EL-P “The Overtly Dramatic Truth” (Live at the Plug awards)
Brief remark to praise the excellent live show El-P offered to his London audience last Thursday.
After a lively set by the support duo Kid Acne, in Beastie Boy circa “Licensed to Ill” vocal mood, and a rather long wait El-p finally hit the stage for a brief but incredibly intense show.
By asking the audience, “Do you want to listen to some happy music? Well, you’re not getting any of that shit” the rapper pretty much set the tone of his performance, mostly focused on his latest album “I’ll sleep when you’re dead”.
The ex Company Flow member came onstage showing a black eye, and a bleeding wound in the head -we want to believe it was all make up-, with a crew that included an excellent, and rock n roll hall of fame inductee, DJ in charge of the always innovative rhythms; a keyboard player and a second rapper.
Classic moments from his debut “Fantastic Damaged” back to back with new favourites like “The Overtly Dramatic Thurth” or “Up All Night” didn’t leave anyone disappointed.
El-p proved that he is one of the few artist still carrying hip hop’s traditional torch made of social commentary and sense of rebellion, injecting life into a genre currently dying due to an overdose of gangsta poses and commercial, teen pleasing rubbish.