This past weekend, a history lesson took place in Virgin Mobile’s Corona Theatre. DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist took fans back in time when Hip-Hop was in its infancy and DJs were breaking new ground. They spun a diverse collection ranging from early dancehall to popular break-beats. Their entire repertoire came from the collection of one man, the Grandfather of Hip-Hop culture, Afrika Bambaataa.
Afrika Bambaataa is a pioneer of hip-hop music, acting as one of its greatest ambassadors by spreading the culture worldwide. His influence permeated through just about every hip-hop group in the 80’s from A Tribe Called Quest to Public Enemy. His influence on DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist was apparent in their humble demeanour as they described the impact he had on their careers. Paraphrasing their words, “he didn’t just follow mainstream music as he grew in popularity. He constantly went the other way.”
But the set played on this night wasn’t just Afrika Bambaataa’s work. It was samples from the record collection amassed over his extensive career: music that influenced the “Father of Electro Funk”. A collection so vast it was worthy to be placed in a museum. Which is exactly where it is going. His entire collection of vinyl records was donated to Cornell University Library’s Hip-Hop collection. This is what sparked the Renegades of Rhythm Tour. One last run before they are put away. One last celebration of music at the skilled hands of DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist.
The set played like a journey through time. Their show had 3 acts. Beginning with African tribal rhythms, touching on calypso and soca. A collection of lesser known songs that acted as Afrika Bambaataa’s influences. The second act extended to the disco era where electro funk made its mark. In the final act the crowd really got into it as some more popular hits appeared. It was a diverse mix from “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes to the Beastie Boys to a whole lot of James Brown. And of course everyone really started to move when they heard “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Just like any good DJ, the set was constantly changing, flawlessly from track to track, building like a crescendo. With 3 turntables each, these masters of art were feeding off of each other as if they were tagging each other in.
The show ended with a set dedicated to the breakers in the audience. Naturally the crowd parted and a circle formed. The b-boys and b-girls stepped up and their faces said it all … “finally”! They’ve held it back long enough and let loose. A fitting end to a nostalgic night.
Review & photos – James Correia
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