"I went to Honolulu to record with Kanye West for a day and I spent a week, that's where it all began." Pusha T explained to a packed out BB King's Friday night. The audience was waiting for Fabolous but they'd more than settle for the rapper who joined Keezy on "Runaway" and "Mercy". Both of which he would perform during his 60 minute rap and samples opening set.
Pusha T is the King of flow but is voice is a bit light and on his first album. Fear of God II: Let Us Pray had its moments (a new one to be released later this year should tell the real story but it was too relentlessly dark to cross over or, indeed, to sell much. Time after time, he seems to be coming through on tracks without managing to maintain it for more than a couple of verses. And while the songs are the usual rape and pillage though with a way with an image. He doesn't get his pop on and Friday even when he did, he chose to maintain the harshest of visages. The "Runaway" verse he chose was NOT the one where he doesn't know what she would do if she leaves him.
It is a thrill to watch him perform his performances live on stage, and a reminder as to how good music he can be, "What's a circus without a clown?" he asks on "New God Flow" and when he comes into his own on "Oh God" it is worried up and powered up staccato rat-a-tat- that finds him capable of shaking the posse member Pusha T seems tethered to. MCs love him because because he brings gravitas to without overwhelming a track.
Personal best was the great "Blocka" with all the reggae influences gone and song emerging as a singalong, but a scary one. Pusha T holds the stage very well, maybe better than Fab later in the evening, he is all attitude and intimidation."Don't Like" is given an airing, It is powerful stuff and holds the audience tight. They don't seem to warm up to him but equally they seem impressed.
With just the bear minimum for a live performance, the set has tempo and pacing. It is professional and smart. Pusha T closes his set with the brilliant new "Numbers On The Boards" and he seems to be very close to breaking through to the next level. he might be a violent hood but he is a violent hood who has learnt a lot from the GOOD MUSIC label and is beginning to execute it very very well.
Grade: B+