|
It boggles my mind how Berkley hip-hop artist Lyrics Born could remain under-the-radar for as long as he has and his recent performance in New York City did nothing but make me wonder even more why he isn't getting the same attention as, say, Outkast. But I'm not going to complain, as the music snob in me would much rather check him out at a spot like Bowery Ballroom than the Garden any day.
LB (pictured center) performed almost two hours worth of music, most of which was from his debut LP Later That Day and his just released (and superb) follow-up Same !@#$ Different Day. The fact that he was backed by a posse of super ace musicians and a female singer with amazing pipes set him apart from the rest of the rap pack who generally are accompanied by prerecorded samples and backing tracks. He is definitely someone who appreciates old school soul, disco, and funk, and it shows in songs like "Shake It Off", "Calling Out", and "I Changed My Mind". As a matter-of-fact, that last tune can be heard at the tail end of the season finale for HBO's Entourage, a program whose hip-hop heavy soundtrack features only the hippest of artists.
So if that's any indication of what's to come, Lyrics Born should be playing arenas in no time.
words: S. Appel | photos: Toni Simmons |
