Music for me.

Okay I went to a concert last Sunday with my brother, a belated birthday present from him. Now, for me to go to a concert is something special. I don't think I show it much, but I am very into the music I'm into. I am not very genre specific I just love great lyrics and entertaining tunes (however most of my library is bitchy pop-punk, I loves me my songs-about-a-girl, which is about 87% of the Genre). I do however find some time in my other life as a gangsta to participate in the listening-to of rap music.

As I stated earlier, going to a concert is something special for me. I hate crowds of sweaty people and standing for hours on end, I get that enough at work. I also don't quite love live music. However, if I have that deep connection to that artist I've probably only downloaded and not purchased or if I know I will have an end-all-be-all good time I will go see them. This past Sunday was one of those wonderful exceptions. the headlining act was Lupe Fiasco, all 1-2 of my possible readers do google him, please take that away with this blog. And no matter how much I enjoy his music, or his performance for that matter (It was amazing, sung 3-5 songs without even saying hi to the crowd, focused as ... well, he was focused). What really impressed me was his opening act, B.o.B. (AkA Bobby Ray). He was without a doubt the best performance I've seen all year (Mind you I don't go to shows and it is still quite early in the year, but still).

He presented himself to both the people who didn't know him and those that know his insanely popular single ("nothing on you") as another ATL rapper (A rapper from Georgia). He was, however an artist. He came on stage, rapped a song or two and stepped off. As he made his way back on stage he had an electric guitar in hand, it was at this point I was sold, but he kept on going. He commented on how others had told him to put the guitar down and just rap and how he responded with continuing to pursue his musical aspirations. What followed his introduction of the guitar were not just rap songs with a little string. They were something along the lines of a 90s-sounding, reggae influenced, SKA sounding, mega mash-up of genres. And my G-d did it sound good. He later continued performing while playing an acoustic guitar as well as being supported by a full band. He didn't only have talent but also stage presence. He was energetic, fun and sounded great live. I have suffered through many an opening act, in the little concerts I've attended, but B.o.B was nothing of the sort. I knew not one song, and he never lost my attention.