The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
the best boston and national bands, best music poll, boston phoenix

[phlipcam video] DJ Premier @ the Paradise

If you need evidence that time heals all wounds, look no further than Saturday's UNITY FEST, arriving a bit more than a year following Guru's tragic passing, and marking the first Boston appearance since his death by Gang Starr brethren DJ PREMIER. Whereas last May's tribute show at the Middle East was understandably bogged down with some weighty connotations (both mourning his death and calling for Solar's head), Saturday felt more like a straight up celebration of the man's life.

Now in it's fifth incarnation, Unity Fest is rarely this focused. The first four years generally found a litany of local unknowns sopping up most of the stage time, leaving the night's headliners crammed into truncated sets at the night's end. This year featured far fewer acts which meant more stage time for those that the crowd was actually there to see. For me, it was 7L and Esoteric, and a bit later, a reunited Special Teamz. Both acts were so on point that I found it hard to believe that Preem would be able to top either.

Well, to make review of an four-hour concert a bit shorter, he did. As you can tell from his pronouncement in the above video, his set did get cut a bit short due to time constraints -- unfortunate -- but he was able to make the most of it, paying tribute to Biggie, Big L, and of course, Guru.

In my write-up following Reks' album release party in March, I marveled at the sheer volume of reverence paid by Boston cats at every possible opportunity and Premier followed right in line with this adoration of legends past, made all the more impressive by the fact that the man dropping the needle played the role of architect in shaping their lore. The greatest hip-hop producer of all-time (yeah, I said it) made a case for being the greatest hip-hop DJ of all-time simply by dropping his classics, inducing RIP chants, and inviting unannounced guest Big Shug to take the stage for the show's final 10 minutes.

Above is a phlipcam of Preem taking the stage, and below is the still-excellent Boston anthem with the assist going to Singapore Kane and Termanology. What a wonderful place to live.

Guru (also known as "Bald Head Slick") is one half of the legendary hip hop group Gang Starr. Guru, an acronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes...

Gang Starr is an influential American hip-hop duo, composed of rapper Guru (Backronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, real name Keith Elam) and DJ Premier...

Who put this idea in their heads? 7L & Esoteric, a Boston-bred duo with roots...

Special Teamz represents the pinnacle of Boston hip hop. Featuring the legendary Edo G, Jaysaun of The Kreators, and Slaine of La Coka Nostra, the...

967 Comm Ave, Boston

The Paradise Rock Club, long one of Boston’s premier live-music venues, celebrated 25 years on the scene by opening the Paradise Lounge, a laid-back bar...

| More

Leave a Comment

Login | Not a member yet? Click here to Join
 Friends' Activity   Popular   Most Viewed 
All Blogs
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Articles

df list
Boston Phoenix
After two decades, the Del Fuegos find a personal cause for reunion
Published 6/24/2011 by JONATHAN DONALDSON
Making a right turn

Interview with Dinousar Jr. frontman
Boston Phoenix
Everyone loves Dinosaur Jr.'s Bug except J Mascis
Published 6/17/2011 by DANIEL BROCKMAN
No fun

more by Michael C. Walsh
Review: Big Shoes: Walking and Talking the Blues | June 24, 2011
Review: Queen of the Sun | June 17, 2011
[phlipcam video] Junior Boys @ the Middle East | June 13, 2011
[live review] Movement Electronic Music Festival 2011 | June 06, 2011
Review: Yellowbrickroad | June 03, 2011

 See all articles by: Michael C. Walsh

Follow the Phoenix
  • newsletter
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • rss
OTD Categories
Out
VIDEO: Arctic Monkeys at the House of Blues
Rare Frequencies
Rare Frequencies: Trouble and treble
Playlists
Lady Lee's Lion's Den Playlist
MP3 of the Week
HOMEWORK: Assignment #2: D-Tension
Hot Tix
Ticket On-Sale Alert: Muse, Mariah Carey, Black Eyed...
Latest Comments
Boston At-Large Council Forum - Предлагаю продвижение сайтов в ПС, ведь продвижение ваших сайтов в любом случае неизбежно, по этому вам...

By XEPOmantoC on 06-24-2011 in Talking Politics

Boston At-Large Council Forum - А вы знаете что такое [url= kickboxer.name/.../14-brilliantovye-ruki.html ]бриллиантовые руки[/url]?...

By XEPOmantoC on 06-24-2011 in Talking Politics

Boston At-Large Council Forum - А вы знаете что такое [url= kickboxer.name/.../14-brilliantovye-ruki.html ]бриллиантовые руки[/url]?...

By XEPOmantoC on 06-24-2011 in Talking Politics

Meet the Mayor: J.P. Licks (Brigham Circle) - mayor collins, if you enjoy the subtle flavor of squash, unseasoned, then you should definitely try the...

By vince petryk on 06-23-2011 in Phlog

Tea Party scuffles with immigrant activists at Secure Communities forum in Chelsea - Motorboat towing or simply trailering over the United states of <a href=fast-weightloss-methods.com>Fast...

By feenIgnisse on 06-22-2011 in Phlog

Latest Comments from On The Download
Most Viewed
Hemingway Suicide Anniversary Ignored
Self-Published Book Captures Reviewer's Attention
Richard Russo chosen for One City, One Story
[q&a] Times New Viking keyboardist Beth Murphy on the rapture, lazy "lo-fi," and genre labels
Tickets on-sale alert: Ellie Goulding, Peter, Bjorn & John, James Blake, Slightly Stoopid + Shwayze, and more
[mp3] The Fatal Flaw "Narrow Hours" + release party Friday @ TT The Bear's
[samcam + live review] Ga'an + Fat History Month + Skimask @ Problem House
Most Viewed from On The Download
Search Blogs
 
Links
Bradley’s Almanac - Lower Allston blogging and bootlegging since 2001
Band in Boston -
Basstown -
Wayne&Wax -
Aurgasm -
Onward Charles -
Compound 440r -
Anti-Gravity Bunny -
Clicky Clicky -
Soul Clap -
Lemmingtrail -
WMBR -
WFNX -
Beginning To See the Light -
Jump the Turnstyle -
Heads Up Boston -
Loaded Gun -
Enough Cowbell -
Vanyaland -
Ryan's Smashing Life -
On The Download Archives
Saturday, June 25, 2011  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
thePhoenix.com
Phoenix Media/Communications Group
Copyright © 2011 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group