The Politics of Dancing

Hip-hop is ruled by ego. Whether it's the ego of an MC, that of a DJ, or a combination of the two, hip-hop is dominated by superlatives. Descriptions of being the biggest, baddest, and richest are the typical trappings of mainstream hip-hop, which is nothing new. The underground scene has its own failings, focused instead on being "realest," clamoring to fit as many syllables as possible into every bar. In both cases, the result is staid, tired output, dominated more by formula than feeling. After the lackluster Boot Camp Clik show a few weeks ago, Seattlest has been lucky enough to see the more desired portion of Sturgeon's Revelation the last few days, with MCs unafraid to be more than lyrical automata.

Sunday's appearance by The Coup was nothing short of mind-blowing. From the moment he hit the stage, frontman Boots Riley captivated the audience, taking full command of Neumos, ensuring all eyes were on him. Despite Seattle being the last road stop on the tour, Riley (and one of hip-hop's best afros) bounced with all the enthusiasm of an early date. He didn't just MC, he performed. Boots has the confidence of an MC that knows he can walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. He brought a band along to back him (guitarist, bassist, drummer) and vocalist Silk E (Pam the Funkstress couldn't make it), providing live funk instead of the usual MC+DJ formula.

All the spectacle on stage wouldn't have mattered had The Coup been free of substance. Known for their political content, The Coup avoid heavy-handedness by infusing their songs with a party vibe, as fit for dancing as they are for regime overthrowing. The lyrics "Laugh, love, fuck and drink liquor/to help the damn revolution come quicker" describe the overall Coup vibe. With a crowd dancing throughout the evening and actually responding to the between-song banter about today's political climate and upcoming rallies, it was truly a show for shaking your thing as a preface for shaking things up. If you haven't purchased it already, get yourself a copy of The Coup's latest release, Pick a Bigger Weapon.

Seattle's Macklemore takes a different approach to his performances. While The Coup actively calls for radical change, Macklemore is more easily identified with the famous feminist tenet "the personal is political." As a white MC from a stable upbringing, Macklemore doesn't have the same struggles as a rapper from the projects. That said, Macklemore recognizes his position, and actively questions what it all means for him as a privileged white MC in what has traditionally been an arena for poor blacks. He references local political issues such as gentrification in Seattle, but also takes stabs on global politics as well.

Wednesday night's Macklemore performance wasn't quite as dynamic as his Capitol Hill Block Party appearance. Macklemore brought some guest MCs and some beatboxers onstage periodically, but didn't have the horn section or hype man that accompanied him at the Block Party, leaving him and a DJ playing backing tracks for most of the show. He managed to keep a connection with the crowd however, constantly showing appreciation for those in attendance. While he didn't perform as George Bush this time around (hi-larious), he did give in to the crowd to close out his set with the gut-busting "Penis Song," a song whose name accurately describes its topic. Macklemore is definitely one to watch. Check Macklemore out when he performs at Bumbershoot.