DATE: JANUARY 30, 2016

PLACE: THE BOOTLEG

EVENT: THE GUMBO

LINEUP: SAINT OEAUX, KHORI 4, ARSHAD GOODS, BLACK SPADE

SPECIAL GUESTS: SAINT BOOGIE, THE GAS BAND, DJ T GUTTA, DJ JTR3Y, M-EAZY, TEF POE, INDIANA ROME, AND THE SHORTY WITH THE MELANIN AND CURLY HAIR ON THE WALL. SHE WAS VERY POLITE....... POLITE MEANING FINE AS FUCK.

1 month in the books for 2016. A dope month it was indeed. A lot of things were happening this weekend. I couldn't make it to everything but I made it to this dope event "The Gumbo" created by artist Saint Oeaux. Last night I had the choice of going to "The Gumbo" at "The Bootleg" or seeing a set by legendary producer Timbaland at "The Marquee." No disrespect to one of the greatest producers to ever grace this planet, he made "Cry Me A River" for fucks sake but I'm rolling with the home squad 100 out of 100 times that night. No regrets either. Why because I saw dope performances and heard some unreleased music also. The weather was on point it felt like a classic St.Louis Summer Night. No negativity. I saw some homies. Saw some beautiful women. I attempted to take photos and they came out cool even though I'm not a photographer. Just a night full of love.

BLACK SPADE

Veto Money. What I can say about the legend that hasn't already been said. Just an incredible versatile artist. He kicked off the show by saying "No Fucks Given," and He plays some craaaaaaaazy unreleased joints from his new and unreleased album with TefPoe titled "Preacher In The Trap." If you didn't hear the joints Spade played you missed out on some bombs. I can't wait to purchase the album after what I heard. This is why I live by what Chris Partlow told Michael in greatest show ever created "The Wire." GET THERE EARLY! Fuck that late cool shit. I'm too old for that. Get to these shows on time so they can start on time.

We then get a appearance from TefPoe who takes a break from his 52 weeks freestyle campaign to bless the stage with Spade. He does what he does best and spits that real shit that we need to hear and puts on a dope performance with Spade. Great opening for the night.

KHORI 4

Khori 4's set was really rough because of a plethora of technical difficulties. I've actually seen him perform prior to this event at another event one of my homies Bo Dean threw and Khori 4 did his thing and killed that shit. The technical difficulties on his set just didn't do his performance justice. Trust me, this dude makes some dope ass music and is very talented. The times where he didn't have technical difficulties he was spitting flawlessly and going in but the difficulties kept coming and just took so much out of his set and energy. Check out homie music below he got THAT SHIT. This shit is my favorite from homie.

ARSHAD GOODS & THE GAS BAND

You already know what coming when you see The Gas Band and DJ JTR3Y setting up. Black Sunday is upon us. It's my 3rd time seeing Arshad live with The Gas Band so I'm used to the performance but it's always a honor to watch these guys put on a show. This set was different because Arshad performed some unreleased joints that sounded really smooth. He ran through the favorites "Fear No Man" and "Ride With A" and of course the crowd was fucking with the energy. Great performance by Arshad. I'm supposed come by the lab to check out some more unreleased music. I ain't forgot you my nigga. Haha. We gone link.

SAINT OEAUX & SAINT BOOGIE

The opening to the main event of the night was very real. Probably one of the most heartfelt openings to a set I've ever seen from a St.Louis artist. Saint opens up with "John to Jace" a sincere song dedicated to his Father John who passed away and his newborn son Jace and how their lives parallel each other. The song is very vivid and if you saw this part of the show he paints this picture to the point where you felt like you knew his father and know his son. Moments like that is why you appreciate artistry. Saint Oeaux doesn't have to share his life with us especially something that makes him vulnerable like losing a loved one does but he chooses to. This was by far my favorite moment of the night. I like the real. Anyone can have bars and lyricism but can you speak the real?

M-Eazy accompanies Saint Oeaux on stage and brings energy to compliment Saint Oeaux's energy and it just turns into a party. I mean there was a Tuba on stage. A tuba my nigga. I've seen a tuba probably 2 times in person. Shit rare to me like a unicorn. If that ain't New Orleans I don't know what is. Saint Boogie definitely helped bring this set to another level because you rarely see a band like them accompany a hip hop set. Another favorite moment was of course the performance of "We Don't Love Em." A St.Louis classic and an ode to Mac's "We Don't Love Em." I always tell people Mac (Free Mac) is one of my biggest musical influences growing up. I bought Shell Shocked the first day it dropped in all change. I can't remember the exact date but I do remember it was in July 1998. I will be forever jealous that my bro Big B got his copy signed by Mac when Mac and Big Ed (RIP) came to the old Streetside Records in The Loop for a in store signing. I got to see Mac but didn't get my copy autographed. Mac is one of the greatest rappers I've ever heard and he never got his credit. I was glad to see Saint Oeaux pay homage and do that joint. You know Saint couldn't finish the night without doing "Real or Fake" a song that's been on fire in the streets along with the visual. Just a great set to end the night and even got a acapella flow at the end also. This night was definitely like Gumbo, full of surprises. Salute to everyone involved in every capacity. Definitely a night to remember.

Check Out The "Real or Fake" visual and Listen or Purchase "Via Dolorosa" below.

- BENNY