Thursday night at Le Belmont felt like 2013 all over again. A few minutes after Pretty Toney appeared on stage, fans were surprised (or not) to see one third of the rap group The Lox, Sheek Louch. I was overly happy about this surprise guest since I’m a big fan of Wu Block, or just Sheek Louch. However, it would have been nice to see Ghostface not accompanied this time. Nonetheless, Ghost & Sheek definitely brought their usual New York swag to the chilly Thursday night.Both rappers each took their turn to perform their own tracks and a few singles from their Wu Block album. The fans and I got the pleasure to hear Kiss your ass goodbye,New York City and Good Love from Sheek. As for the main guy, well he gave us a bit of 1990’s (C.R.E.A.M) and some early 2000 (Cherchez La Ghost) which is what you would expect for a rapper having this kind of longevity in the game.
Shaolin also gave a warm heart-felt shootout to his good friend, the late Ol Dirty Bastard. What better song then Shimmy Shimmy Ya to remember the crazy ODB. Right after that, Sheek Louch thanked the late Notorious Big for paving the way for rappers like him. Hypnotize was the chosen song.
To finish up the show, Ghostface gave a few bars on a remix of Tomorrow, a Broadway musical classic. That is some real NY shh..
This rap trio was the first to open up the show.
Dancehall/Reggae songstress Empire Isis would have been a better fit to open the show for Beenie Man.
I got the chance to get a quick snapshot with Sheek Louch. Nothing with Ghostface. I won’t complain about the signed t-shirt I got though.
Ain’t nothing but a Wu Thang. Crop top (Viss Brand) Baggy leather pants (Brooklyn, Nyc) Shoes (Jordan Spizike)
M.U.L.A Grade: 8.5/10 The performance was quite good. It was just a bit weird to see Ghostface complaining again about the same stage lighting problems he had a year ago (he really hates red lights), or him and Sheek asking a member of the audience to cover ODB’s verse on Proteck Ya Neck. Maybe it is just a coincidence.
This doesn’t happen all the time (as you will read below) so I need to say how much the Montreal opening acts were awesome. Rappers like Mac Vybz, 80 Rock , Full Course (alongside DJ Pro V with the funky dancers) and the charismatic Ceasrock literally gave us a show ”inside a show”.Best of luck to these guys.
Beenie Man
Still a bit tired from the previous night, I was ready for a hip hop break. At least 200 reggae fanatics were waiting for the dancehall king. We waited 2h30 am to be exact. Yes, 2h30 am. The waiting was not even that bad at first, thanks to the Djs who played old and new school reggae.Then came the pre-performers. Roby Nova, who is Beenie’s new protégé gave us a loud and unpleasant cover of Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are. Not a good choice of song for a dancehall party. Of course, the singer apologized for his lateness and didn’t waist anytime to hype up the crowd. Performing hits like Who Am I, King of the Dancehall, Romie, Feel it Boy and Gimme Gimme made a few of us forget what we experienced a few minutes before his entrance.
Friday Night elegance. Head scarf (Hermes Vintage) Dress (Winners) Brown Booties (Miami,Fl) Clutch (Guess) Earrings and bracelets (H&M)
You can’t deny it, Beenie always gives a heartfelt performance to his fans.
M.U.L.A Grade: 7/10 Beenie definitely made the girls ”whine” to his numerous dancehall hits. Although the king still gave us an hour show, he should not make his loyal subjects wait so long.
If you want to get the Wu Block album:
If you want to get The Best of Beenie Man:
Now for you old and young Hip Hop heads. Another legend on his own, Hip Hop this time will be visiting us this week also. Ghostface Killah, also pushing his forties, will be rocking the stage this Thursday night on our beloved Plateau. Less than a month after Method Man’s appearance at the Olympia (see review below), it is now time for another Wu-Tang member to pay us a visit..After the success of the Clan and Killah’s solo albums like Supreme Clientele (2000) or ”The Fish Series’‘ (2006-2007) Ghostface will forever stay an important figure of New York’s music legacy.After twenty years in the game, the New Yorker has been quiet nowadays. Shaolin even decided to show us his marital problems on Vh1’s reality show, Couple Therapy. Times have changed but the music remains.
M.U.L.A. 