EarthGang Mobs On Mission Ballroom

EarthGang Mobs On Mission Ballroom

A Great Show Sheds Light On A Greater Issue

They say you have to capture your audience with the very first sentence. That an article is defined by the content of your words. Though I loved Earthgang, I expect the same from any show, which brought me to one simple conclusion; this particular show’s content did not carry. This is not a conviction of the artists or show, just the consistency I see from show to show. I’m not an expert by any means, but I continue to see a problem with how Hip-Hop is treated, and how it treats itself. This won’t be the only thing I focus on in this piece, I do believe it should be touched on.

The Show

It was another beautiful Saturday night in Denver and Mission Ballroom was ready to match the vibe. I got to the box office at 8:00pm to get my media pass. By the time I was on the floor at 8:15pm, the first artist was done, which was disappointing. I bet you’re like, “ok? Why did you even bring it up?” I’ll get to that. Next up, we had Mike Dimes hit the stage. Dressed in all black, Mike Dimes put on a great show. High in energy and incredibly engaging, Mike Dimes and his Dj were really in sync with how each song was presented. It was clear they have been working together for awhile and knew exactly what the other was doing. At the climax of his set, he took off his jacket and I thought homie was about go off. Quite the opposite actually. He did two more songs and his set was finished. Don’t worry I’ll touch on that as well.

Next up, the dynamic duo known as EarthGang arrived to deafening screams and uproarious applause. Equipped with a full band, which really surprised me, EarthGang put on one hell of a performance. Drenched in swag, Johnny Venus strolled out in an yellowish green fit while Doctur Dot had a much more relaxed outfit, rocking a bucket hat with designer jeans with lil’ devils on them. That was something that really stood out to me, they came out shining without having to flaunt. Of course, both had their bling, but they let their fashion sense do a lot of the talking. Digging deep in their bag, they played classics from all over their discography including “Saturday,” which is top-tier EarthGang in my opinion.

Grass-fed Beef

We have finally arrived to the meat of the article. I know, super corny. Before I go on, this is just an opinion and I say this because I love the community. I think there were a few issues with this show that seems to happen during most hip-hop shows. I’ll break it down for you. I believe Hip-hop is treated very differently than other genres here in Denver, especially at bigger venues. Artists are always fighting with crews about sound levels, such as Snow tha Product and Lauryn Hill. Some of these artists are forced to fit a whole performance in 2.5hrs along with other artists like last night where an EDM artist can go to the same place and get a 2hr set, along with 2-3 other hour long openers. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good EDM set, but if we’re a community that loves music, then we should act like it..

The Second part of my argument, though straight to the point, is just as important. I think the Hip-Hop community needs to focus on how it treats itself. I mean, these are Grammy nominated artists, and the artists they bring on tour are extremely talented themselves. They shouldn’t have to take this disrespect, even if unintentional. Anyone that loves hip-hop knows that you’re going to see a performance, and just like any other performance that takes time. I don’t know what happens behind the scenes, but I hope that these artists are fighting for more than 15 minutes to prove that they deserve to be on that stage. And maybe they are and that’s why you’re seeing Rick Ross at Reelworks, instead of Red Rocks.

When I Say Earth! You Say Gang!

Despite my peeves, this was still an incredible show. Mike Dimes still had a really fun performance and even if I missed the first artist, I’m almost positive they did their thing. EarthGang spoke volumes not only through their lyrics and fashion, but how they catered to the fans, making the show about us. I know that I spoke on something that seems grander about EarthGang, but EarthGang and guests were just as grand. No matter my opinions, I appreciate and loved the opportunity to spend my night at Mission Ballroom and watch these individuals work. it always bring me overwhelming joy to see the culture thrive and last night was no different.