WHEN THE SAINTS COME MARCHING IN: Madlib, Starlight Ballroom, Last Night NWA member Arabian Prince was nice enough to start the Bounce Tour early for the Starlight, queuing up a soundtrack of some old and new beats. Even better, Prince tested the crowd’s knowledge of some of the oldest jams, only to scoff at the general level of MC ignorance in the audience. It would appear that he’s still “with attitude.” Percee P has been in the game 19 years longer than you, and therefore is a far doper MC than you could ever hope to be. As if his […]

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings with Budos Band Friday, December 14, 2007 Fillmore at the TLA 334 South Street Philadelphia, PA Doors: 8:00 pm | Show: 9:00 pm

BY EVA LIAO Madlib is a super-mysterious musical magician. He’s involved in a billion different hip-hop projects, and chances are you’ve heard his music. But you wouldn’t know it since he’s so low-key and rarely gives interviews. When speaking to his publicist, she says, “Madlib only does interviews on select months.” Then real nonchalant-like, she’s all, “you’d be lucky to catch him during an ‘on’ month.” It seems it’s all a ploy to keep things simplistic at bay. But the irony is that there’s nothing simplistic about his music. In fact, the story of Madlib is actually a bit complicated […]

TIGER BOMB: M.I.A., Electric Factory, Last Night CLICK TO ENLARGE Yes, the rumors are true — M.I.A. is absolutely beautiful, both in sparkly skintight spandex and a t-shirt three sizes too large, either standing tall like Shiva the Destroyer or seemingly trying to make a baby with the stack of speakers. Few things fire up a crowd more than opening with “Bamboo Banger.” And seeing as how it’s HER song, it only makes sense that she should open with it, if you think about it. Also, few things are as hard as waiting for the song to kick in after […]