FILTER
A Hip Hop Pahhty: Grieves, Kenan Bell, People Under The Stairs
- Author: Min-Q Kim
- Posted on: Thursday January 28, 2010 at 10:00 AM
- Filed under: music, hip hop, grieves, kenan bell, bowery ballroom, exclusive, people under the stairs
On Saturday, January 23rd at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, we saw the future of hip hop. (Or at least one version of it.) Gone are the guns, the flash, the nonsense... Instead, The People Under The Stairs, Grieves, and Kenan Bell brought good old fashioned party, and the sold-out crowd really let their hair down. P.U.T.S. brought it like they are known to do, with their purist Fun D.M.C. brand of rap. If you want to lose some inhibitions and dance to some hip hop, go see this duo, they'll wear you out.
But the real story that night was the support. Up-and-comers for now, but Kenan Bell and Grieves are definitely on the rise, so we're getting you good and ready for their arrival.
Photo: Michael Jacobson
Kenan Bell from Los Angeles opened, backed by his trusty indie band. Their luscious textures complemented Bell's laid back California flow, as he laid it down for the asymmetrical haircuts in the crowd. And I'm told the new drummer in the band (not pictured above) was in System of a Down. But don't get it twisted: Bell and crew can beast. They toured with De La Soul recently, so they're hip hop tested, Maseo approved.
Photo: Griff J
Then came Brooklyn-via-Seattle rapper Grieves and his DJ / instrumentalist Budo. Sometimes you watch someone and you just know... Grieves was a revelation. He bobbed and weaved around the stage with authority, and his lyrics were precise, fluid, and effortless; it was like watching a skilled boxer carve up an opponent. I'm telling you, this kid could walk on stage, cue a beat, and gun it for days. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention his swiss-army sidekick, Budo, who played keys, guitar, trumpet, doubled vocals, and manned the decks.
In the Breaking News department, Grieves just announced that he's the newest Rhymesayers signee, home to the likes of Blueprint, Atmosphere, and Brother Ali, so this isn't the last or least you'll hear of this rising star.
What do you think? You dig it? Or Pass?
