Alive and kickin’

>> A local show is proof that
hip hop is not dead just yet

EBONY AND IVORY: Foblaze

by SCOTT C

If you were at the Nas show last week, you know that hip hop can’t possibly be dead, and that its future path is in the hands of people like you and me. The idea that there is something wrong with the little subculture that could was also discussed on Oprah this week, with nothing short of a two-day panel of African-American hip hop industry heavyweights debating the pros and cons with bloodthirsty academics and civil rights leaders.

I’m happy to say that hip hop is alive and well in Montreal, where there are a slew of voices to choose from. Gathered on stage this Friday are a handful of Montreal MCs who are doing their best to keep this shit alive. Organizer and full-time MC Preach Ankobia presents Global Warning, for which he’s assembled a fairly wide representation of Montreal’s most vocal contributors—and thrown in Cote d’Ivoire MC Foblaze for an appropriately international point of view.

“Everybody is waiting for the revolution, and we’re the only ones that can bring it,” says Preach, cutting out on his cell. “It’s not really about whether hip hop is alive and well around the world, because the current state may have killed the essence and heart of it.”

It’s amazing, if you utter the words hip “hop is dead,” just how many different points of view arise, and the feelings come out in a big way. Global Warning might be a good night to ponder some of these hard questions, complete with multiple points of view. “Nas said hip hop is dead,” notes Preach, “and called his album that, to help bury a movement. This phase of commercialism is done, and it has to go, because it’s holding us back.”

Preach himself is backed by the Truth, a Kalmunity offshoot that holds down the beats, but also on the bill is the world traveled Nomadic Massive supporting Foblaze, Iraqi MC Narcycist, Lou Piensa, Ceasrock, Rashad Specter, Johnny Hostile, Epsi and DJ Wyzah.

Global Warning with Preach,
Foblaze, Nomadic Massive and guests
at Boodha Bar on Friday, April 20, 9 p.m., $10