That's what it's all about, right? Rock the crowd, sweat like a stallion, get mobbed by the ladies afterward.
After driving all day from Kansas City on Friday, Mac Lethal was greeted by a small but enthusiastic crowd at Volume for one of SXSW's few hip-hop showcases -- and only showcase featuring mostly KC artists...
The gods of hip-hop smiled further 'pon Mac by snatching up from the ether and depositing the notorious Bushwick Bill, the short-framed member of Houston's Geto Boys, whom you might remember as the sickle-brandishing dwarf in the video for the group's hit "My Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
Bill waited patiently side stage until Mac escorted him on for a verse in the middle of Mac's (distinctly un-ghetto) new single "Calm Down Baby." If you're wondering how Bill's paying the bills nowadays, he's apparently doing well: "My pockets ain't hurtin," the little guy rapped, "A broke motherfucker is a burden."
Mac and his DJ, Sku, delivered songs from his latest album, 11:11, plus a few from his earlier Love Potion Collection albums. He dissed Fergie (he's pissed she allegedly pissed on stage), Soulja Boy Tell 'Em (not a fan of that song), everyone who owns a Nickelback album (rightly so), fratboys, himself, and people in general. Far from misanthropic, however, Mac's got a genuine, kidding nature and a sharp command of irony, which is why his fans love to shout out his lyrics: "I could never date a girl on magazine cover / Because [crowd joins in] SELF-ABSORBED WOMEN DON'T MAKE GOOD LOVERS!"
Around midnight, Tech N9ne and sidekicks Krizz Kalico and Kutt Calhoun made their SXSW debut. The three associates from KC's biggest independent hip-hop label (make that most successful indy label period), Strange Music, took the stage clad smartly in baggy khakis and red neckties. Tech's still in touch with his inner insane clown, as evidenced by his fastidious, carnivalesque makeup job:
Though the Cool Kids had a capacity crowd next door at Emo's, Tecca's audience had, well, plenty of room to move around. And they did, flailing arms and bouncing along with the brutally synchronized three-pronged rap attack from Tech, Kutt and Krizz. These guys are by far the most underrated live act in hip-hop.
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