ART BEATS + LYRICS

Thank you Gentleman Jack for bringing ART BEATS + LYRICS  to Houston.  ART BEATS + LYRICS is a visual feast of art, graffiti, and of course that iconic hip hop sound.  The tour makes its way through eight tastemaker cities - two of which are from Texas, Dallas and Houston - which of course includes Los Angeles and New York, Washington DC, Miami, and interestingly enough, ending up in St. Louis. 
http://www.artbeatsandlyrics.com/

ART BEATS + LYRICS is comprised of one part mobile art gallery and one part hip hop concert bringing together the pioneers of rap, "music of the future" musicians and turntablists, and one legendary world renowned "Funky Drummer" to the stage.  The installation style presentation of paintings, graffiti art, and sculpture were part of the decor as the ultra hip audience were free to mingle between viewing and head bobbing.  

 Shock G of Digital Underground blew my head out with his smoothed out funked out rendition of 'I Get Around' infused with sexy keyboards and bass guitar.  As everyone's hands when up in the air, it occurred to me that this was a very good time for hip hop.  By this, I mean that time in hip hop history, when artists such as Digital Underground, Tribe Called Quest, Bahamadia, Digables, and others, were introducing a sound, style, and flow that was built on the foundation that the OG's of hip hop established but yet created something fresh and new and lives on into the present future.

 My favorite part of the night is when I had to opportunity to chat backstage with the one and only Clyde Stubblefield, who is best known as "The Funky Drummer" and the beat master behind the funk master himself James Brown.  Mr. Stubblefield and his bulldog Oscar were charming and my friend Rebecca and I were thoroughly entertained with nonstop compliments.  True to old school playa style, he unwrapped and handed brand new drumsticks with HIS NAME ENGRAVED on it to us.  I couldn't stop smiling and that drumstick is now one of my most prized possessions.  To learn more about Mr. Clyde Stubblefield, go here:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/clyde-stubblefield-mn0000132163

A good time was had by all.

db
10.12    


ARTS BEATS + LYRICS