all, but more important than which emcee he played, were the lyrical contexts. Speaking into the mic only to instigate, emphasis, and fill the blanks the music left wide, Madlib effectively mastered the art of dissin’ and shit talking through music, a skill which solidifies greatness.

There’s no better feeling than being a legend’s ‘first’ because they’ll undoubtedly give it to you, hard, raw, and uncensored as if it were their last. Unless, that legend is a DJ—a DJ who’s spinning a genre that has undergone major plastic surgery and has lost its soul, then the only feeling greater is being a True Hip Hop head, but as long as Madlib, J-Rocc, and artists like them breathe and breed, through their influences Hip Hop’s purity will be preserved and forever live!