The Alt Black

Who: Taylor Bennett, Brian Fresco, Morocco Brown, D.O.P.E (Malik Stewart & DJ Kerim

What: The Taylor Bennett Tour

When: April 7th, 2017

Where: Songbyrd Music House and Cafe, Washington D.C. (SOLD OUT)

How (was the show): Read Below

One thing that you should know before seeing any Chicago music group live is that they are not like anyone that you have seen live before. I have seen Noname and Ravyn Lena, and more recently those artists associated with  The Taylor Bennett Tour I know first hand that witnessing a Chicago show will take you to another world.  Like I said previously, this tour was headlined by Taylor Bennett a Chicago rapper who’s latest project Restoration of an American Idol has become one of my go-to listens on any given day. The album has nine tracks that feature artists such as Raury, Kyle, and Lil Yachty.  There is no denying that Taylor, TayTay did the damn thing, but let’s get into the other artists on the tour.

D.O.P.E

Malik Stewart

IG: MalikDopeDrummer

Definition of Percussion Entertainment

    D.O.P.E the creation of Malik Stewart, a native of the Washington D.C area.  D.O.P.E is a two man drumming percussion show, that features Malik Stewart and DJ Kerim. With Malik in the forefront, with nothing more than a set of drum sticks, a hoverboard, and a snare drum his energy spread throughout the building immediately.  From the moment that they began there set, my heart was racing, as the two began to go off! Malik approached his drumming with an intensity that I have never seen. His precision and showmanship did not suffer one moment during his performance. When I tell you this man went off…he went off into another dimension. All while balancing himself on a hover board! The energy multiplied when he asked for volunteers from the crowd to join him on stage.  I pushed my way through the crowd for a chance to be selected as one of the participants. To my hype, he asked me if I wanted to come on stage. Within seconds we were beating the drum to Kendrick Lamar’s, HUMBLE.  Afterwards, he hosted the after-show and gave all us a taste of Chicago juke music. Without a doubt, Malik stole the show, beating his feet on and off of the hover board.D.O.P.E was a great opener for the show, Malika truly embodies the D.O.P.E spirit that he has named for his act and with a set that incorporates fans I can see great things for D.O.P.E.

Morocco Brown

IG: @_moroccobrown

     When I first saw Morocco Brown he was outside hyping up the fans before the show started. His energy was needed too, it was clear that people were beginning to get antsy waiting outside in the cold. His energy was even more present when he took the stage and began to perform. Before that night I had never heard of Morocco Brown, but he made a fan out of me that night. With easy to remember tracks like Closer, that rocked the crowd back and forth. Closer is the first single off his project that he has been under wraps for the past two years.  The crowd definitely vibed with Closer, with hands swaying in the air, it was clear that Morocco had the crowd into his set. He also performed his song Catch Me ft. Taylor Bennett, that has a memorable hook I did, it for love, I did it for love.  *He also took a picture with me*

 

Brian Fresco

IG: @brianfresco

     Brian Fresco… YO, THIS DUDE TURNED UP SO HARD. I DID NOT KNOW ONE SINGLE SONG FROM HIS CATALOGUE BUT THE HYPE WAS REAL.  The minute that this man hit the stage I knew that he came to turn up and turn up hard.  He along with DJ MIKE P told everyone to get their phones out and shine those lights on the stage.  Brian Fresco had a swagger about him that was nonsense, with every song he made sure that we were all rocking with him in the crowd. His footwork cannot go without mention, Fresco manoeuvred the stage with a dope shuffle that kept my energy high. Keeping up with the high energy from past sets, he jumped into the crowd and proceeded to get rowdy with us, while his tour mate popped a bottle of Champagne onto the front of the crowd. To top it all off, Fresco has a song hype song with Chance The Rapper and Blue Hawaii titled, Higher. Fresco without a doubt made a fan out me that night and to top it off again, Fresco pointed to me at the show and said “I fuck with that nigga.”

1rst pic Brian Fresco

2nd pic Brian performing live and me to the left, beside the guy in the red hat.

Taylor Bennett

IG: @taylorbennett

“You’re my number one D.C. fan”

     A little background on my relation to Taylor Bennett.  About three years ago I had a friend tell me that I should listen to Taylor Bennett, to my regret I did not take his advice and I can’t claim that I knew him before he went on his first country-wide tour. Off of the heels of his newly released project, Restoration of an American Idol.  Taylor Bennett took the stage after the hyping of DJ Mike P, one of Chicago’s premiere DJ’s. Taylor took the stage in a flash and began his set with Neon Lights. The ninth track from the album that features Supa Bwe and Lil Yachty. Needless to say, that the energy in the room erupted when Taylor said that DC was the first show to sell out.  As soon as these words, fell from his lips.

                               “Mr Bennett never finished, you can’t miss a call
                                     Me and Supa Supa sold out, SOB’s New York”

the Songbyrd erupted. Taylor brought so much swag to the stage, from his outfit, his footwork, and his delivery.  He performed a combination of songs from both albums, a couple of singles, in addition to a cover of a Childish Gambino song, and one track he performed acapella. Taylor gave us Roof Gone, Favorite Colors, The intro (acapella), and his last song of the night Outro.                                                                                                               From his album previous album Broad Shoulders, he performed his favorite song Dancing in the Rain and had the audience be his choir. The feeling of being on one accord with a room filled with people is such a dope feeling that words cannot express accurately. What I found endearing about his set is that he performed his tracks that feature his older brother Chance The Rapper. He performed Grown Up Fairytales and Broad Shoulders; I have a lot of love for Taylor for this. I know that he is constantly getting compared to his brother in terms of everything from his music to how his brother’s influence got him to where he is today and I have nothing but respect for him. Performing his songs with his brother live showed me the love between them is one that cannot be broken by people’s opinions of them. Taylor closed out the show by playing his big bro’s radio hit No Problem, the room was bumping and with Taylor rapping over Chance’s verse it was a done deal.

*sold out show// Signed Show Poster*

*Reminder that I am Taylor’s number one D.C fan.*

Shout Outs

• Everyone who came out that night to support The Taylor Bennett Show Tour
• DJ MIKE P who kept the joint jumping all night long
• D.O.P.E for having an awesome set and allowing members of the audience to join the show
• Morocco Brown for carrying the hype and taking the time to take a picture with me
• Brian Fresco for being every bit of hype that a show needs and fucking with me
• Taylor Bennett for headlining an awesome tour with his friends
• SAVE MONEY
• The Songbyrd for hosting us
• People who got pictures and video during the set
• All of the videographers on tour
• My friend Marcel, whose left eardrum still has not recovered from the bass

 

I had to show him that I’m not lil’ bro

I can’t vote for no future that’s frivolous

My shoulders got broader, my music got smarter

I work like this shit is a privilege

Intro (The Kid’s Alright) [feat. Princeton]