So I am finally getting around to reviewing that Elzhi/Phat Kat concert I promised a while ago…exams, sunshine and wearing tight pants are the reasons for the delay. As for the show, Copenhagen was the first stop of the tour, so one can expect that it will only improve. The crowd was thinner than I anticipated, but the venue, Rust, is one of my favorites. Phat Kat and DJ Houseshoes opened up with a 20 minute set of Detroit-brewed goodies. On that note, I really like the Detroit hip hop sound – Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Royce, Slum Village, etc. – I just hope that after this show, the others will abstain from similarly referencing J Dilla’s catalog with no shame.
Phat Kat was more than serviceable as an opening act; what he lacked in raw energy and slenderness he made up for with heartfelt “spittin” – it’s hard to explain but spits like he has something to prove. At any rate, Elzhi and DJ Dez came to the stage with little fervor and put on a 40 minute set. It seemed a bit disjointed, especially since Elzhi doesn’t really engage the crowd (he’s certainly no Phonte Coleman) – this is probably why PK, DJ Dez and DJ Houseshoes served as hypemen (though it wasn’t overwhelming). There is no denying El’s lyrical prowess, but he’s a few steps away from delivering a great live show. His flow patterns are intricate and he just doesn’t have the pipes to keep up (unlike Aesop Rock, Black Thought or Robert Goulet for example) and his live show suffers as a result.
The good news is that Elzhi and Royce are planning to release an album together this summer, entitled Cold Steel – Black Milk will be producing most of the songs (according to the brief conversation I had with El after the show). 2dopeboyz recently posted a leaked track:
Oh Elzhi nikka Elzhi. “Come Get It” from Welcome 2 Detroit. Lord. And him and Royce? Stop it. I don’t believe you I need more people.