Audience feels hip-hop vibe at UMaine concert

ORONO — Even with the no-show from Method Man and Redman, Wednesday night’s concert at the University of Maine left the 4,700 in attendance feeling the power of hip-hop.

The festivities kicked off with relatively unknown rapper Choclair pushing out his raw and rhythmic lyrics with the aid of his second-in-command, Solitaire. An observant fan may even have seen the security guards dancing to the artist’s lyrical stylings.

Next up on stage came Beastie Boys DJ Mixmaster Mike. The turntablist wasted no time in putting out mixes of both Rush and Rage Against The Machine. Mike especially had the crowd moving during a lightning-fast mix using a Snoop Dogg track.

Making his presence known next was the “Human Beat Box,” Rahzel. Illuminated by a fog machine, Rahzel showed his mastery of mouth sounds through his versions of “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath and the Method Man tune “You’re All That I Need.” The first three rows packed in tight to see him provide deep bass sounds, turntable scratch sounds and powerful melodies of his moving performance.

Shortly after, the hip hop energy multiplied as Choclair, Solitaire and Mixmaster Mike rejoined Rahzel and his DJ, JS1, to put on a 20-minute encore.

In one of the show’s more poignant moments, Choclair raised his arm in the air, asking the crowd to put two fingers in the air. The Canadian rapper then led the crowd in a chanting, “Peace!” adding that “it’s what hip hop is about.”

Only seconds later, a small scuffle arose between fans just off the front of the stage, and again, it was Choclair and his tourmates calling for a resolution.

Local boys Rustic Overtones took the stage a short time later, starting off with a current fan favorite, “Gas on Skin.” Their reception was warm at best with the crowd visibly toned down from its enthusiam earlier in the concert. The band ended its performance with a mud-throwing contest initially started by the crowd.

In place of the night’s main act would come three more of Method Man’s Wu-Tang Clan mates, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna and Raekwon. The crowd was anything but excited upon hearing Ghostface Killah announce that Method Man and Redman would not be appearing. Intent on keeping the show hopping, the three performers rapped back and forth for the next hour, even involving both sides of the crowd in some verbal exchange.

Just shy of midnight, the crowd shuffled off the field amid flurries, having been a part of the biggest hip-hop show that Orono, and possibly even central Maine, has seen yet.