by Nick Kulyoom Alatool

With an all star cast in one small little venue, what other excuse do you have for missing the biggest Hip Hop explosion to ever happen at San Diego Music Foundation’s North Park Music Thing? There is none. If there was one event that was an unexpected summer sleeper was the big show that led all the way to tonight’s evening smash top biller, Deep Rooted.

I actually arrived on the final two acts of Concrete Project. My apologies for missing out on any show performance prior, but even the Friday night excitement can be cooled by same ol’ traffic congestion from Southbound I-5. Nonetheless, Concrete Project was keeping a crowded room in Kadan’s dark corner busy with high energy and live band performance with their own deejay, percussion and keyboard.

Vision Complex made the best with some technical fade, but still held true to her original “Street Sweeper”.  On her last two sets, she let her stage partner, Joey Dixon,  finish off with his noteworthy solo, “Thank Me!”

Of course, San Diego wouldn’t be properly represented without the Armory Massive signature, but the marquee could have been better headlined San Diego’s OG duo, Tony Mansini, and partner,Tarantino (aka TNT). Their music showcase was clean, beat heavy and business, with no technical complaint.

But the group that stole the show, was Deep Rooted, who rolled in with dancing entourage and promised only two tracks. But their performance was anything but a cameo visit, killing the stage, dance floor, and crowd with unanimous concert quality showmanship. The photos should tell it all.

More review to come once Nick clears the spell check.

Thank you, NPMT, for blowing up my ear drums.

Original post: http://www.starintheskyphotography.com/?p=4187

Much respect to Nick Kulyoom Alatool for dropping this well written article on the Hip Hop aspect of the North Park Music Thing. Also a special shout out to all the acts we performed alongside with that night. Good times indeedy deed!!

Best Hip Hop
12 Gauge Shotie
Addiquit
Black Resume
Deep Rooted
Jimmy Powers
Lil Uno
MC Flow
Vokab Kompany

Best Hip Hop Album
Black Resume - Bar-Barian Music
Bully Blinders - City of Dirt
Higher Minds – 2012 The Burning City
Jimmy Powers - Califoreigner
Lil Uno - The Diagnosis
Outta Control – Daily Dose
Touch of Cas – The Real
Vokab Kompany – The New Kong

First off, congratulations to all the nominees this year. Also, big ups to everybody in the San Diego Hip Hop scene that also deserve a nod from the SDMA folks, but didn’t do to factors that are unknown to a lot of us. A fire of negativity always comes from within the local San Diego Hip Hop scene when the list of SDMA Hip Hop nominees are announced. Reminds me of when The Concrete Project got nominated in 2009 and I pretty much got shitted on at the Access Hip Hop Forums. But hey, I ain’t mad at nobody. If you feel your opinion about me and my band is warranted then I respect your true thoughts 100%. I’d rather critics give their opinions to me straight than sugar coated with a cherry on top. I’ll take the criticism (positive or negative) in strive and keep it moving with positive steps alongside positive people. Click here to follow this year’s discussion on the SDMA Hip Hop nominees.

So, whether you think MC Flow, Mitchy Slick, Jimmy Powers, Touch of CAS, Vokab Kompany, your next-door neighbor, your girlfriend’s brother or the dude up the block that makes beats in his basement deserves a nomination, let’s please move forward in a positive light and keep the “fuck you, fuck them, it’s all about me and mines” attitude to a minimum. San Diego has too much talent to let our own unwillingness to uphold each other kill the potential for all of us to eat and build a great Hip Hop scene.

AGAIN, CONGRATS TO THE NOMINEES AND MUCH RESPECT TO ALL HIP HOP ARTISTS IN THE BIG SD.

CLICK HERE TO OPEN ARTICLE AS A PDF

Much respect to Reina Mystique and Mike for writing up this great article on us. Mike and Reina are not only talented columnists, but they are also very talented musicians who play for the band called The Dynasty. They have a show on August 6th at The Brick by Brick opening up for Nappy Roots so please check ‘em out.