Under Pressure up ‘n’ up

People often ask me why Montreal doesn’t have a hip hop festival, musing that promoters don’t work hard enough, or want too much money, or that “artists don’t respect us.”

There are elements of each observation (save the last) that at least invite intelligent analysis. Usually I point out that Montreal’s economy and the proportionate audience for a hip hop event can’t justify the risk it takes to put something like that together. Ask some of these local so-called “greedy local rap promoters” what special hell a single rapper can put them through.

People often ask me why Montreal doesn’t have a hip hop festival, musing that promoters don’t work hard enough, or want too much money, or that “artists don’t respect us.”

There are elements of each observation (save the last) that at least invite intelligent analysis. Usually I point out that Montreal’s economy and the proportionate audience for a hip hop event can’t justify the risk it takes to put something like that together. Ask some of these local so-called “greedy local rap promoters” what special hell a single rapper can put them through.

Thing is, artists go where their tours take them. If you wanna talk about promoters getting creative with billings when they know certain parties won’t show (remember that “Wu Tang Clan” show in ’08?) or over-promoting certain local acts, that’s another topic.

But when international artists like J-Live, Masta Ace, Jeru, Sean Price and the Godfather himself Kool Herc visit Under Pressure, as they have over time — many of them remarking that this now entirely free event captures hip hop’s fundamentals in a fashion no corporate festival in any other city could achieve — you gotta think twice on the “artists don’t respect us” smash.

The fact is that Under Pressure, on again this weekend all over and around Foufs, doesn’t get enough respect at home. It is laughable how often I hear entitled types criticize and take UP for granted, even as it grows right in front of their noses.

So I wanna send a personal thank you to folks at UP for keeping us entertained, informed and honest, especially the painters. The top-to-bottom volunteer participation and fair funding that keeps the UP walls colourful deserve fortification.

OSHEAGA ON, ON ’N’ ON

And yeah, okay, corporate festivals can be fun, too!

Trust me, the same people who feel entitled to the arrival of a large-scale rap fest like Rock the Bells wouldn’t pay to get into one. Read Cult MTL’s top-nine coverage here for my reviews of A$AP Rocky, Common and Snoop.

Osheaga increasingly peppers up its staggeringly complex, wide-reaching scope of talent with a respectable inclusion of current-to-classic hip hop. The Piknic Électronik stage notably provides a dance-friendly space for bass-hungry partiers.

Further personal high notes included the largesse of Killer Mike, an ATLien of Outkast origins now finally entering his prime with one of the summer’s most ballin’ rekkids, the El-P produced, Southern swangin’ R.A.P. Music. Mike literally killed it. Check back here later this week for some Q&A from his trailer, post-show.

Another positive light came from Aloe Blacc, under a decidedly uncertain sky that likely reduced attendance for his early-Sunday main stage set. Still, we bounced, danced, hugged and, although Common and Santigold brought the sun out 90 minutes later, Aloe got the clouds mighty scared by the fellowship his music manifests.

Here is where I suggest you manifest yourself this week:

Thursday: Ain’t Nothin’ but Punchlines marries rappy tricks and snappy quips with comedians including Walter Lyng and Mike Paterson alongside Clarity, Bad Weather and many more at Cabaret Underworld.

Friday: Put some mook in your life at Koi Bar, where Tommy Kruise, Vincent Pryce and local O.G. Redd Dredd get So Spooky Full Abougsif, whatevah’ the fuck that means.

Saturday  & Sunday: Reworking last year’s experiment with their open-air stage on Ste-Catherine, Under Pressure brings its MCs and DJs back to the back of Foufs, closer to the action, and with the intent of creating more crowd intimacy as many of the city’s most dedicated put it on.

Ste-Cat’s will be shut off to crew murals and volunteer sponsor booths, but will act more as a walkabout than anything. Skating is off the menu this year, but that makes way for more writers, breakers, DJs and mic controllers than I can name here.

Don’t miss the free show Sunday night at Foufs, where Boot Camp Clik/Duck Down Records two-in-tha-clip legends Smif-n-Wessun will surely shut it down. ■

SHINECULTMTL@GMAIL.COM

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