Block Party

Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Mos Def & Common

On the tiny, cramped stage of tiny, cramped, unventilated S.O.B’s (which was so hot back in the days of the weekly Soul Kitchen parties….sigh), we the crowd witnessed a jam session like no other. I’m talking Common testifying, then Q-tip world-touring, then Talib Kweli and Mos Def just getting by, then Swizz Beats telling us she aint got no money in the bank, then Kanye makin’ em say and more…..and all the while, they’re all on stage together, chanting each others lyrics like fans of this, not just superstars in this.

Then Mos Def pipes up and tells the crowd that back when Swizz first produced “Hustler” for Cassidy, he did a remix verse that never came out….So, of course, Mos spits that lost verse off the top of the head. Acapulco, of course. Then Drag-on (yes, I said Drag-on) jumps out and straight murders “Down Bottom.” Like 8 years was a day ago. Then Rah Digga appears with full Poetic Justice braids and a B-Girl freestyle. Then Saigon shows why he and Joell Ortiz are like the only two new artists I actually think are dope. Then…..Queen Latifah comes up out of the crowd (at Enuff’s request) and even though she didnt really seem to know all the words to “Unity” just her being there was enough. (peep the expressions on Kanye etc). Then Mos Def performed again, and Consequence and Kanye did “Dont Forget ‘Em” and it just went on and on and on….

Kanye West, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Just Blaze, Saigon, Swizz Beats, Q-Tip, Consequence, Queen Latifah, Drag-On, DJ Sickamore, Miss Info, Alchemist, Joell Ortiz? This shit sounds like one of those Just Blaze nightmares/fantasies or Combat Jack’s unbelievable adventures, but I hate myself for not being there, or at least circling the block 3 times. More pics:

Swizz Beats, Kanye West, Just Blaze & Saigon

Q-Tip, Saigon, Kanye West, Talib Kweli

Saigon, Johnny Nunez, Kanye West, Common & Mos Def

DJ Enuff & Queen Latifah

Saigon, Kanye West, Swizz Beats, Consequence & Mos Def

Props to Miss Info

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