Rain Washes Hip-Hop Explosion Away

What a weekend. There were supposed to be two outstanding shows this weekend. Only one actually happened, and even that wasn't as great as was anticipated (see Playbwoy 14th Anniversary review). Redman and Method Man both made it to the Island safe and sound, they both partied with a couple hundred posing fans at the Club Azure after-party, they both had nothing but good things to say about the island - and neither of them performed.

To be fair, it wasn't their fault, both Red and Meth were quite disappointed that they didn't get to perform actually. I'm hoping that means that they'll be back to set things right sometime in the near future - assuming of course that it doesn't rain when and if they return.

If you haven't figured out what went down on Saturday night yet, then you might need to get your brain cells checked (CAT-scan or something like that!). But seriously, here's the way it went: I arrived at something to ten p.m. when the sounds of the Vanpire Crew were filling the air and a small crowd was congregated around the stage at the Southern end of the St. David's Cricket Club field (the side closest to the Club).

I heard the Mini-Fashion show was `nice' but too short, and I got a sneak-peek at the clothes; Vanpire Attire is pretty hot ya'll! They'll be available at The Source Limited and The Source II in a minute I'm sure ... check `em out.

Just before the show started, a light drizzle fell on all our unsuspecting heads, but the tunes being pumped out of the speakers were too sweet for us to pay any attention to the weather ... big mistake!

John Salley came on to do his exceedingly useless bit (never snub a reviewer John!), and soon the Hip-Hop masses were being treated to a blazing exhibition of high quality lyricism. Thing is, by this time the heavens had opened up for real and the water was falling like them frogs from Magnolia (you really should see that movie!).

People were crowding the VIP tent, ducking for cover near the speakers, even crouching under the stage to get out of the monsoon-like conditions, this was message-sending rain!

I think the message was that Hip-Hop superstars will never play an open-air concert in Bermuda until we are ready to receive them.

Okay, so maybe that's a bit harsh, besides the show did go on ... right through the rain. And a crowd of about one hundred rabid fans jumped and screamed and partied along with Jane Blaze, Shorty Black and the entire Vanpire Crew for a good twenty minutes or so.

Right up until a spark shot out of one of the microphones and the entire crew marched off the stage in mortal terror. Two of the entertainers were actually electrocuted and left the premises immediately. Needless to say, the technicians and stage people decided soon after that it was far too dangerous to continue, and the three hundred strong crowd was left to their own devices.

The reception that the Vampire Crew received was quite surprisingly good under the circumstances, but with the rain falling like it was and the equipment being electrical and all, it was only a matter of time before the whole operation had to be shut down.

Too bad, this show was perhaps the gutsiest, most intriguing show to open its doors on local soil in years.

Who knows what would have happened if it hadn't rained all over our Hip-Hop longings.

The after-party was mellow, but at least I got to talk to Red and Meth, who both expressed disappointment in the way things turned out. Meth was quite taken by the amount of beautiful women we have in Bermuda (more than he expected even), and Red was just smiling the whole time he was here, so they'll get over the disappointment pretty soon, and hopefully they'll be back (let's keep our fingers crossed shall we?).

Congratulations to Drice and Charli Baltimore ... that's right, Charli just got married ya'll, so stop ya sharkin'! This trip was a bit of a half work, half honeymoon thang (it turned out to be far more honeymoon than work, of course), and we wish the happy couple years of unbridled bliss. Shouts go out to Florence and the Jamaican Grill crew for a job very well done in the VIP tent. And last, but certainly not least, a big thanks to `Mertz' for the vision and the execution ... we can't all blame you for the rain kid.

Oh, and before you misinterpret that last sentence, I'm thanking the promoter from the heart of a Hip-Hop FAN, not that of an entertainment critic (haters!). Oh, and by the way, word has it that the crew is working on Jay-Z as we speak ... and ticket holders from Saturday night will get discounts on the upcoming show. Details are sketchy at the moment, but I'd hold on to those tickets if I was ya'll!

Big things kiddies ... very big things.