Live Drum Beats To Your Heart
Nas, Serious Klein
Illmatic 30 Year Anniversary Tour presented by Live Nation, Planet TT Raiffeisenhalle Gasometer Wien, Austria 20241102
Weekends are to celebrate. This first Saturday in November offers the return of Guadalajara at WUK, after years of silence since their successful era at Nova Rock or Walserhalle Raggal with Vanilla Sky and 3 Feet Smaller. Also SBAM Fest invites to Ottakringer Brauerei with two stages and likes of Glue Crew. Whereas at Gasometer, it is all about 90s Eastcoast Hip Hop party.
Yet before, Serious Klein does a great warm up show: „Vienna, wtf is up? – Are you in love with Hip Hop?“ He definitely is the „Homeboy I came to party“, addressing his ‚crazy energy crew‘ and make it jump with bangers like „91 Flex“. Also he shows his skills going a cappella and thanking the audience: „Make some noise for yourself!“ At the end, he takes it back to „Motel 7“ from „You Should’ve Known“.
During the break, tunes from N.W.A., Snoop Dogg and Grandmaster Flash fill the room. Then it is time for Nas. His solo work is remarkable and throughout his career, he was featured by likes of Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliot and 2Pac. For the twentieth anniversary of his 1994 debut „Illmatic“, he published a documentary. And now, ten years later, he set out to play the whole thing live.
Starting with the distinctive beat of „N.Y. State of Mind“ by DJ Premier after „The Genesis“, „Life’s a Bitch“, „The World Is Yours“ and „Halftime“ transport you to another time and place. But not only the album, also the following classic set does so, after Nas took few minutes to spend with his fans in the front rows. „I can“ and „Got Ur Self a Gun“ are more hits played at every court.
As final, Nas chose „If I Ruled the World“ and the emotional „One Mic“. Of course one would have more wishes like „Made You Look“ or „Hate Me Now“, which he performed in Helsinki. Still it is compelling to see „Illmatic“ in its full and this best of.
And it takes Nas less show elements as for example 50 Cent and he also doesn’t rush through that much. But the stage looks fancy with the huge screen changing backdrops and the DJ and a great live drummer on his side.