The Screwface Capital
Time and time again, I keep seeing “The Screwface Capital” in print, I overhear conversations about it and until now I didn’t know what the hell it meant. Finally, i got some insight but I still can’t say that I know for sure. From what I’ve seen over the years filming live performances… hip hop and r&b just don’t get the same warmth that rock audiences offer the bands they are watching.
Any time I go to a concert, I will always take a good look at the audience to see how well the performer is connecting with them. More often than not, an urban performance takes twice as long to heat up, and the audience is much harder to impress. Could it be that the entertainment value of an MC spitting in a mic is not up to par to a multi-talented guitarist who sings and solos at the same time? Could it be that there is just not enough eye candy on the stage in comparison to a full band that offers a variety of different items to admire such as drums, bass, guitar, singers… how does a live hip hop band feel about The Screwface Capital? Would The Roots face the same challenge as an MC accompanied by an instrumental CD?
My personal take is just that… eye candy. There have been a multitude of occasions where I have been let down by an MC who brings in a CD to perform with that isn’t even instrumental. They are rapping over top of their pre-recorded vocals… they might as well lip sync in my opinion. There are few MCs who actually have DJs accompanying them as opposed to a CD such as Theo3, Rochester, The Rawluck Movement, or Buck 65. It would appear that the real urban stars bring more to the table… such as video projectors, mpcs or a live band.
I think for the most part they do quite well. So in light of this observation, I would presume that anyone who is experiencing “The Screwface Capital” needs to step up their game. Not only is flow, rhyme, and energy important, so is stage banter, musical interaction, be it vinyl, mpc, or instrumentation… a lot can be said about a strong light show or even a simple video projection in sync to the beat.
Kudos to Theo 3 for a slick performance, smooth flow and dope rhymes. Check out his MySpace for a preview of his upcoming album “I’m Going In”… the artwork is plausible, witty and in line with today’s media. It’s a hard climb to the top, but I’m confident that Theo, as smart as he is… will be around and growing large for years to come.
For more information about Theology 3 or to find out where he’ll be next, visit http://www.myspace.com/theology3