Concert Wed May 21 2008

The Life Here

What good can ever come of insults and hatred? Well, if you ask Yea Big (Stefen Robinson) or Kid Static (Moses Harris Jr.) plenty. You see this energetic Chicago duo formed on a local hip hop message board in 2005, where Yea Big was taking a beating and Kid Static (formerly of The Cankles) stepped in and asking the young deejay to collaborate with him. Static says, “He’s doing the music I always heard in my head”. The duo hit the road, Yea Big with his trademark runner’s outfit and glitch-hop style and Static flowing effortlessly night and day.

Their debut self-titled full-length album (Jib Door Records) was released last October to mixed reviews, but there is one undeniable truth they are just having fun. They have found a balance between ‘80’s party rap (De La Soul, Pete Nice & CL Smooth, Nice & Smooth) and the glitch-hop of today (Prefuse 73, K-the-I???, etc.). On a song like “The Basement/Enfant Terrible”, for example, the beat is consistently shifting and bubbling through the memories that Static is rapidly firing. As the fear mounts, the beats build to almost a frantic pace as the 2 minute song comes to an abrupt end. Sixteen tracks in 34 minutes is no easy feet, it is rapid fire all the way and their shows are filled with same energy. Overall, Yea Big + Kid Static’s debut album is fine addition to the ever growing wealth of new wave hip hop coming out Chicago. These two are on the same level with The Cool Kids, Kid Sister, Lupe Fiasco, Rhymefest, and so on, without question.

This duo wraps up a lengthy tour on Friday night (5/23) at The House Café in DeKalb, IL. Take an adventure down I-88, the show starts at 8:00pm and the line-up includes Son Of Starkiller / Egon's Unicat / Frequency En Mass with Yea Big + Kid Static headlining. Tickets can be purchased here and they are $6.

- Jason Behrends