American politics have seldom looked worse. Our choices
include an ignorant spoiled brat from Texas, a charm-free
geek from Tennessee and a third-party spoiler from Planet
Frown who couldn't win a Parcheesi game, much less the presidency.
Total Request Live runs more interesting ballots.
Fortunately, constituents of the Hip-Hop Nation have better
candidates to choose from this week: the liquid-sword wielding
Wu-Tang Clan, jazzmatazzy Cee Knowledge of Digable Planets
and brainy young upstarts Dilated Peoples. Edutainment blastmaster
KRS-One was also scheduled but had to cancel due to recent
surgery.
For help in the pressing decisions of this week, focus
your third eye on the following voter's guide for quick
insight into where each of these raucous parties stands
in the Year 2000:
* Wu-Tang Clan
Party: Shaolin Mega-Popular Front
Party Motto: "Ain't Nuthing
Ta Fuck Wit"
The Lowdown of the Throwdown: Though they play themselves
off as assassinatin' kung-fu brothers in the samurai mold,
the Wu-Tang's attitude tends toward pure Machiavellian pragmatism--it's
every-man-for-himself and best-not-be-gaming-me. But when
united, the Wu crew may be the most potent team in hip-hop
history, boasting an all-star lineup of Method Man, Ol'
Dirty Bastard (currently on the DL for, um, legal reasons),
Ghostface Killah, the GZA, Raekwon...aw, hell, too many
superstars to mention here. The Wu's best weapon is the
RZA--his loping lockgroove beats and smothering layers of
piano, bass and string samples create a sense of impending
doom perfectly suited to the Wu's paranoid, violent rhymes.
Plus you get a stage full of MCs, so both your ears and
eyes will feel the sting. Get the scoop from Ghostface Killah:
"For cryin' out loud, my style is wild, so book me/ Not
long is how long that this rhyme took me/ Ejectin' styles
from my lethal weapon/ My pen that rocks from here to Oregon."
A Vote for Them Is a Vote for:
A serious goddamn azz-kicking.
The Rally: Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave., 224-2038.
9 pm Friday, Aug. 11. $30 advance (Fastixx). All ages.
* Dilated Peoples
Party: The Platform
Party Motto: "Create to Devastate"
The Agenda: The Peeps are, in their own words, "buildin'
with the science that De La dropped." That is, they balance
a formula of witty and bookish lyrics with crossover-primed
hip-hop. Yet while De La Soul said, "It might blow up/ but
it won't go pop," Dilated's dancefloor grooves are very
poppy. Fans of the hardcore won't get much kick from their
shtick, which plays it safe--no guns or thuggery, just clever,
party-perfect rhymes. But before you condemn them as bohemian
Will Smith-lettes, feel the constant bass/drum thump and
the sweet-hearted flow, as smooth as a melting chocolate-syrup
sundae. Dilated Peoples may be the treat you need. Besides,
you wouldn't want too much rage before D'Angelo hits the
stage, eh? This night's lineup is all about L.U.V., not
being a badass.
A Vote for Them Is a Vote for: Sharing the Love--especially
with D'Angelo's satin cool up next. Bring extra condoms.
Together, We Are One: Arlene Schnitzer Concert
Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 796-9293. 8 pm Saturday, Aug. 12.
$30-$36.50 advance (Ticketmaster). All ages.
* Cee Knowledge and the Cosmic Funk Orchestra
Party: Doodlebug TransDimensional Liberation Army
Party Motto: "We Cool Like Dat"
The Birth of the Cool: Cee Knowledge--born Craig
Irving and best known as Doodlebug from Digable Planets--is
one of the kingpins of conscious hip-hop. The Planets may
have been the only group in the history of the genre to
name-drop both jazz cats and existentialist authors in their
raps, and they were more likely to talk about rainbows than
street skanks. Their smoky cool-jazz joints and cute nicknames
(Doodlebug, Butterfly and Ladybug) made them a hit with
college students and killed their street cred almost instantaneously.
Knowledge's new work trades his old team's afternoon-delight
horniness for a more nocturnal and loopy slow-funk groove.
Digable Planet fans should still find satisfaction in the
laid-back action, though.
A Vote for Them Is a Vote for: Brains over brawn.
Freedom to Assemble: Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny
St., 248-4579. 9:30 pm Sunday, Aug. 13. $10.
And if you wish to fill out an absentee ballot...
* KRS-One
Party: National Boogie Down Alliance
Party Motto: "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly
Everyone"
From the Great State of the Bronx: Kris Parker has
been sticking it to sucker MCs since the mid-'80s, when
he first cut wax with Boogie Down Productions. Early BDP
platters cataloged his violent lifestyle, but when DJ Scott
La Rock was killed, KRS-One began to focus on "edutaining"
rather than name-calling. Well, sometimes. KRS still boasts
skills on the mic--and fills heads with facts on everything
from African history to vegan philosophy. His rough vocals
remain as old-school as they come.
A Vote for Him Is a Vote for: A veteran of both
the criminal and the conscious schools of hip-hop history.
Even Redman said: "KRS-One need to be runnin' for office."
The Payback: Parker may return in the fall--appropriately,
in November--when he recovers from his surgery.
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