Posted on 09/11/2008
The flyer clearly said it was a G.O.O.D. Music takeover, and y'all thought Kanye wasn't going to be there? I'm not a big fan of the Knitting factory so I almost didn't make the trip up the block, but 'Ye or not, there were a few acts on the bill that I wanted to see live. The main stage at the Knit is fairly small and intimate, so I'll admit it does make for a better show (especially when the performers put some effort in) as opposed to being at Madison Square Garden 30 rows back and 1,000 feet from the stage.  Photos by Mel D. Cole.

Most of the non-G.O.O.D. Music acts hit the stage first. I didn't realize our boy 88-Keys would be performing so I showed up a little late and missed his set. From what I heard though, he did his thing and kept the crowd entertained. DJ Statik Selektah was spinnin all night and gave us some joints from his upcoming album Stick 2 the Script (which sounds dope as f&%k might I add). The first act I saw was Termanology, who I must admit I have always been very "eh" about. I wasn't planning on checking for his new album but seeing someone's live show gives you a much better feel for their music and I have to say, he did alright. His lead single “How We Rock” definitely got the crowd involved and all those Premo beats he has didn't hurt either. The final non-G.O.O.D. Music MC that rocked, and I mean that literally (he had a live band), was Mickey Factz. This dude is at every show, every night, in NYC but up until now I hadn't seen him perform live outside of youtube. He's got a lot of charisma (he closed his set by calling Lupe Fiasco his evil twin) and in the last few months I really think he's stepped up his game something serious. His live show is fairly polished, full of energy that really gets you involved. In the end, I have no bad reviews for any of the undercards from the night.

Now on to the G.O.O.D. Music, a crew consisting of Kanye West, Common, John Legend, Consequence, GLC, Really Doe, Big Sean, and now KiD CuDi. Crews in Hip-Hop have been falling apart left and right over the years, from Cash Money, to the Ruff Ryders, Roc-A-Fella, G-Unit (as far as I'm concerned), Dip Set and the list goes on and on. All of those crews were, at one point, on top of the world and running isht. Sure, there are plenty others that are still alive and well, but none with the mainstream appeal that G.O.O.D. Music could potentially have. They have a solid lineup from top to bottom, and now is their time to take the baton.

I'll start off with their youngest member, Detroit representer Big Sean. I've listened to his Finally Famous mixtape and I enjoyed it. He's got plenty of potential, but it's hard doing a show when most of the crowd isn't familiar with your work. He held his own regardless. Next up, KiD CuDi, who has turned himself into an internet phenom and who’s buzz is growing by the day. My friends, along with  a lot of other people that I talked to, kept going on and on about how they had work in the morning but needed to see KiD CuDi perform. This was evident as the spot  filled up once word got out that CuDi was up next. Once CuDi hit the stage he did not disappoint at all. Many artists who are very melodic and sing in their raps don't fair too well live.  However this was not the case with CuDi whose set was very impressive. I guess that "A KiD Named Cudi" mixtape went a long way because nearly the whole crowd knew all the words. He had Plain Pat on the 1's and 2's and he did his own renditions of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," "CuDi Spazzin," and "Day 'N Nite." He truly looked like he was having a good time up there. He also formally announced that he is the newest member of G.O.O.D. Music at the show. There is no doubt in my mind that this dude is going to be a star. There are a lot of up–and-coming rappers out there that I'm a fan of, but none with as much cross over appeal as CuDi.



Headliner Consequence hit the stage next (upon entrance we were informed that GLC would not be performing). The place was damn near at capacity at this point. Cons came out to "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" (one of my favorite Cons joints) and had the whole crowd holding their breath wondering if 'Ye would come out for his verse… not so much. Kanye or not, he still had the crowd bouncin’ with “Don't forget 'em," "Disperse," "Mr. Popularity," and a few other of his joints. Had it ended right there, I still would have thought it was a great show. Then he did his verse on Kanye's "Gone" and you could see some commotion by the side of the stage. Shockingly Killa Cam didn't come out to do his verse on the song, but to the crowd’s delight Kanye West came out and did his. To say the crowd went wild would be an understatement, and I couldn't help but laugh at the people who left after CuDi’s set. KiD CuDi and Big Sean joined Kanye and Consequence on stage and looked just as excited as the audience was. Kanye then went on to perform "Flashing Lights," "Can't Tell Me Nothin'," "Put On," "Swagger Like Us," and his latest song "Love Lockdown." At this point the cell phones and camera flashes are going wild, as you can imagine. Just when you think it can't get any more live, Q-Tip comes out of nowhere, fist pumping and all, with “Check The Rhyme." I've seen all these dudes perform before at arenas and such but it's a lot different in a small ass club like this, as evidenced by the formerly brolick "thug" next to me who was now screaming like a school girl in my ear. Tip then went on to do his latest single "Gettin' Up," after which  he got that nostalgia flowin’ with "Award Tour" before passin' the mic. Cons and Kanye then introduced the G.O.O.D. Music family and did  "Grammy Family" together to close out the show.

All in all it was a really entertaining night filled with good music (no pun). There was a real *smh* moment when I was leaving and heard a girl next to me say "Oh My God, Lisa, I can't believe Kanye and De la Soul came out.” For those who know, it was a truly memorable night.








- Shamz

Photos courtesy of Mel D. Cole / Village Slum. Videos spotted at NahRight.