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Proving he made a smart career move, former NYU Law student Mickey Factz performed on the Paid Dues stage. (Martin Locraft)
Another year, and another "Rock The Bells" went off at Merriweather Post Pavilion over the weekend.
The tour routinely puts some of hip-hop's biggest names on the same bill, while also providing a platform for artists who are not as well known to expand their fanbases.
This year's D.C./Baltimore area stop included performances from Common, The Roots, Slaughterhouse, and Reflection Eternal, among others.
I wish I could give you a rundown of every song in every set, but honestly, I didn't see a lot of the show. For a variety of reasons, I got stuck backstage for most of the concert (and on stage for Common's set). To say the least, it was an interesting time taking in Big Boi, T3 of Slum Village, and Kamal of The Roots rushing to-and-fro, tour manager's frantic knocks on doors alerting performers they were needed on stage ASAP, and Common's DJ not wearing shoes during his solo turntable set. Oh, the sights (and smells).
If anything, though, I really picked up why artists do a tour like "Rock The Bells". The exposure potential to new fans is high and they enjoy being on stage with so many other artists. For Kansas City, Missouri's Tech N9ne it was simple: "We've been on the underground level. We don't have radio or video [airplay]." According to him, he's on the road over 200 days a year, doing multiple tours in the process. The hard work has paid dividends. "In San Diego, only seven people were in the crowd the first time we went there. Next time it was 100. Next time it was 300. Now we can sell out the House of Blues. It's a wonderful thing."
His last album, Killer, moved 1 million units independently. And judging from his show over the weekend, he might've picked up a few more fans who'd never heard of him. It's hard not to take notice of and appreciate a guy who dons face paint and does what can only be best described as a forward moonwalk.
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Great photos Martin. Love em all. Looks like it was a great show.
My bro' said that Supernat stole the show. I heard RZA and GZA tore it up as well.
Supposedly one of ODB's son's were there as well and looks just like the old man.
This is the lamest "review" ever. Hooray you had a press pass. What about the show???
I wish I could say more about the show but the fact of the matter is I didn't see most of the acts that performed, much to my dismay. Between venue entry and interview issues, I didn't get to do or see as much as I'd hoped to (only 2 or 3 full acts) and wound up spending the bulk of my time by dressing room doors. So, I wrote about what I was able to experience.