Mr. Invisible, Meek is Murder, East of the Wall, Dead Sea $crilla
The Milestone
Nov. 21, 2011
There’s not often a night that is booked so well it can incorporate two genres, from one end of the spectrum to the other. In recent years, hip-hop and metal have grown closely related in audience, but, when it comes down to it, they are like apples and oranges. However, sometimes they can coexist and create something spectacular — a night of smooth transitions from nodding heads to flying hair, from singing guitars to dope beats, ass shaking and hand waving. This was the scene at the Milestone this past Monday night as a showcase of brutality in two forms took the stage.
Before the audience could gather themselves, Brooklyn’s Meek is Murder came with the sickness as their technical metal dominated ears across the venue. Jaws dropped as they shredded their guitars, massacred the drums and screamed in a rabid frenzy. Bodies flung to every note and breakdown. Hip-hop kids got down to the brutality well into the next set from East of the Wall, Meek is Murder’s touring companion who progressed into a medley of harsh screams over triple guitar overlay and hard hitting drums.
As Dead Sea $crilla kicked off the night with remarkably fluid lyrical skills with a quirky twist, when Mr. Invisible took the stage, it became a metal sandwich with hip-hop bread. Animated and talented, they spit rhymes like old skoal they’d been dying to get out of their mouth and brought the audience to the stage, waving them on and getting down to the beat.
Hands down, Mr. Invisible has got to be the most talented hip-hop group in our area. With skills on their Mashines that landed them a deal with the company, they can make anyone appreciate the intricacies that go behind beat producing. As they ferociously pound on their pads, producing beats before everyone’s eyes, the entire room gets into it, then they pick up their mics and slay it all like a knight encountering a dragon with vigilance and precision.
As has been the tradition lately when Aswell plays, the end of the night resulted in a full-on dance party of hits, old and new. Everyone in the place filed to the center of the room and danced it out, holding onto the amazing vibes felt and openly stating that this was the best metal/hip-hop show they’d ever been to.
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This article appears in Nov 22-28, 2011.
Most talented hip hop group in our area? That’s funny, I can think of 3 other local rap acts that would rip these guys a new one…Best hip hop show ever? Something tells me it was a bunch of white kids that don’t know s*** about hip hop that said that. THIS CITY NEEDS A MUSIC EDUCATION!!
Name who would rip these guys a new one. These “white kids” are well respected by the entire hiphop community in this city & probably know more about the culture than you do. Maybe you should only comment on things you have a clue about. I’m sure you haven’t noticed, but people of all colors are making dope hiphop all over the world. Educate yourself.
Who are these 3 groups? I’d be happy to book them. You can help promote it. We’ll call it hip hop 101 to reference the “education” you think that QCHH needs. We could set up a sampler, a pair of turntables, microphones and open up the floor. Each crew can then make a beat, perform it live, perform an original track, freestyle a true off the top and then dj a set for the bboys that rep their crew. After that we’ll ask the crowd who really knows whats up. And yes, the truth does hurt.
Havin grew up in the Bronx in the early 90s I would say my “hip-hop knowledge” is above average at the very least. Ive seen Jay, Leaders of the New School, Rumpletilskinz, Nas, Tribe, Rage, Biggie, Pac and just about every other hip hop act worth anything in the 90s live not to mention the countless albums Ive listened to.
With that said, yes the city needs a music education, and yes they need it most at hiphop. Local acts that I think more deserving of the title “best QC hip hop act” (even though there really can’t be a BEST): S-Dub, King Carter, eyes of the eldars, Eleanor Fagen, the thought criminals, and elvator jay. Especially jay and sdub!
Some of these cats actually remind me of old jams in the park, and block parties. That’s where hip hop grew from kiddies…this message brought to you by first guy had a point.
I don’t even understand how someone from the Bronx would classify Eleanor Fagan as hiphop. Something mad fishy here…
I’m calling troll.
Erin your the troll, and ignorant. What about the other acts? I said ESPECIALLY sdub and elevator jay. Eleanor or eyes of elders could be considered a different brand of hip hop. Last time I checked both groups have mcs who rap.
Taken em to school…
Thought Criminals & Elders are some of my favorite people & I enjoy their music. Both groups are also big fans of Mr. I. It is really weird that you’d like them, but consider anyone who likes Mr. I “a white person who doesn’t know shit about hiphop”. But cool, you’re entitled to your opinion, no matter how strange.
I don’t think I’ll call names & make racially-charged statements about it, though I am clearly the one who is “ignorant”, right? Me, the one using my real name, not hurling insults from behind a pseudonym.
The other groups you mentioned…never heard of them, and the way you promote them here isn’t doing them any favors.
I heard Elevator Jay finally, last week at the Yelawolf show. He is dope, for sure.
As I have seen and experienced many things within music, itself in our city, I must say that the biggest setback we face within the hip hop community is the sheer defensiveness and lack of love, understanding, tact and respect for one another.
I’m not saying it is everyone (as there are a handful of people I could name that keep the peace) but as soon as someone gets their panties in a knot, it becomes a fight.
I am not going to claim that it doesn’t happen in other genres but it is very apparent that there is some sort of rival-embracing attitude in hip hop that keeps everyone from coming together. I invite you to break this paradigm. We are nothing without each other, especially in a town as small and talent-packed as Charlotte.
I will admit, I am no expert in hip hop. I know my share but would never expect anyone to spotlight me as a pillar of knowledge. I’m just a chick with some knowledge and an abundance of love for the genre that just so happens to write reviews and calls it like she sees it at the time. That’s how I felt, I wrote it. I invite you to educate me in a respectful manner. I wouldn’t know anything if I hadn’t opened my ears and turned off my defensiveness to hear what people have to say.
From what I’ve seen in the area there are a few groups that I would personally classify as the best hip hop acts, Mr. I being one of them. I apologize if my statement was offensive to anyone but do understand that I, just as you, am entitled to my opinion. But unlike this comment thread, I have tried to be tactful and kind when voicing mine because I understand that it is just that, my opinion and not fact.
Come together kids, just imagine how far this city would come if everyone stopped fighting and learned from each other.