This is Philly You Welcome to Come CHECK US!

The high quality pictures in this fantastic post are provided by the equally fantastic Liz Padova. She’s a food snob and great photog. Get to know her. The low quality ones are from my favorite cousin Tamika’s camera. Ladies she’s the girl cousin I call if you need to get rocked!

Philadelphia is notorious for its lack of support and even so every once in awhile I get a strong feeling of optimism and I say “hey, why not do a show at home for once.”  The Philly release party for Flavor Ade was one of those times. I enlisted a bunch of rappers as well as super DJ Fishr Pryce and said “hey guys let’s have a party!” Verbal Tec recently had a his first child (congrats big homey!) and Dos-Noun just moved back to Pittsburgh so Parts of Speech has been all but dead as a group for a few years now but they are easily 2 of my favorite rappers in the universe so I convinced them to come out. Dos-Noun flew out in the middle of his finals. He is the truest. Has-Lo is featured on the “I’m the Best Mayne” and is easily one of the most unsung emcees in Philadelphia so it was a must that I have him rock as well. And last but not least my dude Al Mighty formerly of a group called MAGr from Camden was on the bill to rock it because he’s dope and I like him. Basically myself and Dom Pinelli from Public Axis put together a show that I wanted to see.

And everyone delivered. Fishr Pryce was killin it on the tables. He had people rockin’. I was milling around getting drinks trying to get my head in the game and Fish and me dancing and greeting people that I hadn’t seen in years and some that had just never seen me perform before. Before he played I’m pretty sure I was in a bad mood because of issues with the sound and things but once Fish got on I was back in it and was excited to party!

Much much more after the jump!

Has-Lo in a b-boy stance

Has-Lo set it off with the best set that I’ve seen him do. He played joints of his that I love as well as new bangarangs I hadn’t heard, he was engaging, and he just killed it. I really need you guys to go check out Has-Lo. He has a new album in the works that I believe is called “In Case I Don’t Make It” coming out on Hipnott records in 2010.

Next up was Al Mighty. I didn’t know much about his solo music. What I do know Al is that anytime I’ve

Al Mighty gettin it in

seen him rock he killed it. I laid a super-nuclear verse for the MAGr album but it seems that may never see the light of day. Anyway, Al was very engaging as well he tore through some bangers and did the damn thing. Like I said I don’t know enough about his solo stuff to be more in-depth about it but I do know I was in the back jumpin around. He was assisted by Zilla Rocca who I don’t know much about, but I’m beginning to have an appreciation for.

Then was Parts of Speech. These guys are the personification of skill plus energy and they have been killing shows

Verbal Tec x Dos-Noun - Parts of Speech

together for nearly 10 years off and on. These are the dudes most rappers rap about being. And all I wanted them to do was kill it wit that pure and raw talent they have. So what did they do? They freestyled their whole set. Verbs handed Fishr Pryce a cd of instrumentals and the two went back and forth trading bars for 20 minutes straight. I was amped by then and I ran out and got a little with them as did Has and Zilla. The Parts of Speech had delivered once again.

From there it was my turn to rock and again, over here at Cool-Aide we are all about the partying with the people so I’d rather have them tell you about what happened that evening.

Josh:

you see me shining!

I cannot express in words how great your performance was Mike. Thank you for putting on the greatest hip hop show I have ever seen. I hope Philadelphia wakes the f*ck up and realizes how great you are. Look forward to doing it again. Truly phenomenal.

Fade:

Al Mighty is ballin'!!!

It was pretty cool how you played host and introduced everybody. The Shawn Marion bol was funny as hell. And of course the Blind fold thing was dope. When Dos and Verbs came out and just freestyled their whole set I loved it because it brought a different type of energy … like some mosh pit M.O.P. type vibe. Loved it.

Fishr Pryce:

I was very impressed by Al’s set, and holy shit Dos and Verbs killed their set. Cool-Aide’s set was great. It was dope seeing the whole lp being performed.

Liz:

I wonder whose CD it is.

So I’m sure you get this a lot but your free styling blind folded was very impressive to me. For one because I think anyone who can freestyle that wittingly is a genius cuz god knows i could never do that. So that right there had me going.  My favorite part of the free style was when you took that dollar and shoved it in your pocket instead of giving it back. Classic move.

Dos-Noun:

Dos-Noun and his impetrable jacket

I think my jacket had a huge role in the show in terms of everything and everyone there. The onion rings at the arts garage were delectable as well. I especially loved that one dude from the arts garage with a sock on his head and me and verbs got weak. Fish had a jaunty cap on. And icon was a resurgent martin lawrence ashen phoenix in a flyers hunting cap. I failed my one final but hey, a release party is a release party.

Zilla Rocca:

Al Mighty x Zilla Rocca

I was just going to show love to Has, Al and Dom P. I already knew what Mic was hitting for but once I heard that last track off the LP (the name escapes me now–my apologies) I thought, “Damn this Cool Aide shit is going to bring the fucking ruckus like Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm!” next thing I know Al’s asking me to be his hypeman! I just wanted to be a damn patron of dope Philly shit! Thankfully I got to be both!

Has-Lo:

Best Mayne - These Are Facts

I got to meet a number of people I had hearing about for a while, in the flesh. Rocked in a new place with some old friends (getting to be old friends at least lol), and the FOOD! oh my GOD they have the food game on smash in that Arts Garage kitchen. We did it all from flicking it up, to impromptu freestyles. I even almost fell off stage! got to rock my brand new fly sweater and felt the love coming from that crowd.

We did it again! Some people may not get “I’m The Best Mayne” but we are. THESE ARE FACTS!!

Mommy B:

Went to my son’s release party last night….not that I am biased, BUT HE IS THE BEST RAPPER EVER DEAD, ALIVE OR IMAGINED! He put together a bangin’ (hope I used the word correctly ) PARTY with Chum, Has-Lo, Dos Noun, Verbal Tech, Fishr Pryce and Al Mighty. All outstanding, INTELLIGENT, entertaining, quality rap…not …that crap you hear on the radio! So for those of you who missed it…no matter where in the world you are I strongly recommend you u get started now so you can make it to the release PARTY in New London, CT tonight! I am Mommy B and I support this message! EARLY!

My mom’s feedback on the show was so complete I don’t have to write anything else.

Thank you to the Arts Garage, Public Axis, and everyone that came out. Every special shoutout to my 29th Street friends and actual family that were in the building, you guys made it an extra special night for me. See y’all on the next one, Philly.

I have the best friends and family

peace.

-MiC K!NG