Knock Out Kids

This past Saturday night marked the triumphant return of Virginia Beach brethren Malice and Pusha T, better known collectively as the Clipse, to their home state when they performed at the Jefferson Theater on the Downtown Mall. Orchestrated by the ever-productive Student Hip-Hop Organization at U.Va., the show also featured Maryland rapper Phil Ade’, TiRon, and Richmond’s own Nickelus F. For how influential an act Clipse has been in the past decade of hip-hop, the fact that the show didn’t sell out can only attest to a shameful lack of interest in the U.Va. community at large. This proved to be no obstacle to the success of the show, however, as the crowd remained lively and supportive throughout the entire concert.

Accomplished mixtape artist Nickelus F was first take the stage for an eager and willing audience that seemed ready for a wild show. Formerly known as Nick Fury, the Richmond native got on the radar of the national hip-hop scene by winning Freestyle Fridays on BET’s 106th and Park for seven weeks in a row in 2007, in addition to being featured on Drake’s Room for Improvement mixtape on the track “S.T.R.E.S.S.” Although normally ferocious on the mic, Nick admitted to being exhausted after just getting back from a trip to Hawaii the night before, which may or may not have been a cover for a slight case of drunkenness. Still, his streetwise style and versatile flow made for an excellent opener for a high-energy night.

Next up was Los Angeles artist TiRon, who gained clout for his 2009 release Ketchup and last year’s MSTRD, which found wide distribution through blogs and the mixtape circuit due to appearances by Asher Roth and tracks produced by MF Doom and Oddisee. TiRon sports a considerably more laid back flow than any of the other artists of the evening, frequently reminiscent of both Wiz Khalifa and Lupe Fiasco. Despite having several releases under his belt, TiRon seemed incredibly nervous upon greeting the crowd, which caused him to stumble over several of his verses throughout the set. Still, the audience, particularly the females in the audience, reacted very positively to his set, perhaps because of his helpless charm. He was also heavily assisted by outstanding hooks on songs like “Boys and Girls” and the humorous wordplay on tracks like “Ms. Right.”

Phil Ade definitely took first prize of the opening acts with an incredibly acrobatic flow, fiery delivery, and an excellent addition in the form of personal hype man DJ Money. Signed to 368 Records, a label dedicated to promoting artists from Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., Ade never missed a beat while he tore up every verse in his brief set. A skilled lyricist and singer, Ade has an excellent voice and a true ear for melody, evident on songs like “Hollywood.” The core of Ade’s appeal, however, comes from the undeniably clever nature of his references and a voice full of youthful intensity (see “OMG”). Ade is definitely a name to watch in the next few years, so don’t sleep on him.

Then came the main event. Arriving in the best imaginable way, Malice and Pusha T came out singing “Virginia,” an ode to their home state and the cocaine hustle that forms the basis of a considerable amount of their songs. Both brothers seemed energetic and grateful to be performing in front of a crowd of such obviously dedicated fans, who caught on immediately for a chant of “R-E-U-P, G-A-N-G. Clipse rolled through an all-star set that leaned very heavily on Hell Hath No Fury, their 2006 release and most critically acclaimed album, featuring classic songs like “Momma I’m So Sorry,” “Ride Around Shining,” and “Keys Open Doors.” The brothers rapped like men possessed by the spirit of their music, with spot-on delivery that seemed simultaneously relaxed and passionate. Throwing in a few throwback crowd pleasers, Clipse performed “What Happened to that Boy,” originally a Birdman track, in addition to being joined by Nickelus F for one song.

The appearances of both rappers matched their recent endeavors: Pusha looked cut and collected, presumably due to his newfound fame as a solo artist on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label. Malice, however, seemed a bit on the chunky side, which is not a surprise considering he has spent the better part of a year working on a recently released book, Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind, and Naked. Thankfully, the addition of a few pounds did nothing to detract from his performance. After their set, Pusha came out for an encore to perform “My God” off last month’s Fear of God mixtape. Both brothers assured the crowd, however, that Clipse wasn’t going anywhere, and that the future of the group was very bright. Thanks to the Student Hip-Hop Organization, Charlottesville was treated to an outstanding performance by two of the best MC’s currently going, and judging by their optimism, one can only hope that it won’t be the last opportunity to see the Clipse in Virginia.