P.E.A.C.E. Project 2004 (Brother Ali, Slug, G.L.U.E. and C.M.A) - San Diego, Calif.
Location: Aubergine - San Diego, Calif.
Author: Chris Johnson
Photography: Chris Johnston
The P.E.A.C.E. Project 2004, sponsored by the Sovereign Clothing company, was the best concert I have attended in my 24 years on this planet. In other words, you could say it was everything I had hoped for and expected.
How could I not have? Picture this: Brother Ali, G.L.U.E. (ADeeM, DJ DQ, Maker), and the C.M.A. (The Grouch and PSC), all in the same damn house for one night of absolute blessedness. Oh, I left out one minor detail -- the host was a guy by the name of Slug.
Let the festivities begin.
The flyer said doors were opening at 8:00, that the concert was to start at 9:30. Though my better judgment told me that the show wouldn’t begin until about 10:30, I wouldn't allow myself the uncertainty. I had to be there. I would miss nothing.
My bad.
The concert didn’t really jump off until about 11 o’clock, so I did what any rational human being in my situation would have done: I headed to the bar and got comfy, cause God knows the artists love a little enthusiasm when they call out at the crowd in front of them.
Eventually, it all began when a little guy, I'd say about 5’6”, started loitering around the stage. My friend turns to me like: "I thought the good people were gonna perform now." I told him I thought the same. About 10 seconds later, we stood with our jaws touching our Nikes as this little wire-rimmed glasses-wearing white boy went on to grab the mic and absolutely silence the restless and incredulous crowd with an acappella verse ripped so vigorously nobody in the club knew who the hell was attacking us with these vocals. He stood right there in front of us but we didn’t believe it. This man was ADeeM.
Now I know of ADeeM’s music (Sweet Talking Your Brain, Dorian Three member, etc.), and I’ve heard of him placing well in many battles throughout the past few years, but I had never actually “seen” him before. ADeeM and the rest of his newest cohorts (DJ DQ, Maker) are G.L.U.E., and to give you an idea of how good their set was, I’ll just say that after the last performance of the evening, I was first in line at the G.L.U.E. poker table to spend my last ten bucks on Seconds Away, their brand new LP.
After a huge uproar from the crowd following G.L.U.E.’s final curtain call, the crowd’s decibel level rose to a whole other level (which at the time seemed impossible), as the man that many came to see casually strolled on stage like a wrestler just being tagged into The Steel Cage Match.
Big Bad Brother Ali didn’t waste any time as he dove directly into the "Champion Remix," featured on his newest release, the Champion EP. The crowd looked as if someone just cranked up The House of Pain in a Boston bar. Everyone was hopping from the minute Ant’s (Rhymesayers producer) reggae-influenced beat dropped to the very last word released from Ali’s mouth.
Ali would go on to perform almost every single song off of his critically acclaimed sophomore release Shadows on the Sun and the previously mentioned Champion EP. Highlights included the observational "Room With A View," the self-deprecating "Forest Whitiker," the autobiographical "Picket Fence," and the absolutely hilarious "Prince Charming," on which Ali -- in third person -- tells a tale of a naïve and overbearing guy who wants nothing more than to “spend a little time” with a pretty young lady who just doesn’t seem to be reciprocating his smothering tendencies. The song quickly reaches the point of stalking, criminal charges and “If I can’t have ya, nobody will,” but all the time maintains the listener’s ear to ear grin because it’s just too damn playful.
Ali is a very tough act to follow, but after a one hour plus set, he was drained, and the crowd couldn’t have asked for a better performance, so they welcomed the West Coast’s Living Legend’s sub group C.M.A. with open arms.
PSC and The Grouch have been touring all over the globe since the mid-90s, and you get that feeling instantly when you see them together on stage. Their chemistry is blatant, and the fun that they have on stage is infectious to the point that you can’t help but join ‘em.
The best part about seeing them together is that between the two of them they have ten solo albums, one C.M.A. group album (another in the works) and dozens of other side projects. Why is that the best part? Because with all of that material, you’re getting a lot more than a C.M.A. concert. You’re getting a Grouch concert, a PSC concert, a Living Legends concert – WAIT A MINUTE! There are seven members in the Living Legends. How can the Grouch and PSC possibly make up for all of the missing members?
Good question. If you’re familiar with a song called "Night Prowlers" off of Living Legends' 2001 album Almost Famous, then you’d know it features Slug, who happened to be the guest host of the evening. Okay, so Sunspot Jonz wasn’t present to do his verse, but between The Grouch, PSC and Slug, there was more than enough palpable energy to make you feel like you were experiencing an earthquake.
My time is more than up, so I will finsih with this: P.E.A.C.E. Project 2004 was unforgettable. Any time you have the chance to see any of these performers live, do it! If you don’t, you might just miss out on the best concert of your life.
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Reader's Comments:
sacha :: 10:38 Thursday 23 Febalthough some didn't like your comments about opening acts, I think It was a good review of the headliners. you focused on what was important to you and rolled with it. for all the haters out there, it was his homie who said that, not Chris. Anyways, keep up the good work, im out.
Chris :: 11:12 Tuesday 13 SepAnd you "definately" don't even know how to spell the word "definitely," you fuckin' scrub ass little kid.
jay :: 16:23 Thursday 30 Junyeah u r definately a fag
sketch :: 22:36 Saturday 26 MarLike your website and article...Cant find sites that know alot about the underground artists anymore...E mail me
Chris :: 15:06 Friday 28 JanNo loss there, Joe.
joe :: 16:33 Sunday 23 Janyeah this is the last time i ever peep your stuff
Chris :: 11:54 Thursday 26 AugI knew what my friend meant when he asked me the question. He came to see the big names, and yeah, he is a dick. He'll be the first to admit it. He's not open to new acts unless I tell him to listen to them.
I apologize for the way you perceived it. Trust that it was not my intention. I enjoyed both the Sonic Tongue Click as well as the Dialectx crew.
As you can see from my review, there were many acts performing that evening, and it wasn't possible to elaborate upon every last one of them, being that we have word amount limits.
Once again, I apologize for the misunderstanding.
"I thought the good people were gonna perform now." I told him I thought the same......
just my two cents, u make it sound like the local acts sonic tongue click and dialectx, who performed earlier, that you didnt mention.....were wack so your wack