Wild Hare for Wild Times

So if you don't know there's this guy named Kanye West he's kind of a big deal. He has this label it's called G.O.O.D. Music. He signed this young kid from Detroit, MI his name is Big Sean. Big Sean is up an coming, he's working hard to build a fan base and prepping to drop his third mix tape. Being a Detroit native myself, I try to keep my ear to the streets for what's coming out of Detroit. I've been following Big Sean for a little while now but I have to say he doesn't have the best track record with me. let's take this back a little to May of 2009 Big Sean was having a mixtape release party for his second mixtape "U Know Big Sean" at Les Deux in Los Angeles, CA. Les Deux is not a place I frequent mostly because it has gained popularity and notoriety from MTV's The Hills so you can imagine the clientele. Against my better judgment and because of my love for Big Sean I decided to go and drag my friend along (who's even less fond of Les Deux). We're on a list, we get in no problem we take a lap no performance is going on yet so we hang out in the main courtyard where the big stage is located. Although we are outside there is this foul aroma hanging in the air. So much so you can here other patrons mentioning it throughout the night. We stay, we power though watching skanky girls dance for guys dripping in Ed Hardy and even some wanna be French pop singer girl but no signs of Big Sean. We stay until just before closing without ever hearing so much as an announcement, a Big Sean song or catching a glimpse of him!

Cut to Chicago. I hear about an upcoming Big Sean show and as it turns out the venue Chicago's Wild Hare is on my street just a few blocks north from my apartment. Again it's a mixtape release party for his third mixtape. I didn't buy a ticket in advance so I figured I'd just show up at the door. I put on my Burn Rubber shirt to do my part in repping Detroit and head out. The Wild Hare is Chicago's reggae club and according to them known as "America's Reggae Capitol". The inside has yellow, red, green color scheme and covered is old show posters for Shabba Ranks and other well know reggae acts as well as obligatory Bob Marley posters. The room is just a long rectangle with bars on opposite walls. There is an upstairs balcony that's been relegated as a pen for the under 21 crowd.

The show starts and I'm quickly reminded why I don't go to rap shows there was like 50 million opening acts but no really there was over a dozen! I'll give you a brief synopsis

Act 1) B Money-couldn't hear any lyrics because his bass was so loud
Act 2) Impolite Society -two rappers one wearing a homemade cape and one wearing a head dress as if he were a Sheik besides their clothing the performance was riddle with technical difficulties including their drummer pounding so loudly you couldn't hear their lyrics
Act3) Ghost Writers-very unassuming not dressed up at all but brought some heat lyrically
Act4) Then came the R&B duo and all the guys in the crowd nearly turned their backs because between being dressed a like, lifting their beaters to expose their abs, using an incredible falsetto (SARCASM) and lyrics like "beau-coup booty" you just felt embarrassed for them
Act5) Buddy the Prince-brought out his local video vixens which were really three girls in leopard leggings and bad weaves one of whom looked high on something
Act6) J.O.-came to the stage with a live band including a drummer, bassist and keyboardist I wasn't into it until he dropped a Frankie Lymon reference so he won me over a little bit with that
Act7)K.M.-had decent lyrics although I felt there were a little to female centered for a crowd that was predominantly male.
Act8) Adilla-very nice lyrically and didn't bring a ridic entourage on stage
Act9) Aalyiah-the only female R&B artist of the night didn't have strong vocals, had an uber urban hipster look and her back up dancers looked like an asexual brother and sister combo.
Act10) B Fresh-the most memorable thing was I thought he was wearing a Kings of Leon t-shirt but he wasn't.
Act11) Rocky Fresh-was a small guy pretty decent, his sound went out and he kept going.
Act12) Youngster-a dude covered in tattoos that seemed to have a bit of a following but I wasn't feeling it
Act13) A wannabe Drake like rapper/singer with less skills rapping and singing

Before the next act the crowd had grown really restless and was starting to boo and Chant for Big Sean to come out which was met with scoff by the MC/Host Hustle Simmons

Act14) D. Meeks and Mickey Streets-eh
Act15) Street Click-eh
Act16) Geeze Louise-who's most memorable note was one of the dudes looked JUST like Chris Brown

At this point it's hard to remember but I think that was all the acts and by the last they decided they were behind and rushed the last act off halfway through their set. Big Sean came on stage and pretty much went right into it. He opened with Smoke and Drive but after just a few minutes a guy walked to the front of the stage which was crowded with people. He walks right to Big Sean taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, Big Sean looking a little confused hands over the mic he's gesturing for which we learn shortly was not a good idea. Once he has the mic in hand the guy let's loose a rant about not getting his chance (to perform I assume) (video below)



What you don't really see in the video is Hustle Simmons tackling the guy into the crowd causing mass confusion. After be Kanye'd (I love the irony of this) Big Sean tries to continue the performance but is getting reports that the owners want to end the show. Somehow they get things slightly back on track Big Sean performs a bit more and then the show ends. He performed for probably less than 30 minutes total. And although it was promoted as a mixtape release no mixtape was released. He did apologize and give an explanation saying that something else came up which took precedent and we'd understand later.

This is why I don't go to rap shows very few people can carry off rapping live. Too often these club shows are riddled with disorganization and TOO many people on stage (last nights incident would have probably not happened had there not been upward of 20 people on a small stage) and artist that don't have an understanding of putting on a show. I think Jay-Z, Kanye, Common, Nas people like this, true MC's, storytellers who are not just talking over music know how to put on a show. I think Big Sean could possibly be among that list but so far I'm 2 for 2 with less than stellar shows from him. With that said I still have love for Big Sean, I may try one more time seeing him live but I probably will not be going back to the Wild Hare.


If you are a fan of good hip-hop do check out Big Sean. He's on Twitter and has two mixtapes out. You can find the second mixtape as well as other music he's featured on available for download here on his blog.

So I'll leave with one of his most popular tracks off his second mixtape.