Last night I went to go see a legend! Who is this legend I speak of? None other than LA’s own Myka 9. Myka played Knitting factroy and was joined onstage with JTheSarge spinning and spitting with him. Last night Myka 9 was promoting two projects…the man is busy! He was promoting his new record “1969″ and his Magic Heart Genies’ project that he worked on with JTheSarge called “Heartifact.” He opened for his long time friend, Aceyalone! It was definitely an old school night, but they sounded as young as ever, not that they are that old or anything!
Now, I don’t frequent underground hip-hop shows very often, but I felt at home in the crowd. Hip-hop crowds seem to be a little nicer than some indie-band crowds, maybe that was on the account of a certain illegal substance that filled the air? Or maybe because hip-hop is hellah fun! I was feeling everyone’s energy. I walked in while Icon was performing (right before Myka 9) and I was immediately smitten with the scene, even though I was totally called out by Icon…he asked people who had backpacks on to put them to take them off and put them to the side and dance, I think I was the only one with a backpack that I noticed, but I just came from school! Another thing that is so radical about hip-hop shows is that they don’t take forever and a year to set up. They are on it and ready to go. Ready to get in our faces and tell it like it is in their world. Myka 9 was literally onstage 3-5 minutes after Icon was done performing. He kept the energy going…smart!
“1969″ is Myka 9′s fifth solo album outside of Freestyle Fellowship, Haiku D’Etat, and Magic Heart Genies. Like I said, the man is busy. His new music, both solo and collaborative, last night was killing. He rhymes so freakin’ fast, I couldn’t believe it! A couple of times a song would come up that JTheSarge had in line and Myka would say he wasn’t prepared for that particular song, but he would do it anyway and kill the fuck out of it! Like he said “My beats are bumpin’ like braille.” Haha! I love it. In the background he projected some old footage of himself back in the day rapping and he looks the same except for the fact that he has longer hair now. He gets better with age in all areas! Ok, well his touring schedule lists his next show in Texas playing SXSW and nothing lined up after that, but I’m sure he’ll be around Los Angeles promoting “1969″ and his Magic Heart Genies project “Heartifact.” Both projects are super tight. Go pick up your copies!
C. Sanchez
www.loudvine.com
