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Concert Wed Feb 28 2007
Umpteen Different Words for "Snow"
As Cypress Hill proved with their post-debut output, nothing wears out its welcome quicker than a one-topic candidate. To hear some tell it, the lyrical bulk of the sophmore release by Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury, deals with the duo's former drug-dealing activities. Granted, they're far from the only ones in hip-hop dropping slang about slinging 'caine and shelling out obligatory Scarface references, but emcess Malice and Pusha T exhibit a verbal prowess that more than compensates for the limited subject matter. They're remarkably confident and crafty on the mic, flexing with a rhyme metre that bobs and weaves around the beats, sometimes making the Neptunes' backing tracks sound like only so much gratuitous golf-course applause by comparison. Which is no small feat, considering many are claiming that the album features some of the production crew's best work of late.
Clipse will be taking the stage at Metro this Friday night. In the opening slot will be Philadelphia deejay Low B, formerly known as Low Budget. B's the sole member of Hollertronix since his partner Diplo split to make his solo move a few years back, and he's kept busy in the interim. Back in 2005, he collaborated with NYC DJ Aaron LaCrate on the widely-circulated Bmore Gutter Music mix-CD. His latest mix joint, Club Shotta, finds him getting both gully and yardie -- grafting dancehall vocals on top of Baltimore club beats, as well as throwing in plenty of crunk and dirty south hip-hop. As always, the thing sports no shortage of curveballs -- like when he drops some r&b acapellas over a severely down-shifted spin of "The Bed's Too Big Without You." Expect a lively and relentless set. Tickets are $21 in advance, $25 the day of. Doors open at 11pm.
[mp3]: Clipse - "Wamp Wamp"
[mp3]: Low B - "Jamrock Club Remix"