Artist: Concert ReviewTitle: Jedi Mind Tricks & Sean Price (Concert)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jake Paine
>Jim Jones might have his Dipset “goonies,” but there’s little question that a group like Jedi Mind Tricks has the true goon squad. On Saturday, April 21 the The Philadelphia-based duo of Stoupe and Vinnie Paz returned home to The Trocadero on the second to last stop of their major spring tour. With Sean Price and Reef the Lost Cauze on the bill, this underground Hip-Hop showcase was one of the most energetic crowd displays, for better or worse, in the culture today. Another Philadelphia native, Reef opened up 90 minutes late. The former battle champion made up for his lack of punctuality with crisp vocals, roaring delivery and complete stage comfort. With a DJ working off of a laptop, few opening MCs can earn the kind of crowd support that leaves the following acts tense to match. The highlight of Reef’s set was performing his sex-inspired deep album cut “Look at the Sun,” before exploding into a well-choreographed lip-sync of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.” How many former battlers can rock a crowd doing back-to-back ballads? Sean Price, arguably the king of the present day underground, followed. Backed by longtime hype-man Ruste Juxx as well as three other ad-libbers, the stage and the microphones were overcrowded. Already breathless and raspy from presumable pre-show activities, Sean’s facial expressions and jokes made up for his fatigue. Oddly, Sean copied Reef’s playbook—dancing to The Independents’ “First Time We Met,” the sample-intro to his own romantic ode, “Heartburn.” Often compared to Ghostface in his subject matter and humor, Sean and Ghost both frequently deliver chaotic performances despite their impeccable disc presence. A roaring crowd, mostly of hat-to-the-back white teens in white tees exploded when Jedi Mind Tricks took the stage. The only skillful DJ of the show, DJ Kwestion set the stage with elaborate scratches, bringing Vinnie, Stoupe, Outerspace and others to the front. Two songs in, control was lost. The crowd moshed, fights broke out and hundreds of people recklessly collided, forcing others into cubbyholes and exits. Angry anthems like “Animal Rap” and “Heavy Metal Kings” were mirrored with crowd energy. Vinnie and Stoupe interjected opinions on Hip-Hop, calling Kanye West, Atmosphere, Common, Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli “f***ots,” encouraged by cheers. Longtime affiliate Jus Allah along with Sean and Reef performed their collaborative songs as well. Again, Reef the Lost Cauze, with his water-splashing antics and monstrous delivery gave Peedi Peedi run for his gwap as the next Philly star patiently waiting in the womb. Philadelphia might celebrate it’s “lazy afternoons,” but JMT proves Saturday night’s are alright for fighting.
