Black Eyed Peas @ American Airlines Arena

Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Energy Never Dies Tour

We all know the open history of the Black Eyed Peas. Yeah yeah...they were a dyed-in-the-wool hip-hop group going nowhere fast. Then they injected this pretty white girl with the big voice and Boom Boom Pow...SUPER GROUP!

Because I say they were going nowhere fast, doesn’t mean I think they were talentless – but commercially........they were going nowhere fast! Their albums were more for self-proclaimed “Hip-Hop Heads” and featured artists like Les Nubians, De La Soul and Macy Gray. It’s to no surprise that when Elephunk dropped, the general population was confused about it being their THIRD studio album. If you’re anything like me, you had the screw face the first time you say the “Where is the Love?” video. “They sure look like the Black Eyed Peas...is that Justin Timberlake singing?? Who’s the white chick??”

Arguably, a complete 180% from Bridging the Gap, Elephunk brought them to the masses, and began their onward spiral of catchy beats and popular tunes. I was not sold on Elephunk. It was just OKAY. Now having two other albums, listening to Elephunk reminds me of how awkward their transformation was at this time. “Hey Mama” and “Shut Up” were big hits, but you still had to wonder... “Who’s the white chick?!?”

BEP’s official crossover album, Monkey Business was a BIG success for them. It pushed them into the limelight with Fergie riding high. The album got average reviews, but I was feelin’ it. It was just enough up-and-at-em pop music I needed in 2005!

I, like many, have slowly become regular fans of BEP. I feel like their music has its own lane. It’s not really pop...but it’s not really hip-hop either. But for them...it WORKS! I admittedly didn’t jump at the first sign of ticket sales, but I begrudgingly decided to go (thanks to Loriann!). I am SERIOUSLY glad I did. They put on a S-H-O-W!!!!!!

I was impressed from beginning to end! Three parts of the show stood out for me:

1. Will-i-am did this DOPE freestyle to BBM messages from the audience. They asked people with blackberries to text anything to the number they provided, and they showed up on the screen. From that, he used those texts to do a freestyle. HOOOOT! That gave me a newfound sense of respect for him.
2. Will-i-am’s DJ set. A DJ stand emerged from the floor and then lifted in the air over the crowd. Visually it was spectacular. Albeit I don’t consider Will-I-am anywhere NEAR my top 10 DJ list, his song selections were great!

• In The Ayer

• Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit (one of my FAVS!!!)
• American Boy

• Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough

• Don’t Stop the Music

• Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

• White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)

• Thriller

• Jump Around

• Otherside

• Smells Like Teen Spirit (Another all-time favorite!)

• Don’t Stop Believin’

• Right Round

The crowd went bananas!! A little something for everyone.

3. “I Gotta Feeling”: It was the last song they performed and it was incredible! It had all the energy and drama you would expect this song to have in a live performance. Best way to end the show!

They seemed comfortable on stage. Will-i-am, being the biggest character of the group. They worked around each other flawlessly. One drawback was Fergie’s microphone. At points in the show, you could barely hear her. I couldn’t tell if you was a technical issue or she was singing extra soft. She didn’t lip-sync which made me happy, but that sound drove me crazy. She was cat-walking up and down the stage, which was awesome because her dancing (which she didn’t do much of) leaves a lot to be desired. She looked amazing tho! Her body makes me want to eat, sleep and shit on a treadmill! She perform three singles from The Dutchess; “Fergalicious”, “Glamorous” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”.

The staging was elaborate and fanciful. They obviously spared no expense with the production technology to appeal to the audience.

This was their second stop on the North American tour. LMFAO and Ludacris (why...I don’t know) opened for them. The concert was the Saturday before Superbowl, and traffic was STUPID, we I missed LMFAO. We came in the middle of the last song them performed. Womp.

Ludacris was enjoyable. I’ve seen him perform a few times on other tours. There wasn’t much to the set, and since the crowd was pretty mixed, some of his songs were a littttttle lost on them. Lol “Back seat, windows up...” Still love that song!!

Bottom Line. THAT was concert. These are the reasons I LOVE concerts. Pure and absolute entertainment. If there are tickets still available for you to see this concert. PLEASE do. You won’t be disappointed.

Love.
Peace.
Music.

T.I., Young Jeezy, Sean Paul & Lloyd @ American Airlines Arena

Friday, February 27, 2009
T.I. & Friends present: Live Your Life Tour

At this point, it's worldwide knowledge that T.I. will be going to jail on felony gun possession charges for a year and one day. He is TRULY blessed to have such a small amount of jail time for such a large crime. What better way to say farewell than a concert in Miami!! Check the pics and flicks...

(Qiana, me, Monique, Jazmine)

I'm pretty sure the first time I heard "You Don't Know Me", I ran around the house screaming. lol...seriously. I L-O-V-E that song. I have all six albums, pretty much considering me a fan of his, so there was NO doubt that I would be going to this "farewell" concert. I went in only wanted to hear three songs..."Punkie", "My President is Black", and "You Don't Know Me".

Lloyd: I was, and still am confused as how he ended up on this bill. I just don't get it, but he wasn't half-bad. We came in halfway through his performance, but were able to catch the songs that were of any relevance..."You", "Get It Shawty", and "Girls Around the World". I feel like I was expecting a little more from him, performance wise, but it was entertaining.

Sean Paul: Although I can never understand what he's saying, I've been a fan since his little cameo in Belly! I've seen him in concert before, but he was the headliner. I think I enjoyed that performance more because he seemed to put more effort into it. I love the trio of dancers he always has on stage with him. They're too cute!! He performed "Punkie" (check the video), which made me happy happy!

Young Jeezy: Jeezy does "hood" better than the majority of the mainstream artists out. The last time I saw him live was in 2006, but it was still before his second album dropped, however, three albums in, he DEFINITELY still "does it for the hood"! I'll admit, Jeezy was a slow burn for me. I was determined not to get on the bandwagon, but to no avail. He did perform "My President is Black", with a surprise peformance by Mr. Jones himself, Nas. Judging from the crowd reaction, I don't think most people knew it was him, until halfway through his verse. It was a treat nonetheless. The crowd LOVED Jeezy. He's absolutetly a rapper of the people.

T.I.: So...ask my girls...I went nuts when YDKM came on. lol. Like Sean Paul and Young Jeezy, this wasn't my first time seeing T.I. in concert, but that was pre KING, which for all intents and purposes was his crossover album. Since then, he has SURELY made some hits, and it seemed like he performed all of them. I, like many people I'm sure, was expecting some surpise performances, but there were none. I think a lot of that had to do with how LONG the concert was! We didn't leave there until 1:15am, and it started on time, at 8pm. lonnnnnnng. T.I. is a great performer. He has great energy, and gives these little soliloquies before his songs that I LOVE! They're so funny (Although i'm sure they're not supposed to be).

Lil' Wayne hopped his little self on stage, but he didn't perform anything. The concert was fun. T.I.'s getting to the point where he has enough songs to carry a concert without so many other artists on the bill. By the time he came on the stage, it felt a little rushed, which for those of us who came to see him, could have done without.

Okay. I'm on my way to dig out my "FREE T.I." shirt...

Ne-Yo, Musiq Soulchild, & Jazmine Sullivan @ American Airlines Arena

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Ne-yo's Year of the Gentleman Tour

Even though I have all three of Ne-yo's studio albums, I wasn't completely sold on going to see him in concert. But once I heard Jazmine Sullivan and Musiq were going to be there, I pretty much had to go! Electrik Red, Def Jam's 2009 version of Destiny's Child, opened the show...

Check the pics & flicks. (click the picture for larger images)

Electrik Red: They were OKAY. I have extremely high standards of girl groups, especially for live performances. Destiny's Child gives a great show, PCD...Spice Girls (yes...the Spice Girls!! They have crazy energy!). I understand that Electrik Red is just starting out, so I'll let them slide on the lackluster choreography, although apparently they're all former backup dancers. They're pretty girls, and they have pretty decent voices, but I wasn't blown away. They cursed a LOT, which I found surprising for some reason (yes I found it surprising!) I'll keep watching out for them thought...they have potential.

Jazmine Sullivan: Her voice never gets old. I remember back in 2006, my girl CC told me to listen to her version of "Resentment" that was posted on Jazmine's Myspace page back then. The song is obviously more popular because if Beyonce, but Jazmine absolutely did her thing...gave the song a completely different feel...I feel like her version might have came out first, but don't quote me on that. I've been a fan since then, and I LOVE the album. This was my first time seeing her live...WELL worth the wait. What she lacks for in elaborate set-ups, dance routines and costume changes, she completely makes up for with that voice! LOVES her!!

Musiq Soulchild: Been a fan since Aijuswanaseing when he had that crazy lookin' hair! lol...but for real, I respect musical artists that continue to work on their craft. I can definitely tell a difference in his voice from then until now. His range is ridiculous! I was surprised that he was even on the tour with Ne-yo...they have really different sounds, but he ROCKED the house...the crowd loved him...he was really killin' it!

Ne-yo: So the headliner (who on my list was after Jazmine and Musiq on my reasons for being there) gave an AWESOME performance! I was completely entertained! I loved the "rat-pack" style theme he's rollin' with for his album, and he carried that theme throughout the show seamlessly. I was really impressed. I always go into concerts wishing artist would play my favorite songs, this was no exception...I really wanted to hear "Say It" (If you haven't heard it...please), but that probably wasn't appropriate for a semi-family oriented audience! lol.

Really good show overall...