BY SIMONE J. SMITH
When Ante Up dropped at the Phoenix Concert Theatre Wooooooooooooo…
On Saturday, March 30th, 2024, the hip hop community in Toronto came to life at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. As I walked into Phoenix, the pulsating beats of hip hop music reverberated through the air, and it set the tone for the electrifying atmosphere.
As I stepped further into the hall, the aroma of excitement filled the air, mingling with the scent of sweat and spilled drinks. The floor vibrates beneath my feet, echoing the rhythm of the bass.
Groups of people were scattered throughout the space, swaying to the music with drinks in hand. Their laughter and chatter blend seamlessly with the sounds of DJ Merciless scratching records and cheers erupting from the crowd.
The crowd was a diverse mix of individuals, united by their love for hip hop music. Some were dressed to impress, adorned in flashy attire that caught the light as they moved. Others exude an effortless coolness, their laid-back demeanor adding to the ambiance of the night.
Despite the packed space, there’s a sense of camaraderie among the crowd. Strangers exchange nods and smiles, bonding over their shared appreciation for the music filling the hall.
It was going down in Toronto with: M.O.P., Kool G Rap, and Asun Eastwood hitting the stage. I have to give the great one Asun Eastwood his respect. His words are a mirror reflecting the harsh realities of urban life in Toronto, painting vivid portraits of poverty, violence, and inequality, but amidst the chaos and despair, there’s a glimmer of hope in Asun’s message—a call to arms for the oppressed to rise up and reclaim their power.
Asun spits truth with an intensity that demands attention. His flow is relentless, each bar hitting like a punch to the gut, forcing listeners to confront the uncomfortable truths they’d rather ignore. Asun is more than just a mouthpiece for the streets—he is a poet, a storyteller, and a visionary. His lyrics are laced with intricate wordplay and double entendres, weaving tales of struggle and triumph with a poetic finesse that sets him apart from the crowd.
In a world where authenticity is often sacrificed for commercial success, Asun remains steadfast in his commitment to keeping it real. He refuses to compromise his integrity, or dilute his message for mass appeal, staying true to his roots and speaking truth to power with every breath.
When Kool G Rap took the stage, I could feel the nostalgia washing over me as I watched one of my old school hip-hop favorites step onto the stage. The beats began to thump, the bass reverberating through the venue, and suddenly, I was transported back to a different era.
His lyrics were laden with memories of a time when hip-hop was raw, authentic, and revolutionary. Each rhyme, each beat, carried with it the essence of an era that shaped not just the music industry, but also the culture and spirit of an entire generation.
As he belted out verses that I hadn’t heard live in years, it was as if time itself had folded, bringing me back to the moments when I first discovered his music. I found myself nodding along to the familiar rhythms, mouthing the lyrics that had once been the soundtrack to my youth.
Finally, MOP came on and brought all the fire. When the first pounding beats of MOP’s classic “Ante Up” reverberated through the venue, instantly, the audience was swept away by the relentless rhythm, their collective adrenaline surging. Arms shot up into the air, and heads bobbed in unison as the bass throbbed through every inch of the hall. The lyrics, raw and intense, echoed off the walls, fueling the fervor of the crowd.
As the song reached its climax, the energy peaked, and the entire venue seemed to explode with an ecstatic frenzy. Sweat glistened on flushed faces, and exhilaration coursed through the veins of every attendee. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the world outside faded away, leaving only the music and the collective euphoria of the crowd lost in the pulsating beats of “Ante Up.”
After another successful show, I had to stop in and chat with the man himself, Lord Fury. I wanted to hear his thoughts about the concert. “I am awakening my nation of sleeping giants,” Lord Fury began. “I wanted the Legend Kool G Rap, and MOP because they are classics, and I wanted that energy.”
“This concert optimized hip hop, that Brooklyn energy. I wanted to remind people what hip hop is supposed to look like, because let’s be real, hip hop is getting soft. What Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole calls battle rap is a joke! It’s that kiss my ass shit. What are you guys even talking about? I wanted to bring masculine hip hop; that testosterone that let’s women know that they are amongst men.”
“What is some of the feedback you are getting Fury,” I asked? “I have been told that it is the best hip hop concert Toronto has seen in the last 10 years,” Fury replied. “On behalf of Supreme Genes Entertainment and The Phoenix Concert Theatre we thank everyone who came out to this legendary hip hop event.”
As the night wore on, the energy in the room only intensified. Bodies swayed in unison, caught up in the infectious rhythm of the music. It was a scene straight out of a music video, a moment frozen in time where anything felt possible.
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