Hip-Hop Lives in Memphis

(Bartholomew Allen – 2012)

Sounds of Biggie echo off of the exposed brick. The bass in the room fills each breath as you inhale and slowly exhale. Almost in unison, like moths drawn to a flame, every willing body rhythmically nods their heads to the smooth sounds of hip-hop. Before you know it, you inadvertently begin tapping your feet– muttering the words to each song under your breath. Your eyes closed and you find yourself in “that place”– the place where you first fell in love with hip-hop. The place when summer days were filled with sounds of little kids playing and that cool guy that borrowed his mom’s car after church on Sunday drives by the block bumping your favorite hip-hop beat under the background tune of the ice cream truck. This is HIP-HOP…and it lives in Memphis.

It’s about 10 till the hour and the crowd begins funneling in. Sky Grille, one of Memphis’ best kept secrets located at 668 Union Ave, is host to MEMPHOP Winter Jam 2012.  ENERGY doesn’t begin to describe the atmosphere in the building tonight! Everyone is a superhero–only cool stage names accompany introductions.  It’s ok to love hip hop tonight and everyone knows it.

Hosts Jason da Hater (awkwardly hilarious) and Megan J (stunningly beautiful and equally talented) work their magic to get the attention of the crowd directed towards the center stage. Playful banter eased the anxiety of the performers as side-conversations-turned-screaming-matches compensate for the loud music and energy in the bar.  Performers on deck, it all comes to a standstill.

First up for the night, Iron Mike Coalition (IMC) is geeked! At first glance you’d think you were at the Super Bowl with the game tied at 21 with only 1 minute left in the 4^th quarter as you attempt to fire up the team with a spirited chant in order to win. Jumping up and down on stage, reminded you of kids in school that were always the first to go out for recess and the last to come back in. With the awesome DJ Hush spinning on the 1s and 2s, this was indeed the perfect concoction to set the mood for the rest of the night. Feeding off the energy of the crowd, spitting bar after bar, and opening the stage with the customary A cappella flow, IMC set the tone like nothing you’ve ever seen (or heard) before.

Chants of IMC and Squad Point Blank Entertainment (Squad PBE) could be heard through the night as performer after performer plastered the airwaves with conscious minded real-to-life scenarios of what hip hop really is. Nothing short of awe-inspiring acts followed with the likes of Virghost, Sleepy J Barksdale, Dutchess, Sunny Marx, Knowledge Nick, SNIPES, Sincere, and Ricache, just to name a few. Just to be clear, this ain’t ya mama’s music! And, it definitely ain’t that watered down booty shakin’ music you hear on the radio. This is that crack music; that raw uncut unadulterated shoot it to you straight music that allows you to admire and appreciate the various art forms music teaches us. This is hip-hop in its purest form.

As each performer approached the stage, the realization of what was happening began to set in. This was more than just some kids from different backgrounds and different socio-economic groups jumping up and down. This is more than just some way of escaping your reality only to find a cool ‘superhero name’ to go by for the night. It’s more than just the color of your skin, or some ‘get rich quick theme’ that is often times associated with hip hop artists. This is family — the kind of family that accepts you for who you are. Where skills make you forget the color of skin and therapy comes in the shape of a microphone. This is hip hop…and it lives in Memphis! I believe!