Let me open this review with an admission: I am probably not the ideal candidate to review a hip-hop show. The last rap album I purchased was Outkast’s ATLiens. I’m about as hip to the current hip-hop culture and slang as a 40-year-old mother of three. But even an untrained eye (and ear) like myself couldn’t help but be blown away by the bewildering level of talent, charisma and unbridled energy on full display as Doomtree took over the Turner Hall stage Saturday night.
Hailing from Minneapolis, Doomtree is not your typical hip-hop outfit, as evidenced by what can only be described as an atypical crowd—I can honestly say I did not expect to see so much Pabst gear and graphic wolf shirts. But this night was all about shattering expectations and changing misperceptions, and opening act Toki Wright set that tone from the outset. Taking a breath between well-produced songs that ranged from ear-throbbing house to reggae-infused groove, Wright gave shout outs to Milwaukee’s own Kid Cut Up and all regional artists who are out there showing the world that “we don’t just tip cows in the Midwest.”
After a brief but intense interlude laid down by Doomtree producer and chief beat-maker Lazerbeak, the rap super group hit the stage hard. Doomtree is a collective of individually accomplished rappers and producers who have all made big names for themselves on the underground hip-hop circuit. Each emcee brings his (or her) unique style to the party, making for a diverse and dynamic set of music that never dragged and always impressed.
Though the group was minus its most iconic emcee P.O.S., who left the tour a few days early to witness the birth of his child, Doomtree put on a blistering two-hour set highlighted by the rock-tinged “No Way” and the epic singalong “Bangarang” among many others. Each member took turns leading the charge from the beautiful yet brutal Dessa to the insightful and cinematic rhymes of Cecil Otter, creating a kaleidoscope of musical styles.
Much like Toki Wright before them, the members of Doomtree spent much of the show talking up the camaraderie between the Minneapolis and Milwaukee scenes. The only moment of lapse in the Midwest love fest occurred toward the end of the set when an arrant projectile caught Sims directly in a sensitive area. I haven’t witnessed too many encores that start out with the group giving a shout out to the “a-hole who threw a full bottle of water at my man’s nuts.”
So this is what hip-hop shows are like, eh? Count me in.
Visit our Doomtree photo gallery for more images from the show!
