198: Rick Ross Self Made 3 at Gramercy Theatre

Tuesday on September seventeenth, Rick Ross and the MMG collective released a collaboration album "Self Made 3". He decided to have three concerts, one for Wale on the "What Dreams May Come" tour, another for Meek Mill an hour later, then Rick Ross forty five minutes later. All concerts are streamed live upon their site MMG.tv. I get a pair of tickets from LowKey of YouHeardThatNew music blog. I get there and the tickets are there like said. I had my doubts because I have had people say they were giving tickets and then flake before. The doors were at seven, I get there around a little after eight or so. I had to run some errands and eat some food and such before arriving here. Ross's entry began about ten or so. DJ Magic warmed the crowd up for two hours and then Funkmaster Flex woke the crowd up from slumber with a cute cut-up style that he usually does for a half hour or so. Ross comes on stage with backup by Old Slab and a full band.

He did a variety of songs from past and present tracks and tracks without the feature artists there due to obligations. His guests he brought with him were Stalley, Rockie Fresh, and some of the smaller MMG artists. Below is the set list of what he performed. The show was great until the fight during the last track in Ross's set.

No Games

BMF

Fuckwithmeyouknowigotit

Everyday I'm Hustlin'

John

Pop That

Gallardo

I'm On One

Aston Martin Music

Diced Pineapples

I'm A Boss

Box Chevy

Bugatti

Stay Schemin

Stack On My Belt

Stalley A-Wax

Rockie Fresh What Ya Used To

MMG smaller artists Bout That Life

Cha wak cwentab'a

197: Schoolboy Q #UNCAPPED at Eyebeam Art Gallery

So Fader Magazine and Vitamin Water continue their monthly intimate concert series with Top Dawg Entertainment veteran Schoolboy Q while also introducing the First Lady of TDE, newbie Sza.   This was Sza's first large performance.

After congregating at west twenty third street and eighth avenue, the mob made the short trek to twenty first and twelfth to the Eyebeam Art Gallery. So we have been to a laundromat, a car garage, a bank, and a person's empty house; now we are in an art gallery. I'm waiting on when they throw concert on an empty train car or even the Highline! 

We arrive to the place around quarter to eight or so and are immediately treated to Guest DJ Green Lantern throwing down an electronic rap set warming up the crowd and allowing the set technicians to also  double check all the equipment. 

Miss Info started her host responsibilities at half past eight in the dot. Backed by DJ And Keviard support, Sza began. He started off with two tracks and told a tidbit of her starts in between the tracks. After the first two, a highlight was "You drop one or two tracks; people go Who are you?"  After performing with TDE and company. She performed Teen Spirit for her third track, while Julia and Ice Moon for the first two I think.

Q popped up on stage with a asymmetric zip up Balmain hoody and damaged biker pants with some Visvim FBT Folk Amdo

Q went through about 7 tracks before having Kendrick Lamar assist on Collard Greens and then go into his own Maad City. Q closes with Yay Yay.

Q Set List

Bet I Got Some Weed

Nightmare On Figg St

My Hating Joint

Blessed

Sexting

There He Go

Hands On The Wheel

Collard Greens

Kendrick Lamar Maad city

Yay Yay

After a set up intermission, Miss Info interviews Q and Sza shortly. The topics ranged from family, to character, to his new album Oxymoron.

When asked about his album's feel, Q responded, "Old hiphop feeling back from LA. Snoop doggy style"

About meeting different kinds of people and such in the industry, "Weed put everyone together".

Sza was shortly questioned as well. How does it feel being in TDE or so? Her replies were, "Theres a Lotta observing, soaking up everything quietly" in relation to TDE slang and vernacular in the studio and while working. In relation to what concept she has absorbed so far is "Skill outweighs talent. Be a complete artist." This is in regards to things such as consistency and putting in effort. You can have great talent, but without that work ethic it is nothing.

Auf Wiederhören

196: Pusha T's My Name Is My Name Listening at Industria SuperStudio

This was on 9/11. It was a somber date to begin. In the evening Pusha T hosted his My Name Is My Name listening party catered by Red Bulls, Hennessy, Don Julio, among other various beverages. The gallery space contained the four alternative album covers in big tarps place along the venue with a few fluorescent bulb beam pillars which eventually flashed with his presentation. My name did not work, neither did my contact whom referred me to this. I got in though via other ways. I do not drink, so I took indulgence with the Red Bull, downing two, resulting in me still writing this. I got a few photos and light videos of the listening. I did not try too hard on the photos, nor the videos, for fear of the usual  Cease and Desist stops on the videos. Kanye made an appearance to give approval and steal the show slightly from Push. People were more attentive to him than the event. Fabolous, Elliot Wilson, one of the Rosenthals, Miss Info, Kaws, Sway, Virgil Abloh, Curtains, ASAP Illz, Ferris Bueller, and Brock Marciano were all in the house to attend. The event was missing 2 Chainz and Pharrell who were turned away by security. I don't know why. *shrug+scratches head* 

The album tracks, from what was played was a very heavy first half of about 6 songs or so, then the second half was a lighter and softer tracks. This is from what I remember/recollect.

Enjoy the recap below

Na ave shilwapo nawa

195: En Noir SS14 "Coal Wasteland" at Milk Studios

I caught En Noir FW13 earlier in the year at the last fashion week show in New York at Milk Studios, I decided to catch it again. The list to get in was a shit show, apparently Milk losing the guest list, and the intern for the brand having to go grab people directly from downstairs. I bypassed this luckily by being lucky, as usual. The venue was much larger than last. Last venue was in a half studio with barely any space. This new space was much larger with set design by Daniel Arsham and Snarkitecture apparently with a black foam volcano and multiple projector setup. There were cirque de soleil contortionists who went around the models while Willy Cartier was posted on the top peak and original music by Stelios Phili. Congrats to Rob, Jay, Curtains, and the rest of the En Noir crew for another well presented collection.

De ballen