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(Pictures, Video & Recap  via Nacho Broadway)

“I hate these damn Ringtone Rappers!”, unexpectedly shouts an 18 year-old in line 2 hours before the doors open. The perfect target market for today’s hip hop appears as a shining light for the dying breed. A cipher on Hip Hop discussion seems to be the perfect distraction to the light rain sprinkling an always bright Midtown Manhattan on a cold January night. Hammerstein Ballroom is the location, one of the few music/art venues left in this pricey city. This brief unity sparked solely on the love of music, clones the unbelievable bond that Wu-Tang Clan is still performing together as a band after 15+ years.

Pictures, video and the rest of the recap from Nacho Broadway are below…

Whistles & loud cheer welcome Mister Cee to the set wearing a “I Wu New York” white t-shirt. The NYC DJ, best known for his work with The Notorious B.I.G., comes on fierce, almost vehemently. “You ready to hear some real Hip Hop tonight?!” Crowd’s energy shows early as they sing word for word thru some legendary 90s Hip Hop as; Shook Ones, Warm It Up, Who Shot Ya, Sound Bwoy Buriell, & The World Is Yours. Even the stage security guard if nodding his head throwing his hands in the air. He orders to salute the great DJ Premier, gives regards to a soon imprisoned Prodigy and wishes he could bring back Biggie, Tupac and Pun. The self-proclaimed, “Strongest Finisher In The Game” holds true. No Wu-Tang show is complete without a blow to the one-hit wonders, Mister Cee starts it early, “No disrespect to the Dirty South, all that is @#$ is cute(as he mimics a snap dance), but tonight it’s about that true Hip Hop, no Ringtone Rappers tonight” before asking the crowd “Who’s the worst rapper out right now?”, quick responses are mixed between 50-Cent & Soulja Boy. After defrosting for almost 3 hours, rumors spread throughout the anxious crowd on a prior show that started 4 hours late. Passing the duties to resident Wu DJ, Mathematics, the floor chants “Wu-Tang!, Wu-Tang!”

The clan pours onto the stage like a Swat team to Wu-Tang Clan ain’t Nuthing ta F’Wit. I am front “row” separated by a chest-leveled steel gate in the large standing area of the ballroom, with at least 250 people behind me all vying for a closer view. Thoughts of a European soccer game fence crush are brief, but returned w/ jumps & benevolent pushes cooked into a miniscule mosh pit. A renowned energetic Method Man amps the crowd further as he enters & runs across the stage while performing his verse. Method’s stage skills are leaps above the other members, whom are contempt with nodding in the cut pulling from the various blunts.

The show might leave some with an empty feeling, something might be missing. A fan-favorite Raekwon brings meaning to his Immobilarity titled album, uplifted up by a reminiscent 1995 OB4CL sound. Ghostface makes his rounds donned in a bright red bubble coat showing absolutely no facial expression, could have been unhappy, tired or highly blazed. Vocal in media outlets, Ghostface blesses the mic only for his rhymes tonight. GZA and a fresh lawsuit filing U-God filled in the blanks. The sound was barely distinguished at times and the ballroom’s top tier seating area was completely empty. The overall package outside of Method Man gets stale, the strongest distinction between members were their wardrobe. Given that no Wu show is coordinated or on-time, the members fill in the verse to whatever song Mathematics votes on. It’s raw, authentic, refreshing and true to the fans.

Standouts were Cappadonna’s Winter Warz accapella uptempoed 5x. Inspectah Deck makes you wonder why he’s trailing Ghostface in the solo album category. C.R.E.A.M, Triumph rocked the Ballroom. A brief cameo by Redman to finish Rockwilder. Enough praise can’t be given to the M.E.T.H.O.D. Either jumping on or walking thru the crowd, Method makes it known he loves the music and the fans, it’s what has kept them relevant in this veteran hating genre.

Pictures, Video & Recap  via Nacho Broadway

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Intro
 
Ice Cream
 
Method Man In The Crowd