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Summer Jam Packed

Posted 06/09/2009 at 12:45 AM  |  1 comment/s  |  Category: Concert

Sunday, June 7th--SUMMER JAM. After Jay-Z's "D.O.A" song dropped on Hot 97 on Saturday I became a bit more excited about my attendance. Great weather, good company, and knowing it was a no-brainer that Jay would be a surprise guest, I went to Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ way more giddy than I was last year. However, all the anticipation, the hype, and even Funk Master Flex's bombs couldn't maintain my excitement for HOT 97's five hour concert a.k.a The Hood Fest!

I'm not going to act like I'm super boogie with it, because there is something about the hood that humbles me and keeps me grounded, but I mean! I don't know what was more entertaining the artists taking the stage or the audience who thought they were the celebs. For every act that performed, there was an equally hood act or performance in the stands. Peep the order of the show.

On stage: First up Day 26, and we all know what performing first means at a concert...your name barely made the bill. No shade, although they were the opening act for the opening act, females stood up in there poon poon shorts to show support. While Will had on his uniform W-beater, they decided to put the heaviest dude in the group, Mike, in a black leather jacket when it was 78 degrees out.

Meanwhile in the stands: Homegirl in a jean halter top dress, takes off her dress and stands up to sing Day 26's single, "Put it on You," in nothing but a gold bikini and heels. Jaw drop!

On stage: Pleasure P sporting a mohawk, blue windbreaker, and some toddler's sunglasses plugged his new album. His performance was decent, but when he ended a 17-minute long rift like he was overtaken by the holy ghost...my eyes rolled.

In the stands: Queen of the poon-poon shorts made her way to her seat stunting! No only were her daisy dukes insanely short they were hoooooot pink! Her bottom teeth? Totally gone....

On the stage: Reggae time --- Serani, Mavodo, and Elephant Man take the stage one after another to give the Caribbean massive their fill the evening. Serani and Mavodo much respect, but Elephant Man? Red and yellow braids, a jacket borrowed from MJ closet, capri pants, and black tube socks doing the Nuh Linga? Ughhh.....

In the stands: Nobody topped Elephant Man's fooolishness. No one.

On the stage: Next up, Dream, with his body squeezed and squished in a to ssssmedium white leather jacket, he came on stage after the wild child Elephant Man. Yes, Dream you have hits, but vocals not so much....not giving quite enough to hold the audience attention. His dancers stole the show, and Fabolous made a guest appearance in a plastic Gucci jacket.

In the stands: A fight breaks out between two super deebo dudes, in the VERY aisle I am standing. Our very cool Caucasian music editor Sean Fennessey, shocked me. I respect his gangsta he wasn't moved, scared, or anything. But Janelle Grimmond, VIBE's associate market editor and I were clutching our bags jumping over seats in fear for our lives. Immediately after another fight pops off, it rains...total FAIL.

On the stage: "This is D-Block Mighty Mighty D-Block." Jada is the first performer for the night (at least to me) and he kills it. Dude has street cred for days. He brings out his bro Sheek Louch, Busta Rhymes, Swizz Beats and weirdly enough Jeremih. Although I wanted to pull out my weave when Jeremih belted out the overplayed "Birthday Sex," he does deliver. Dude can sing.

In the stands: People cant even pronounce Jeremih name's name correctly, but know his lyrics. "Who dat?" "O dat's the boy Jeremey," ...c'mon. There is also a chic is a garter belt, fishnet stockings, and cutout lingerie p-poppin on a handstand--holding her heels.....work!

On the stage: Mary J. Blige appears like the legend she is, and the crowd goes bananas! In all black, fitted jeans, tank and leather vest, Mary's rock star look is on point. 6-inch Gucci shoes on her feet, she is dancing like she finally went out and purchased some rhythm. Mary's hood love anthem "Your All I Need," brings out Method Man in all his glory, who brings out Red Man (wearing a vest w/o a shirt...yikes) to entertain the crowd with their new and old tunes.

In the stands: Two chics are making a killing, selling marijuana to the already lifted fans. "Yo ma I got that weed, 20 bags and a free dutch." Damn. Smart, because I mean EVERYONE was smoking.

On the stage: If the ladies went looney over Mary, then the fellas went crazy for Jeezy. Jeezy pauses between each of his songs to "preach," but two or three songs in, he brings out....wait for it wait for it...Drake! Drake performs "Best I Ever Had," in a jean jacket and khakis looking like his mother still shops for him. The stadium was in a uproar...girls and guys couldn't get enough of this dude. No album, millions of fans.

In the stands: Epic bromance...dudes taking pictures of each other, rapping to each other, singing to each other, maaaaaaaaaan hugging each other...um I think it was a little to much weed being smoked.

On the stage: Jeezy comes back to perform "Put On" and who, no other than Jay Z strolls on the stage to perform his verse. The stadium goes insane--if their was a roof it would of been blown off. Fans screamed like they were dying. Like I predicted Jay Z performs his newest track "D.O.A" (Death of Auto-Tune), and T-Pain comes on stage. Touche' -- I don't know if that was a diss or antic, but T-Pain looked more than happy to be on the stage with the big homie...even if he was getting played.

In the stands: If one more person said "Now that's what I'm talking 'bout" I was going to make a "mistake" and smack someone.

On the stage: Jay-Z off, T-Pain on. How could you even follow that? Summer Jam then turned into the the T-Pain show. He had to be on stage for at least an hour. His surprise guests? Ace Hood, Lil Kim with her airbrushed abs, Maino, DJ Khaled, and his creepy looking Mime dancer.

In the stands: *Crickets*

Lesson Learned: It's not where you're from, it's where your at.

BIG UPS: Ashley Levy (HOT 97), Lauren Schneider (Island Def Jam), Sharada Maddox (Island Def Jam), Ali Bianchi (Island Def Jam), Summer 09 Edit Interns, Nancy Byron (OG PR), Syreta Oglesby (Universal)

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