It Don’t Get No Better: The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival ‘12

I have to admit, I was still a little bummed that the Rock the Bells line-up was so unbelievably disappointing this year that I swore not to go. I was only bummed because last year’s experience at my first hip hop festival went above and beyond any expectations I had set for it. Luckily last Sunday, Soundkick (which is THE best iPhone app ever...you’ll see why shortly) reminded me that The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival was going on this entire week --- not to mention that one of my new favorite groups Clear Soul Forces would be opening for headliner Busta Rhymes and his ‘Friends’ on the final day of the festival. I’ll try and describe what I saw this past weekend to the best of my ability, but I already know words won’t do it any sort of justice. What will be waiting for you after the jump: pictures, a ridiculously high-quality video thanks to Daisy and Brian the videographer, and pictures of the ‘Friends’ Busta brought with him. ’Twas an interesting Scenario.

For the record, my title is not gramatically incorrect. Hit the jump to see why...

Clear Soul Forces

Let's start with the openers shall we? Well, the ones I liked anyways. These guys deserve a highlight reel for their set at the festival because it honestly set the energy level that kept on going for the rest of the day. A couple of months ago, I saw a post on 2dopeboyz featuring a song called "Get No Better" by this foursome from Detroit and I was sold. I'm a sucker for a dope beat and an even doper flow and that's exactly what Clear Soul Forces provides. Now put a group like that on stage with a vibe liking to that of a performance by A Tribe Called Quest? Perfection. If you ask me, CSF is like a reincarnated Tribe or Pharcyde. Blasphemy you say? Check the video of their performance at BHF and their bandcamp for a little more of their music as proof.

And now, the part of the festival that needs no introduction:
Busta Rhymes and (some) Friends.

Lil Fame of M.O.P

Buckshot & Smif-N-Wessun of Duck Down Records

The legendary Slick Rick. I know he's
blurry but the picture is sweet.

One of the best views I've ever seen at a music festival.

So let’s get one thing straight. I loved every part of Busta’s set. Every part besides his new song “King Tut” because that’s not really my style. Oh, and “Look At Me Now”. Yea he rapped all fast and stuff, but I can’t support Chris Brown or that song at all for that matter...but the rest of it was amazing, of course. 

However.

The second the first chord of “Scenario” dropped, I didn’t have the time to prepare for what was about to happen. I could barely process what was going on at that second. 

This is what "Scenario" did to us. This is a completely unedited photo taken when the song came on.

And I mean, yea we kind of lost it a little.

Leaders of the New School, Q-Tip, and Phife Dawg performing "Scenario" together.

After 20 years, Leaders of the New School reunited for the most epic and legendary performance of A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario" that I could ever hope to be a part of. Every last person in that crowd was going absolutely insane, obviously including us. There were about 12 more pictures like the second to last one, where you can't make anything out other than streaks of light and vague images of a few arms and scattered cameras. You would think that a performance like that would be enough, but Busta refused to get kicked off the stage. Even after they (whoever "they" are) shut the music and their mics off, Busta and his crew proceeded to have a silent dance party with the crowd, hand motions and all. It was a great way to end the most amazing performance I have ever witnessed.
Quote me on that.