Sitting in the front I saw a number of standout acts (and a couple that weren't saying squat!). Crazy E made his EOW singing debut with a new name (Senator Eric Carthage), a new style and a new song - "Lets Have Sex In The Morning (Girl)". He sang his lungs out and had the 3 Kings sounding like the 4 Heartbeats.
Next, Whyteout blacked out with his song "Crazy," another heartfelt joint inspired by the trials and tribulations of day to day life.
Solid Ground rocked two of my favorite joints off their album "The Balance" - "Fisticknifegun," and "Wants vs. Needs" - helping me come to the realization that I don't actually NEED those "platinum diamond-encrusted fronts" I've been wanting. In all seriousness though Solid Ground is able to achieve a balance that many fall short of, making music that is progressive yet still aggressive, conscious without being condescending.
This theme was continued with a performance from Marco Polo who murdered the stage with his song "Die Nigga Die," leaving EOW DOA! When he was done Marco put the mic down and picked his video camera up, to continued filming the rest of the night. In this game you gotta wear more hats than a Jiggalo! (Editor's note: Come out for Marco Polo's B-Day Celebration @ EOW on Oct. 26th featuring Ice-T, DMC, Loaded Lux and many more).
Speaking of Jiggalos it was ladies night, and the females were in full effect. Shay Mauvais and La June performed back to back, bringing all the male patrons to the front. Both ladies demonstrated class and individual style, proving that you don't have to be a triple exhibitionist to make it in hip-hop as a female artist.
There were three showcases of the night, all artist from out of town, each one having travelled further than the last to be a part of NYC's longest running weekly open mic. The first, Dubb Sicks and Cali Zack, made the trip from Austin, Texas on their "Greyhound Tour." They debauched the stage with tales of sex drugs and alcohol, showing us ignorant Northerners that George Bush isn't the only degenerate, coke head, white guy from Texas.
Next was Anarchy who made the trip all the way from the land of the rising sun for our Sunday night affair, and he definitely rose to the occasion. When he finished his set with an impassioned a cappella it was pure Japandamonium!
The final showcase of the night was Canada's finest, Bishop Brigante whose stage show was picante. He burned through 3 hot joints including his single "Picture," which is already heating up Canadian air waves, and may soon catch fire in the U.S. EOW is so international!
Of course it was my Svengali Brother from another mother, Vanguard and his twin brother from the same mother, The Real Van's birthday at midnight, and no E.O.Dub B-day is complete without a mash-out posse drunken freestyle to mop the stage with. This was easily the highlight of the night as Vanguard and an all-star line-up of E.O.W heavy hitters stepped up to the plate and brought it all the way home. There was even an impromptu battle between Vice Verses and Poison Pen (V.V. vs. P.P.) that centered around Pen's round center. For the record I'm a fat boy at heart (and at arteries) and I think Poison P took the V from Vice, but we're all still friends through thick and thin.
The strongest fans stayed 'til the end of the End Of the Weak, and were blessed with a jaw dropping, off the head performance by Jersey's own CF, and iCON The Mic King of Philly. These two got it locked when it comes to freestyling! But on Sunday their bars were particularly captivating. They flawlessly traded back and forth throwing too many punchlines to count ("I'll put an end to the weak like the letter K").
Shout to Kalil Kash, Mr. Whiz, Jugglah, Homeboy Sandman, Xtra ("Security Spits?!"), Al Be Back, and all the other hungry MC's who showed up to tear it down. Another strong week for the history books. Hasta La Vista bitches!
- Iron Solomon
P.S. J-Buddahs hold your head homie we miss you! Come home soon.