Brooklyn Museum’s Rubin Pavilion provided an exceptional location for a free concert on last Friday night June 10, 2011. Spacious, both in front of and around the stage, the venue was perfect for the growing audience with an overhead walkway allowing concertgoers to see and hear the artists from every angle.

With hip-hop renditions, high energy, and an eclectic ensemble PhonyPpl captivated the crowd from jump. The group’s performance consisted of a mixture between cuts off their album WTF is Phonyland and covers of other artists.

Unfortunately the audience didn’t give back what PhonyPpl put in. The crowd’s energy waned throughout the set and never seemed to match the energy displayed by PhonyPpl until the group began to play covers of other artists.

Once Theophilus London hit the stage the crowd got live! The hometown native opened with a couple cuts off his Lover’s Holiday (EP). Midway through the set, London noted that he was having trouble with the sound, which was cutting out his vocals for the people in back. This doomed London’s set – ultimately cut short by the audio personnel at the museum after a reported “verbal confrontation” between them and London.

London was able to salvage the show however by tossing out exclusive hats, t-shirts, fake money (yes, fake 1 million dollar bills) into the audience and closing with songs by precursor Brooklyn natives. Who doesn’t love freebies?! But his sudden departure went unnoticed as the audience descended upon the stage and the party popped off.

Words by Chike
Photography by Sade

Words & Flicks by Far Fetched Future

Last Wednesday STR8NYC stormed the MTV2 pre-screening of UnPlugged: Lil Wayne at the Eventi Hotel to get an exclusive look of the show that dropped this past Sunday, June 12th. While MTV’s UnPlugged usually stays away from hip hop, Lil Wayne blessed the stage for this past Sunday’s airing of the historic show. Performing a well-rounded selection of tracks from Tha Carter II, Tha Carter III, Rebirth and his upcoming album Tha Carter IV, Wayne was the dynamic and energetic performer his fans have come to expect.

Wayne came on to a “+” shaped stage with a back up band and hundreds of fans crowding the venue. He started swagged out in dark shades, a “WOW” shirt and a red fitted, but half way through, his shirt, in typical Wayne fashion, ended up on the floor. He was still donning the shades and cap. Rumor has it he is trying to show off his prison workout routine to market a P90X Lil Wayne Limited Edition set to drop this summer.

Throughout the show he blessed the crowd with different “Wayneisms” that were both comical and insightful. Building up the crowd for I’m Single (I Am Not a Human Being) he spurted, “if you in a relationship make some noise, if you having trouble in a relationship make some noise, but if you like me you not in a relationship.” But the jokes were mixed with serious lines as well – “they say you don’t know what you’re doing till you stop doing it.” Which speaks to the multitudes hustling their own brands, labels and businesses in a broken economy.

Beyond the expected tracks, UnPlugged gave the crowd a nice treat when Wayne performed Nightmares of the Bottom off the up-and-coming Carter IV. But this was the most unique moment of the show. Other than the unreleased track, UnPlugged left the viewer empty as to the details of Wayne’s life. While the show featured an amazing performance, especially for anyone who’s never had the luck of seeing Wayne live, it lacked the depth that viewers demand from digital content in the 21^st century. I wanted to know more about Wayne’s personal life – favorite sneaks, family story, best show – than just concert footage could offer.

Overall, MTV2 did an amazing job in capturing Lil Wayne live, but lacked the personal touch that other UnPlugged shows have featured.

Set list for Lil Wayne’s ‘Unplugged.’

’3 Peat’
‘Mr. Carter;
‘Shoot Me Down’
‘Miss Me’
‘A Milli’
‘Fireman’
‘Hail Mary’
‘Hustler Musik’
‘Drop the World’
‘I’m Single (I Am Not a Human Being)’
‘Lollipop’
‘Nightmares At the Bottom’
’6 Foot, 7 Foot’

UnPlugged: Lil Wayne aired this past Sunday June 12 on MTV2 be sure to catch again on heavy rotation. In the meantime enjoy some the flicks we captured at the screening after party.

S/O to LexAve & Lucas of Str8NYC, Zunnania, KurtWurt, Rae & Gabe of SFPL, Hanif Sumner, Double 0, RapRadar’s Elliot Wilson, SomyaK, Jayson Rodriguez and all the other fabulous people that night…cheers to you!

Check out more pics from the rest of the night with Far Fetched Future

Last Thursday StuffFlyPeopleLike held their 3rd year anniversary party at Akoo Showroom in NYC. Str8NYC team was in the building (LexAve & Lucas) partying it up and playing paparazzi. The DJ was on deck and both Rae & Gabe lit up the room with their flyness…great people, good networking, good liquor…overall SUCCESS! Check out some of the flicks below…

Realtalk, here are some reasons why I fell in love with Miguel last night…

New York, NY 10019

HERE’S HOW TO WIN:

Hit our Facebook fan page, “Like” us, and leave comment telling us why you should win. Winner will be selected at random.

Shout out to New Era (props to Ant!) for hooking us up with tickets to the Jay-Z/Eminem concert yesterday. The Jay-Z Blueprint III New Era hat was a hit, because everybody and their mama were rocking one.

Needless to say, the concert was STR8 DOPE! Two of the biggest names in Hip-Hop performed onstage in the heart of the Boogie Down Bronx at Yankee Stadium where Hip-Hop was founded!

J. Cole was one of the opening acts along with Miguel as his featuring guest . . . “All I Want is You” is my jam. B.O.B. was the other opening act. Eminem’s performance was nothing short of amazing and very emotional. Em brought out none other than 50 Cent, D12 and Dr.Dre, who yet again announced that his Detox album is dropping soon. Come on Dre, you’ve been saying that since the Chronic 2001, and your fans are growing impatient.

Funny sh*t, ya boy 50 Cent, despite all the money he has, STILL cannot dress to save his life. He and the G-Unit crew were onstage with glow-in-the-dark Gucci outfits, lol. Like really 50? I guess all his money goes to his jewelery. I can’t be too mad, because at least it wasn’t G-Unit attire. Back to the headliner, Jay-Z graced the stage with guests like Chris Martin, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, and Kanye West! The crowd was so electrified, that Brooklyn could hear their screaming and shouts for Jigga. Better yet, I’m sure Weezy could hear the momentum from Rikers Island!