So about this live performance thing

[UNORTHODOX]

Could you guys recommend an artist (preferably hip hop) with a great live show. I'm tryna step my game up and would like to watch a few videos. thanks

 

[slik da relic]

krs one... PERIOD!



da relic

 

[The Arkitekt]

Good vids slik!!!

 

[mercurywaters]

the roots period. of course they have a whole band, but black thoughts stage presence is unparalleled. all due respect to krs 1

 

[shadeed]

Could you guys recommend an artist (preferably hip hop) with a great live show. I'm tryna step my game up and would like to watch a few videos. thanks

Ok. You're in DC, so look no further than 40 minutes North and you'll hear about an MC based in Baltimore named Wordsmith. StradaVirus, a member of this site does a lot of production for him. His show is great and completely original because each and every song is completely acted out with stage props and choreography -but- its still very hip-hop. Him and Chubb Rock are releasing an album real soon.
He has a YouTube channel so you can find him there.

As far as intensity goes Immortal Technique takes the cake. There are very, very few artists
who can perform for a crowd as a total unknown and leave with everyone's respect. His lyrics are very vivid and powerful and he BELIEVES every word of it and you can feel that.
In front of an audience that is familiar with his work, he'll kill it everytime.

Blastmaster KRS-One is the benchmark for the live show for an MC. He still delivers everytime
and w/ all his classics its always great.

But if you still live in DC, study Go-Go artists/bands as well. It's a 100% live music artform so study how different bands get the crowd going. The first go-go band I ever saw live was Rare Essence and I've been hooked ever since and I'm a huge fan of the newer bands such as CCB, Mambo etc.

But to end it off, every artist is different so the best way to get better is to perform music you are excited about, know the song inside and out, and get to know how certain audiences react to your songs.

 

[woohff]

Busta and Spliff Star

 

[LDB]

Busta and Spliff Star

Co-Sign....I'm glad somebody mentioned bussa buss. Definitely one of the most memorable live shows I've ever attended featured buss. You would have to be a corpse not to get into his performances.

 

[UNORTHODOX]

thanks everybody, ima check out all of the mentioned artists.
shadeed i do still live in DC I never really thought of looking towards gogo cause the words don't matter as much as the band and energy do. but i guess performing is just as much a visual thing as it is audio.
is there any other artists i should look out for?

 

[mono]

best performances ive seen so far was def ROOTS, krs, mr.lif(as much as you can argue about his style on records, life hes a beast), saian supa crew (unbelievable) and emc last year on hiphopkemp

 

[ForestGlenn]

the roots period. of course they have a whole band, but black thoughts stage presence is unparalleled. all due respect to krs 1

Yea there live show is hott

 

[savage_g]

Busta's pretty immense live.
Best I've ever seen though has to be Public Enemy - never seen a rap band put so much effort into translating their music onto a live stage. The whole show's a circus; they got full live band, the S1Ws, Flav etc. Impossible not to be entertained by it.

 

[Shonsteez]

I saw the Roots live in the Bay about 5 years ago, they def are some of the illest musicians live.

 

[mercurywaters]

best performances ive seen so far was def ROOTS, krs, mr.lif(as much as you can argue about his style on records, life hes a beast), saian supa crew (unbelievable) and emc last year on hiphopkemp

yeah the difference between lif live and on record is maddening. i'll never buy another reocrd of his, but i'll see every show

 

[savage_g]

on the other end of the scale - Kool Keith's how NOT to do it...