::BEHIND THE SCENES:: Underground Kingz Benefit Concert

::BEHIND THE SCENES:: Underground Kingz Benefit Concert

On Friday, March 23, The Affiliates presented Underground Kingz, a benefit concert with featured performances from Smoke Dza, Fat Trel, Phil Ade, Marlee D, Baltimore's own Emex, and headlining Big. K.R.I.T. at the Fillmore in Silver Spring.

The standing room only crowd was filled with many underground music fans. As evidenced by the audience's ability to rap along with many of the lyrics which in turn and gave the artists a ton of energy.

Although I wasn't able to score an interview with Big K.R.I.T. I was able to sit down with Emex and Phil Ade after their performances with with special Gypsy Soul correspondent Ray Baker who so graciously interviewed while I filmed. Check out the videos to see who native Baltimorian Emex compares himself to and how Phil Ade really feels about Baltimore!

(Phil Ade & Eff- Jay)

(Emex, Eff-Jay, Tony Lewis Jr.)

*Ray Baker is the Host of Real Talk w/Ray Baker on HUR Voices Sirius/XM Radio Channel 141. Follow him @raybakermedia
*Post by eff-jay follow me @f_jonesy

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::RECAP:: WALE | Live

::RECAP:: WALE | Live

Photos Courtesy of LaVan E. Anderson www.everydaylavan.com

2011 was an exciting year for Hip-Hop, with many new breakout artists staking their claim in the industry, and seasoned vets defending their throne as Hip-Hop royalty. Somewhere in between is where we find Wale Folarin. Ambition is why Wale has been able to tour the United States and perform for the fans that made his sophomore album number two on the Billboard charts in its first week. It seemed fitting that he spend the top of the year celebrating this next chapter of success at home in the DMV.

Wale’s Board Administration artists, Fatz Da Big Fella and Black Cobain, opened the show as the crowd began to fill The Fillmore to capacity. Avid fans and followers, familiar with the up and coming DMV artists, rapped along to the elusive rhymes, while others waited patiently, inquisitively in anticipation of the main event.

Wale's completely packed performance at The Fillmore in Silver Spring on Sunday night featured a welcome blend of chart-topping hits and a growing catalog that satisfied his rapidly expanding niche following. Wale hit the stage to the strains of his recent single "600 Benz," a skyscraper of a track with a booming Ross chorus and shivering string stabs. As the show went on, the energy level grew higher and higher.

Performances of throwbacks like “Chillin,” “Beautiful Bliss,” and “90210″ had the veteran Wale fans screaming at the top of their lungs. While songs from Ambition, like “Sabotage” (which is speculated to be his next single), “Slight Work,” and “No Days Off” were so well known that Wale didn’t even have to perform. And when the backtrack for “Lotus Flower Bomb” began, the crowd was hypnotized. Easily Wale’s biggest record to date, the crowd of hipsters, street dudes and sexy ladies sang along to every word, whole-heartedly. A dichotomy that few artists, old or new, have mastered in the industry. Still, nothing received a more boisterous welcome than the performance of the go-go infused single “Bait.” The crowd was in an uproar; the energy was electrifying.

Though Folarin could use a more polished stage presence, the hour-plus show was intimate and fun. With facetious crowd interactions, photo breaks, and autograph signings intermittent throughout the performance, one thing was apparent- Wale was home, and the DMV was happy to have him.

Make sure to keep up with Wale at http://www.ralphfolarin.com/ and @WALE

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::RECAP:: The Roots at Fillmore Silver Spring

::RECAP:: The Roots at Fillmore Silver Spring
Photos Courtesy of: Joe Noyes Photography & Joi-Marie McKenzie

Special shout out to our good friends at CD Enterprises & The Fillmore Silver Spring for access

Last night a diverse and eclectic crowd was literally seeing sounds at the Fillmore Silver Spring as the phenomenal Roots Crew took on the stage. The show opened with "Sleep" and "Make My", two tracks from their latest album Undun. The crowd was pleasantly surprised when Bilal hit the stage where he and Black Thought took us to the How I Got Over album with "Dear God", while P.O.R.N. and Dice Raw rocked the stage on "Walk Alone".

Fans that have been with the Roots Crew since 1994 were also in for a treat when a go-go spin was put on their liberation anthem "Proceed" from their Do You Want More album. The crowd went wild, and it became evident that you were in the DMV as everyone went off to ?uestlove becoming completely in sync with his drums. The instrumentation throughout what seemed like a 90 minute segment was simply amazing where there was a mix of latin, electronica, jazz, and funk providing eargasms for all that were in attendance.

Classic song "Break You Off" was done beautifully and sounded even better live. This was followed by Bilal returning to the stage and literally ripping it apart with his amazing energy on "The Other Side" where he belted out loudly “That’s When We’ll Settle Up the Score” as the crowd chanted along aimlessly. Although lyricist Black Thought obviously held his own, the band members also had their own epic moments, such as the percussion battle between ?uestlove and F. Knuckles, the solo done by Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson, and the band rocking out to their own version of "Jungle Boogie".



The long awaited song of the evening was of course "You Got Me" . Electric guitar player Captain Kirk Douglas sung the vocals, while Black Thought graciously spit his lyrics over instrumentals that were remixed to the "Ni99as In Paris" beat. If you were not a Roots Crew fan prior to seeing them at this sold-out show, one could not help but to become one after seeing their live performance. The Roots Crew has successfully mastered the art of having mass appeal, which can be reflected in the assorted groups of people regardless of race or age that follow their music.

And if you haven't been to the Fillmore Siver Spring, the venue is incredible and nice night life addition to the area. Make sure to support consistantly popular shows in 2012.

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