I can’t believe I’m listening to Hip-Hop. Every day? Hip-Hop, the braggadocios art form of the street has pulled me back to my twenties and I ain’t mad. The culprits for my re-wind is Rebels Music Empire (R.ME). Heard their “Ric Flair” track before 2010 was ushered in and was hooked on this party thumper. Can we get it on? Yes! It was on repeat for a long hot minute while exclaiming my love of the track to the guys: Steph L.V., Real, Rashid Amir, and X Maximus.
Photo Credit: The Jebari Bates Collection
Here comes the New Year and the album “Still Untitled ‘Til This Day” is released. Based on my love for the “Ric Flair” track, bought it. $5. Um. Really? Great! (I would have paid more) Being “stuck” I listened to my love over and over and danced my fool head off, by my damn self, at home, frequently and loudly. Then came the video. Why can’t I shake this “she’s gotta have it” feeling? The video is pure Brooklyn love. Rep-re-sent!
When R.ME performed at the Delancey on the Lower East side on the last Thursday of January I went and was thrilled that they had a great stage presence. Reminded me of a Hip-Hop version of New Edition because of the musicality and charm: each man with a distinctive style. R.Me was in full effect and had an army of talent with them. For their set, R.ME injected a gradient energy by inviting additional MC’s to the stage. The crescendo was a full-fledged rock show, mosh-pit and all when the notable Warren S. Britt hit. Oh.My.God. flashback to ONYX and then some. Sick.
I was taking a trip back in the mid 80’s & 90’s when I was enjoying Hip-Hop. Sweat dripping from the frenzy of good freaking MUSIC. Young griots! “Africa” is exceptional by the way. OooWee, ya’ll got me sweating and swaying on a week day like, back in the day, when I was young, I’m not a kid any more, there’s some days I sit and wish I was a kid again, and I remember when…
It took another long minute to fully appreciate the work R.ME put in as it was at the next live show (I swear I am NOT a groupie) at Littlefield’s in Brooklyn I realized I knew the hook to “Carrie Fever”. Dees boys are slick with this Sex in the City instructional for wooing.
Photo Credit: R.ME Promo Collection
But then R.ME threw me into a chaotic, shocked and pissed moment with the %*ck in your face line on “Hypnosis” BUT phew it’s the stage positioning thing between us/the audience and them/R.ME, ROFL, slickasses. I am determined to NOT return to the time where I had to shake off my love for the bounce in that infamous Akinyele track. Ugh. I am a lady you know. It’s that guitar lick..India Arie uses it too…think it’s in “Video”.
So basically I am not easily unnerved by bawdy and braggadocios because to be re-intoxicated by good, quality, lyrical content, flow and MUSIC …AND to be able to re-engage my neck snap, without skipping one single solitary track (ok maybe the skit was skipped) on an hour + of music on a new CD is a blessing. Seeing musicianship live is THE bonus.
Photo Credit: The Jebari Bates Collection
It’s July now. Since April, I‘ve retired “Ric Flair” for “Oxygen” and then re-start the CD back to the “BBQ” to a familiar 70’s basschickawangwangbasshorn groove on “Back to Business” only to get stuck in the middle of the cd/ipod from the “Gritty Rhyme Syndrome” back to “Oxygen”… all I can do now is breathe a sigh of relief that my love for the art form isn’t dead and that I don’t have hold the re-wind button on my tape deck.
R.ME! Unu “Follow Da Leader” and “Run Dem” Flatbush!
In my mind, R.Me would have done well at the lyricists lounge back in the day, when it was in the then grungy meat packing district. Yeh grungy!
Thanks Guys, for another Love in Chaos episode without even one single solitary mention of the N-word. Refreshing. *reaching for the Alleve*.
Photo: R.ME album cover
If you’re interested in hearing what I’m feeling¸ check out, http://www.rebelsmusicempire.com.
