On Saturday night, in Austin, TX, Kanye West electrified The Levi’s/FADER Fort at the annual SXSW Music Festival. The FADER hosted this extravagant party/concert to showcase established and emerging acts, within and outside of G.O.O.D. Music.
Interestingly enough, Rick “Bawse” Ross was scheduled to perform early in the evening, but canceled. The disappointment was short-lived when the celebrated Bun B of UGK came out to tear the roof off the venue. The Port Arthur, TX native ran through many of UGK’s hits, quickly raising the temperature in the crowded room.
As Bun finished his set, the newest addition to Roc-A-Fella Records took the party to Yonkers, New York. Jadakiss stampeded through a string of hits by The Lox. About three songs into his set, he brought out a special guest. His Lox brethren Styles P aka “the Ghost” blessed the crowd and shared the stage. The pair went back and forth with chemistry a scientist couldn’t concoct.
Just as the crowd couldn’t envision a more frenetic scene, the “Evil Genius” Green Lantern took over the wheels of steel to keep the crowd energy level high. The New York-based DJ ran through classic songs by Nas, Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang and more. Suddenly, Green Lantern said, “We have a special announced performance.” But, it wasn’t Kanye West yet. Militancy personified, dead prez came out and performed a brief three-song set, as the stage crew continued getting the stage set for the closing act.
The lights went dark, and suddenly, the Kanye took over the stage, and ascended the fans to a higher place. After a couple of solo joints, then he brought out Consequence, a veteran artist signed to G.O.O.D. Music. They shared the stage until Kanye coolly walked off stage to allow ‘Quence rap solo. Shortly, Kanye returned to perform “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” with Consequence.
G.O.O.D. Music upstart GLC graced the stage for a brief outing. After GLC, Kanye introduces the crowd to Big Sean, another G.O.O.D. Music artist from Detroit that is extremely talented with the wordplay. Then, Malik Yusef takes his turn to rock the crowd with Kanye. After Big Sean and Yusef, out bounds the newest member of the G.O.O.D. Music Family, UK artist Mr. Hudson and Tony Williams, the singer who sang on Jay-Z’s “History” record. The G.O.O.D.ies just kept coming out with 88 Keys and Mr. Fonzworth Bentley both delivering notable performances.
Kid Cudi, who recently retired and un-retired, captivated the crowd with a five-song outing that included a remix to A Tribe Called Quest’s “Buggin Out” featuring Consequence. And when the audience was experiencing sensory overload, the atmosphere exploded when Common and Erykah Badu blessed the venue with their artistic presence. Common, Erykah Badu, and Kanye ciphered through one sick freestyle session that was met with a rousing applause.
If Hip-Hop is dying, somebody forgot to give the memo to Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music Family.
Below are several video clips from Kanye West and the G.O.O.D. Music Showcase at the SXSW 2009 Levi’s/FADER Fort.
Kanye West and Kid Cudi – “Welcome To Heartbreak” (2009 SXSW Levi’s/FADER Fort)
Kanye West f. GLC – “Drive Slow” (2009 SXSW Levi’s/FADER Fort)
Erykah Badu Goes Freestyle (2009 SXSW Levi’s/FADER Fort)
Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Consequence “Buggin Out” (2009 SXSW Levi’s/FADER Fort)
Kid Cudi – “Day N Nite” (2009 SXSW Levi’s/FADER Fort)