Well, at least I got to see Immortal Technique rock for a sweaty all-ages crowd that same night at Neumo's. The Harlem firebrand ran through cuts off Revolutionary Vol. 2, with kids mouthing along to every word. If you're not up on Technique, go cop RV.2 immediately--his mix of brutally honest political content, along with just-plain-brutal battle raps make for a potent (Molotov) cocktail. No rap demagogue, Tech challenged his Seattle audience to disagree with his worldview, and to find out answers for themselves--which was dope, because he's already being deified by some.
Beef Watch: I have to comment further on a most intriguing "beef": that between Mase and Cam'ron. After Mase left rap (and NYC) to become a pastor back in '99, Harlem was thrown on Cam's back to represent--and a fine job he did, brushing off the ashes of bad industry dealings to become the lifestyle icon of cultured ignorance he is today. It was inevitable they'd clash, but I wasn't anticipating any lyrical highlights from these two; however, the bad blood has inspired "Father Forgive Us," one of Cam'ron's most lyrical joints in some time. While usually more cocaine-focused than Capitol Hill, Cam (mostly) ditches the yay-speak to address his former friend, accusing him of "abandoning Harlem" and fleecing his ATL parishioners, taking everything from the "silver down to porcelain." Pastor Betha himself has stayed away from the mudslinging, instead speaking to the situation on a remix of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks." Now, M-A-dollar-sign-E's new music isn't very spiritual; it's as money obsessed as ever, and keeping in the blinged-out traditions of the Church. Cam and crew's music is the apex of nihilistic coke-and-degradation rap. The Hustler vs. the Preacher--ain't this just the classic dilemma, folks?
