D12 & CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE
02 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
23RD AUGUST 2011
DETROIT IS UP IN DA HOUSE!
D12 are a band that will always make people ask one question "Is Eminem Going to be there?" And tonight, for the 02 Academy audiences, was going to be no different.
Unlike the US, Europe does not get the regular diet of news that keeps us abreast of developments in the hip-hop world.
Those in the know, probably already had been informed that hip-hop majesty, was not going to appear and even though he made a short visit to London, "I'm the lead singer in the band" was a prophecy that, on this occasion, was proved to be untrue.
Damn!...this time, it was all the more disappointing, because, either by mysterious coincidences or faith itself, all the signs were there. Both were in the UK at the same time, Eminem had invited the D12 to perform '"fight game" with him on stage and they were very much together backstage at the V Festival reminiscing about old battles and their home town of Detroit.
Anyway, back to the show itself.
The main support came from Clement Marfo & The Frontline arranged by Jar Music Live in association with Academy Events.
The venue was heaving with over 700 fans, due mostly to the show being pushed back by 30mins. It's never easy to come on to stage in a packed venue whose audience has come to see someone else. It takes huge stage presence and the ability to communicate with an audience to get them to listen to what you have to offer. Clement had this in abundance.
Having great songs was also a great help, which wasn't lost on the audience, who after the band's first song got really into the set. If you'd just walked in you would have been forgiven for thinking that you were watching the headlining act.
Songs that got the arms waiving in traditional hip-hop style was "Champion", "Overtime" and "Something Rising".
Kudos to Jar Music Live for yet again bringing to the party another excellent and well polished UK band, whom they have been championing and helping to develop their profile – Somewhat of a rarity in today's cutthroat music business.
CMTF will be supporting Dizzie Rascal at the 02 Academy Brixton on the 6th October 2011 as part of the Union Freshers fortnight. Details can be found at www.jarmusiclive.com.
After a short breather, the unmistakable chant of 'put your "mother*@£%&^" hands in the air for D12, emanated from the PA, to which the band appeared on stage as everybody obediently put their hands in the air.
From this point onwards the venue was in a perpetual state of "bounce".
With DJ Young Mase at the decks and MCs Bizarre, Kuniva, Denaun Porter and Swifty supplying the rhymes the crew proceeded to blow the roof off the venue to the delight of the packed crowd, although there was an audible disappointment when it was confirmed that the main man Eminem would not be appearing.
"Yo London, how many psycho we got out there tonight?" and "Put your lighters in the air" were two of the many chants and shout outs.
The band was no strangers to self-promotion as fans were urged to repeat D12 over and over and of course they duly obliged.
The set included the chart toppers "Purple Pill", "My Band", "How Come", "Fight Music", "40 Oz" and "Get My Gun".
Bizarre took off his shirt to display a body that Buddha himself would be proud of, displaying a set of man boobs that were, shall we say, quite mobile. When asked why he was bearing his body half way through their set he replied because I'm a 'Rock Star' and the track was duly performed.
After the show all D12 members had a meet and greet with fans where they signed t-shirts, caps and certain parts of the body…. I'll leave it up to you to figure out which ones.
All in all this was a great way to spend a Tuesday night!
Richard Henderson
Music News
