2008 Woodie Awards
The Ruler's Back
Slick Rick Plays the Sonar
Brandon Burton
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: Music
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Remember the days when Kangols and Adidas were the gear to have and everybody was trying to be a b-boy? Though the late 80's were a little before my time, I still understand and respect the originals that helped create a movement that is still going strong today. So when the word got around that none other than Slick Rick was coming to Baltimore's Sonar, I knew I had to dust off the ol' gold rope chain and throw on my Adidas sweat suit.
Opening up the event was the Baltimore's own Haz and Team Fifty. The young emcee took no time to rip through his arsenal of songs. While promoting for his up and coming LP, Haz took a few shots at self proclaimed "King of Baltimore" Bossman, attempting to place himself on top of B-more's Hip-Hop scene. To the crowd's surprise, Ray Lugar, who was not expected, took over the stage and performed cuts off of his last mix tape. The majority of the crowd wasn't feeling the Baltimore natives, despite several attempts by Lugar to get them amped.
Host Sonny Brown and Dj P-Funk kept the crowd moving with some classics blasting out of the speakers while stage managers set up for the next act. Anxiousness arose as live instruments were set up. Selim and the Music Lovers came out and raised the level of the crowd. With one man behind the keys, another getting down on the bass and fellow emcee/beat boxer/drummer on the MPC drum machine, Salim, being the great emcee that his is, delivered hard hitting rhymes that perfectly accompanied the live band. In the middle of their 30 minute set, Salim and the drummer traded lyrics while both switched off the job of beat boxing for one another. Their performance captured the ears of many new listeners with their laid back sound, original lyrics and sheer love of Hip Hop.
RULER continued pg. 9
Following Salim and the Music Lovers was another live act: Flawless. Hoping to live off of the last act's energy and keep the show rolling, Flawless came out 8 deep with drummers, guitarist, keyboarder and numerous emcees. Coming from Prince George's County, Flawless mixed the elements of Go-Go, Hip-Hop and Jazz to create a new blend of up-tempo grooves that kept the crowd entertained.
Opening up the event was the Baltimore's own Haz and Team Fifty. The young emcee took no time to rip through his arsenal of songs. While promoting for his up and coming LP, Haz took a few shots at self proclaimed "King of Baltimore" Bossman, attempting to place himself on top of B-more's Hip-Hop scene. To the crowd's surprise, Ray Lugar, who was not expected, took over the stage and performed cuts off of his last mix tape. The majority of the crowd wasn't feeling the Baltimore natives, despite several attempts by Lugar to get them amped.
Host Sonny Brown and Dj P-Funk kept the crowd moving with some classics blasting out of the speakers while stage managers set up for the next act. Anxiousness arose as live instruments were set up. Selim and the Music Lovers came out and raised the level of the crowd. With one man behind the keys, another getting down on the bass and fellow emcee/beat boxer/drummer on the MPC drum machine, Salim, being the great emcee that his is, delivered hard hitting rhymes that perfectly accompanied the live band. In the middle of their 30 minute set, Salim and the drummer traded lyrics while both switched off the job of beat boxing for one another. Their performance captured the ears of many new listeners with their laid back sound, original lyrics and sheer love of Hip Hop.
RULER continued pg. 9
Following Salim and the Music Lovers was another live act: Flawless. Hoping to live off of the last act's energy and keep the show rolling, Flawless came out 8 deep with drummers, guitarist, keyboarder and numerous emcees. Coming from Prince George's County, Flawless mixed the elements of Go-Go, Hip-Hop and Jazz to create a new blend of up-tempo grooves that kept the crowd entertained.
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