1AM’s Review on Hot 97 Summer Jam ‘09
As you all know, Hot 97’s Summer Jam ‘09 took place yesterday for the last time at Giants Stadium. The scheduled performers for the main show were Mary J Blige, T-Pain, The-Dream, Jadakiss, Young Jeezy, Elephant Man, Mavado, Serani, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Pleasure P. I’ll run through the highlights of the show real quick, hit yall with pics and videos.
You see, I’ve never been to a Summer Jam concert but I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go. There is so much status that comes with it, the biggest name in radio throwing arguably one of the biggest concerts of the year. Since I finally had a chance to go yesterday I had high expectations…. and I’m starting to think I should have lowered them. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad show, but it didn’t live up to all the hype in my opinion. I feel like there should have been more theatrics, I paid for a show, now give me a show dammit! The best thing about everyone’s performances was directly proportional to the people they brought out to preform with them.
First, all the reggae artists went on as all the people stole other peoples seats settled into their seats. I honestly don’t even remember Movado and Serrani performing, thats how good they were (cough) but Elephant Man is a party animal! He was determined to get the crowd hype and he was going to get a reaction out of the crowd albeit through jumping on the speakers, wearing a bedazzled blazer or having red and yellow braids. Although his outfit choices and hair color choices were MORE then questionable, he can work a stage and a crowd. After the reggae artists performed, Pleasure P came out and sung “Boyfriend #2″ and I was impressed that he sounds exactly like his records! Not that his voice is exceptional but these young R&B dudes tend to be turrriibllee live.
Jadakiss came out and gave the crowd a quality performance. He’s so loved by New York that I didn’t doubt his ability to rock Summer Jam. All the die hard Jada fans in attendance (including and especially my brother) chanted D-Block and recited all Jada’s lyrics. He brought out D-Block of course, Swizzy, and let Jeremih “a-a-a-” the crowd up a bit. He had one of the best sets of the night because he included something in his set that no one else did, humor! During the “Who’s real, who’s fake” song, pictures of President Barack Obama, Alex Rodriguez, George Bush, Sarah Palin and Derrick Jeter flashed across the screen… of course Jada knew who the people would choose as real and fake…ha
Now I can’t remember if The-Dream came before Jada, and honestly it doesn’t matter. Here’s my beef with The Dream, he can’t move a crowd! Theres no doubt, The Dream makes great songs that we all know, love, bump uglies and dance to but his live performance is lack luster ! He doesn’t sound like his records and he doesn’t move very well, it all seems so forced. If it weren’t for his dancers and\or Fab, I don’t think people would have paid much attention,I know I sure wouldn’t have.
Thennnn Mary J came out and ripped her classics and did some of her new joints. I think the highlight of her set was when she brought out Method Man to do “All I Need” who brought out Red Man to rap “Ay Yo” with him. I was surprised at how well Mary J Blige can work a stage and sing live, I was very much pleased with her set…and you know I went semi-crazy when “Real Love” came on… Not to mention she looked great! (except I wasn’t really feeling the Mrs.Brady do, but its MJB,what do you expect?)
Then it was Jeezy’s turn, he really got everyone on their feet when he came out, but I really didn’t know what he was saying in his raps, too much raspy-ness for a live performance. I also realized I didn’t know any of his songs he has out now…hmmpf. I was hearing all day that Drake was in the building and a joy came over my heart. The whole time I was waiting for him to come out, so by the time Jeezy’s set came about you best-believe I was restless, but he ran on stage in some regular clothes and shut it down. I just find it amazing that the man hasn’t released an album or even been in the mainstream for more then a few months and the crowd received him so well and knew all his lyrics. He performed “Best I Ever Had”…and you KNOW the girlies went nuts…but the best was yet to come.
You want to know who the saviour of the show was? …
I just thought it was hilarious T-Pain actually came on stage with Jay as he and the crowd rapped away autotune. You can’t tell me Jay doesn’t have the final say in things. Jay said jersey’s were played and every male I know threw on a button up. Although Jay’s message is about 2 years too late, I’m glad it finally came [ll]. The funniest thing about it is T-pain and Jay did not decide together he would walk out during the performance (according to Jay’s interview with Angie Martinez) because of course that would have sent a mixed message, but T-pain decided to walk out on stage himself ( Jay didn’t recognize him at first, instead he thought he was a fan!). At the end of the day,T-pain will continue to use autotune because no one minds it, as for Ron Browz and friends…na na na naaaaa
It was such an epic moment when Jay came out, I’m not a fan for anyone, but the fan sure came out of my ass when Hovy hit the stage lol.
After all that greatness, T-Pain came out and did his set. He has a bunch of great songs that he has features on but he didn’t bring out the people who made those songs hot! It was like you were getting into the song and then he’d change it because the artist responsible for the song wasn’t there *sigh*. But Lil Kim came out and showed her ass, bad performer, ran out of breath or forgot her words, but she looked good nonetheless*snaps for Kim*, working the stage in true Lil Kim fashion (bending over in front of T-pain,and shaking her boo-tay for the crowd).
2\3 of Dipset closed the night out and brought out Souljah Boy… I personally believe that was the wrong way to end the show. Jay-Z should have been the icing on the cake seeing as how he overshadowed anything that happened that night.
-1AM
