"Every never is now," chants P.O.S. "It's important to say that shit enough so you know it's true. It's all about moving forward." The Minnesota rapper isn't trying to preach; he means it. Socially conscious and unabashedly honest, P.O.S. (an anagram meaning Product of Society and Pissed Off Stef, among others) raps over revving drums and rolling distortion, urgently spouting rhymes that uphold individuality and tolerance: "We make our own and if they don't feel it/ then we are not for them/ (and that's cool)."
On the first date of his Every Never Is Now tour, P.O.S. kicked off a set on Tuesday night at the Jackpot that mixed introspection, politics, hip-hop and rage. Focusing on his latest album, the appropriately titled Never Better, the rapper conjured the sweaty intimacy of a basement punk show. With explosive cymbal crashes and heavy bass lines, P.O.S. harnessed the energy of his punk explosions with chants and cathartic howls that created a tangible energy flow between stage and crowd.
A feeling of unity enveloped the venue as P.O.S. tore into his verse with rabid intensity, rounding off his furious raps with thumbs-ups and smiles. Winning and charismatic, P.O.S. (or "Stef," as he referred to himself) didn't work the crowd--he charmed it.
"We don't know what the fuck we're doing," P.O.S. admitted. Though that was hardly the case, P.O.S. served up a carefree, loose set interspersed with crowd banter and freestyling. A charge of raw, real vitality infused P.O.S.' stage antics as he chatted freely about how he hasn't ever actually heard "Tik Tok" by Kei$ha, and that his mom doesn't really like this song, and that he feels weird talking about his mom so much at the rap show, but that he's going to do it anyway. (Love.)
Despite his hard-touring history, P.O.S. retained the unabashed joy of a new act with the thrill of recognition written on his face when the crowd threw his lyrics back at him. Leaning over the farthest tip of the stage, P.O.S. made eye contact, answered questions, gave high fives, and even took a random crowd member's request when he wandered on stage. ("He was respectful," he reasoned. "He even waited in between songs.") After an hour and change of watching P.O.S. kill his set, I felt like I'd had a drink with him, talked some shit, and now we were buddies. Rather than busting through his rap songs without pause, P.O.S. spent some quality time with Lawrence. It was refreshing.As his teetering stance on the edge of the stage had hinted at, P.O.S. finally hopped into the crowd for his last number "Purexed" ("I'll come down there. Make some room!"). A ring of outstretched hands surrounded him as he paced in the gathering pit, taking the phrase "interactive show" to a new level. Apocalyptic bass beats accompanied P.O.S's optimistic verse ("We don't care about what tomorrow might bring at all"), and the crowd's chanting floated over the wafting smell of weed, sweat and wet dog: the beautiful stench of a good concert.Like a sassy, rapping Fiona Apple, opening act Dessa spouted lyrics crafted with a singer-songwriter intensity that was both confessional and political. Between her smart, sly verse, pretty face and read-aloud fan letter to Dave Eggers, at least half the crowd was crushing on her by the end of her set, me included. Local rapper Steddy P opened with a tight set, warming the crowd with what he announced as a new track that was particularly awesome. (And that I didn't write down any lyrics for, at all. Damnit.) Note: Here's a link to Steddy P's new track.
Check out this video of Dessa reading her marriage proposal to Dave Eggers, courtesy of Jason Harper.
Set List
Let It Rattle
? (I'm missing the lyrics on this song. Help me out?)
Goodbye
Half-Cocked Concepts
The Basics (Alright)
Been Afraid
Yeah Yeah (Science Science)
P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life
Never Better
Stand Up (Let's Get Murdered)
[Freestyling]
De La Souls
Low Light Low Life
Drumroll
Sarah Silverman
Optimist
Purexed
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Awesome review, Elke. It was a rowdy, uplifting and very comradely show. I think P.O.S. is a great alternative for people who want the intimacy of underground hip-hop but need something more appealing than self-indulgence Pillars of Hip-Hop dogma. P.O.S. is an entertainer.
Thanks for linking my video. Here's a montage I slapped together of all the performers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
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