As the lights went down last Thursday night at Avalon, an ominous voice warned the audience: “If you ain’t down with that real hip-hop, get the f-ck out!!”
The 2006 version of the annual Rock the Bells tour, starring Redman and Wu Tang Clan member Raekwon, offered just that: uncompromising underground hip-hop for true fans only. Thursday’s show kicked off with freestyle champion Supernatural flexing his improvisation skills to the audience, followed by the vintage New York hardcore sound of Smif-N-Wessun.
Raekwon set the tone for the night, sauntering on stage in a black hoodie and Timbs, promising the eager crowd that “we about to go in.” Known for his vivid, movie-like lyrical crime sagas, Rae performed songs from his 1994 classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, including “Rainy Dayz” and “Glaciers of Ice,” then let the crowd fill in for the Clan on “Protect Ya Neck” and “C.R.E.A.M.” Ghostface Killah briefly joined Rae for “Heaven or Hell” and their seminal classic “Criminology,” reminding fans of their flawless chemistry and introducing new jacks to one of hip hop’s deadliest combinations. Before giving way to the next act, Rae whet appetites for his 2007 Cuban Linx sequel with the cinematic RZA-production “State of Grace.”
Hat pulled over his right eye, blunt in his mouth and a middle finger in the air, Redman showed his love for all things dirty with a high-energy solo set. The Funk Doc mostly stuck to material from his older albums like “Time 4 Sum Akshion,” “Tonight’s Da Night” and the instructional “How to Roll a Blunt.” The momentum slowed momentarily when Red began philosophizing, but the sprint to the finish – which included “How High” and stage-diving finale “Da Rockwilder” – more than made up for the break.