The 4th Annual TIDAL X: Brooklyn at Barclays Center, Tuesday, October 24th, 2018, Reviewed
All proceeds generated from Wednesday’s Tidal X show went toward four organizations benefiting criminal justice and prison reform across America. A lot was said about the mass incarceration of Black and Latin American citizen, what wasn’t mentioned is that when people go to prison they lose their right to vote and when they are released from prison they don’t automatically regain the right… It is depressing stuff and a great cause and for your money you got an outstanding show. Yesterday Angie Martinez MCd, and very well I might add, and NJ Senator Cory Booker, who made a complete ass of himself at the Kavanaugh hearings, brought his kids out and Ava Duvernay brought out Tommie Smith -the man who won the gold at the Olympics in 1968 ,200-meter running event , gave the black power salute. Tidal X is one of my favorite occasions of the year, it has become a hip hop, as opposed to pop, Jingle Ball with a better mix of musicians at various stages of their career.
But it does have a flaw. Tidal X began at nearly precisely 8pm, and the pace was relentless with a two sided stage so no wait between sets and only pauses for the causes, but there are too many names. I stayed till past midnight and managed to miss Meek Mill, Lauryn Hill, and Lil Wayne. I might have stayed at least till Meek Mill if Tidal X had posted the times of sets -after waiting four hours I missed him by ten minutes, I would have waited, but the segue from Black Thought (of the Roots) to Normani put me off.
Many things to be impressed by but especially the sound was excellent… anyway -to the best of my memory, here is what you missed.
Teyana Taylor – Opening the night and for only two songs as well, the same position Luis Fonsi had last year so not a black hole, but she should have come on at 10pm and done fifteen minutes. Still, a taste of what the great r&b star can do.
Patrick Droney – The ace electric guitar prodigy performed a broiling “Stand And Deliver”
Cautious Clay – Raps and then adds a flute or sax…
Arin Ray – The former X Factor winner, here he performs alt-r&b
SiR – Very big alt-soul guy who brings jazz leanings and a strong voice.
Smoh Allegra – She has been sampled by Drake and is opening for Daniel Caesar, and the Swedish r&b singer (her parents are Persian) was mesmerizing.
Anderson. Paak – Overdid the drums but who cares when he brings Cali legend Too $hort to perform “Blow The Whistle”
Danielle Bradbery – Yes, the all inclusive Tidal invited a country performer.
Jacob Banks – UK soul singer with a very powerful voice.
BlocBoy JB – Another guy who owes a lot to Drake, he wasn’t very good when I saw him at the XXL Freshman class gig but he has settled down and, with just a DJ as backup, performed well.
Jay Critch – For a rapper who is considered a major New York up and comer, the response was a little quiet…
Kodak Black – You’ve heard of “Kodak Yellow,” this is the guy Cardi B named the song after. He had a lot to prove as one of the biggest young hip hop stars in the world today, and he handled himself very well, plus we got “Roll In Peace”.
Nick Jonas – The Jonas who broke TayTay’s heart gave a consciously cool boy band-y disco pop mini set.
Lil Skies – The baby trap representative didn’t excite the audience though I liked him.
DaniLeigh – The second performer with a Prince connection (Smoh was the first), maybe the night was wearing the audience down…
Queen Naija – A modern day Mary J. Blige teller of heartache tales and the homegirls behind me flipped out.
Bazzi – The very popular soul singer killed it with “Myself” off his last album.
Black Thought – The rapper/singer from the Roots coulda saved us the political song but he raps like the real thing and, more importantly, brought out living legend Fat Joe.
Normani – The Fifth Harmony who isn’t Camila was a firm favorite, bringing down the house around midnight…. as I edged towards the exit.
Grade: A-
