Last week, medicine recipe Converse put on their first Rubber Tracks Concert series in Boston, cialis with all of the proceeds going to the One Fund. The two shows represented the seemingly polar opposites of psych-pop outfit Yeasayer and stoner-rap savant Curren$y. I was able to catch the latter of these shows, and the presence of Boston hip-hop was evident. The line-up featured openers that included mainstays of the local scene; Moe Pope, Statik Selektah, Termanology and The Perceptionists. Heading into the show, the array of Boston hip-hop artists was proving to be more enticing than the main act.
I was able to make it to the Sinclair to catch the beginning of Moe Pope’s set. The crowd was fairly sparse, but those in attendance were clearly familiar with the Moe Pope catalog. Pope had an intriguing band set-up that helped bolster his performance. With just a partial drum kit and synth, Pope had a band that could bring the eccentric beats from his project with producer Rain, Let The Right Ones In, to life. Pope has long been a staple in the local hip-hop scene, and his stage presence has definitely benefited. He masterfully remained infectiously energetic while still rapping with precision.
Leading up to the next act, the crowd started to fill out, but it was still far from the supposed sell-out crowd I anticipated. Soon the official ambassador of Boston hip-hop, Statik Selektah, came out to hype the crowd. He spun some classic tracks, which added to the throwback feel of the show. Selektah even premiered an upcoming single featuring Action Bronson and Joey Bada$$, which definitely grabbed the attention of those in attendance.
Selektah stayed on to bring out two of the heavy hitters on the line-up; Termanology and Sean Price. Termanology was the first to hit the stage; he also was joined on the stage by seven people, which remains my favorite rap concert troupe. Term delivered an entertaining set, but his underground vibe led to more offbeat head-nodding rather than a raucous crowd. He was followed by Sean Price, whose larger-than-life personality (and stature) seized the audience’s attention immediately. Sean P has been in hip-hop since his time in NYC group Heltah Skeltah in the mid-90s, and it became clear that he has done this type of thing before. His grimy and gruff delivering was booming in the Sinclair. Unfortunately Term and Price only performed 15-minute sets each, which felt like a crime, but they made the most of their time.
The lengthy run of openers continued with the Perceptionists, comprised of Boston rap legends Mr. Lif, Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One. For any longtime local hip-hop heads, it is a dream come true to see this group perform live. Their underground pedigree permeated the performance, as it transported the vibe back to the underground scene of the late 90s. The Perceptionists are only bringing their classic underground sound, which seems to lose its luster in a time where maximalism is king in hip-hop production. However, it was a treat to get a taste of Boston’s hip-hop past.
After a long wait, Curren$y hit the stage. He came out donned in a vintage Jim Rice jersey, which received a huge pop from the finally filled-out crowd. As soon as Curren$y appeared, a dense cloud of smoked emanated from the audience almost instantaneously. It was a classic start for a Curren$y, who is your favorite weed rapper’s favorite rapper. It took not even two songs into the set for Spitta to be graced with gifts, which came in the form of twenty-bags. He performed a set that spanned across his immense discography. Curren$y really surprised with the amount of energy that he brought to the stage. He is often known for his lackadaisical flow, so to see him run and dance around stage was slightly unexpected. Like the other acts of the night, Curren$y played an abbreviated set, but the crowd couldn’t help but be satisfied.
After his time was up, Curren$y stayed after to talk with fans and sign autographs. As I saw him on stage signing an assortment of hats and sneaks, the Jim Rice jersey spoke volumes on the concert. Even though this New Orleans-native was on top of the bill, the true headliner was Boston hip-hop. An oft forgotten scene put on display some of the best acts it has ever offered, and it seemed like it’s always been taken for granted.
