Posts
By Samuel Robinson
In the eclectic world of hip-hop, deference and respect is perhaps more amplified than in any other music genre. Artists are not only negotiating approval from a fan base, but also from their peers, who can be very skeptical at times. One only needs to look at the vast array of diss songs to see why this dynamic is so prominent. As in any other organization or social group, to be accepted means that you are dope, that people are feeling you.
I recently attended a KRS-1 show at the Roxy in Hollywood, CA. It was raining hard that night, but as always, KRS had a long line of fans waiting to get in. When I finally made my way into the sold out show, the diversity that is the signature of LA was obvious. As I approached the bar, I recognized former Laker and NBA player Sean Rooks. Latinos, Asians, Blacks, and Whites, all packed the Roxy to see the Blastmaster. Throughout the night, I occasionally noticed individuals wearing shirts with the words “EL Vuh.” This was a reference to the Mayan book of life, but I had not made that connection to the show…yet.
A lineup of hip-hop artists on the rise highlighted the majority of the night. Most were met with a fair response. Others were not so lucky. It was a little after 11pm and the crowd was growing anxious. During these tense moments, an artist with a very similar style to R&B singer Frankie J hit the stage. No offense to Frankie J or to this artist, but this was not an R&B crowd. As soon as he sang his first line the crowd burst out in loud boos. Chants for KRS started to form. Unfortunately for the Frankie J prodigy, his set went relatively unappreciated, to put it mildly.
As the crowd grew louder for KRS, the host announced that one more group would perform: El Vuh. In my head I was thinking this is it-the only thing left is for the crowd to start throwing drinks on stage. Just then, a group of Aztec, or Mexica dancers went on stage. The shadows of fans stood still, silent and skeptical. The dancers performed a dance that signified an opening ceremony. The ritual energized the crowd. Their cheers were greeted by the opening vocals of Zero, Vic tor E, and ERISE, also known as EL Vuh. Their songs were full of themes that emphasized the Mayan philosophy: our relationship with the Earth, and Mother Nature, universal principles of virtue, and a revolutionary ideology. El Vuh was well received by the crowd. By the end of their set, they had made their connection. The crowd was feeling them, and as the Mexica dancers returned to the stage to close the ceremony, the audience at the Roxy was at their highest point, and ready to receive KRS.
When KRS hit the stage, he was quick to point out that the “demonstration” El Vuh had just made was “Real Hip-Hop.” Hmmm. This was quite a compliment from the living legend. As a fan of KRS since his days of BDP, it is rare to see him give any artist praise in public unless they are his contemporaries. Of course, KRS went on to rock the mic…Southside Bronx…Sound of the Police…needless to say, the crowd loved it. The show made me recall my own childhood in hip-hip, specifically growing up in a strict catholic elementary school listening to X-Clan and Public Enemy. Did I fully understand their ideas on Afrocentrism and Black Nationalism back then? Not really. Was I feeling them though? Absolutely. That night at the Roxy, those that came to see KRS were feeling El Vuh, and vice versa. That is the beautiful thing about hip-hop. It is multi-cultural, bringing together people who in most instances would not share the same space or ideas. I was curious to find out more about this hip hop group El Vuh, so I made my way backstage. However, before I got the chance to engage them, something special happened within their private space.
The anthropological definition for a rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. Every culture has these ceremonies. Hip-hop’s rites of passage can be seen in a couple of ways that symbolize acceptance and respect. One of these well known rituals occurs when an MC is handed a microphone. Another is when those around you acknowledge that your lyrics are on point. But there will always be those rituals that are more intimate, as the following clip affirms:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F99SlsCUG0E
