Alchemist's Disciples: NBA Leather Tour 2/17/2022
Alchemist kicked off the show himself with couple raps and some absolutely banging beats displaying the most performing energy of any of the artists that evening. He jumped around stage and danced on the turntables while Action and Earl’s producers seemed disinterested. I was extremely disappointed the Alchemist did not DJ for Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt, as both these MC’s lacked the energy, tightness, and color that exploded from the prolific duo, Boldy James and the Alchemist
If Bronson and Earl were sloppy and failed to hit a rhythm, Alch and Boldy were seamless, and banged. Benny the Butcher, New York rapper and boss of Boldy’s record label Griselda made a thundering appearance beside Boldy where you could feel their energy.
As Alchemist’s beat clanged you saw Boldy fade back “Poppin' all that killin' shit, gon' have to show me/
Ayy, n**** rob me from my chain go ' have to blow me.”
For a moment the lights flood purple, just Boldy and Alchemist on the stage. Alchemist tells the crowd, “This is my favorite shit”. The high swooning trill of violins. “Pinto” featured on Alc and Boldy’s the Price of Tea in China. You feel how Boldy James has been “in the kitchen with Alchemist/cooking up im in mix mode”, as the music rolls over Boldy’s autobiography of his rise to artistry.
You can tell that this performance means something beyond a check for Boldy and Alc. The chemistry is undeniable, you've seen it if you've ever seen best friends. There's not a beat or ghost note Boldy misses, a vibe or emotional spectrum Alch doesn't touch, and it's
all for you.
Actions swaggers unto the spotlight following reverberating dolphin clicks and the luscious orchestra swelling of "Capoeira", whos etymology is Brazilian; it's a martial art combining music and dance.
Millenials, think Eddie from Tekken 3. From taste testing exotic olive oil to attending the Irishman's debut in white linen wherein his female partner performs fellatio on him and afterwards getting "sauced" with his partners, Action's diction is international and deep, and undeniable. You hear it in his beats, too, but it's a shame his producer appeared so disinterested. I was left wondering how epic it could have been had the Alchemist been behind the boards. Maybe it would have encouraged Action to have been as pinpoint as Boldy. It was
disappointing to see Bronson crash out midsong multiple times, once turning to his lacksadaisical producer, admitting he wouldn't remember the second verse if a gun was to his head. Action maintained his swagger through the set however and finished with the climactic "Easy Rider" whose echoing synths offered probably the best beat of the night.
As a fan of Sweatshirt since he was pulling out his teeth in Odd Future music videos rhyming "Asher Roth" and "applesauce", through his murkier first album DORIS and then the fully submerged "i don't like shit, i don't go outside" with Clams-Casino esque beats such as those on "Grief", Earl came across as jaded and unfocused. Like Boldy, his voice register enver changed, but there was no energy and it was a struggle at any point to understand what he was saying. Earl's accompanying DJ matched Earl's relaxed energy and left me once again to wonder what kind of performance the Alchemist would illicit from Earl. For now their chemistry will rage on atop wax only.
At one point during Action Bronson's set, amidst tasking his DJ with testing out old instrumentals just to see if he could remember the verses, Action reflected to the audience that "life is ironic, and it's simple." It's true for a lot of aspects of the NBA Leather Crew. They're just out here rapping their songs. The irony? Maybe that these three guys, Boldy, Bronson, and Sweatshirt are rap giants now when they weren't five years ago. Their elevated status is interconnected with their special, and legendary connection with the Alchemist. What is an Alchemist? One who can transform physical properties. Alchemist certainly has this magical power. Soul samples extracted from vinyls laid atop working basses, drum slaps and pauses, bringing vocals and brass instruments from a bygone era and morphing them into concise and deep hiphop beats filled with trapdoors and segues you could follow. It's ironic it would be a white producer, too, but it's simple. It sounds beautiful. And the irony here? Alch would tell you, as I'm sure all the rappers would, it's not simple. And we all know, its hours of work, years of observation and studying. Hopefully the wizard Alchemist will continue to shepherd these brilliant artists along through the rap game. I'm sure he's tired, but maybe next tour will be all-Alchemist produced,
no other DJ. I'd just love to see it. Terminal 5 2/17/2022 was an incredible display from Alch and Boldy.
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