Doc’s Castle Media had the opportunity to leave our regularly scheduled program to experience something we’re very familiar with outside of our comfort zone last weekend. Doc attended a hip-hop showcase in New York City, and there’s so much to be mentioned about why my experience out of town is worthy of being shared with Baltimore city hip-hop heads.
The Inauguration Concert was hosted my Rockview Entertainment, an independent entertainment group in NYC that specializes in the branding of New York City music artists. Taina and Jus Write are two New York artist of the brand’s roster that came to the showcase that evening. A majority of the Rockview Entertainment events feature local talent from all over NYC. But some artists travel from farther distances to perform.
As a part of the entourage for Baltimore recording artist Jae Duckett, I came to work my talent covering the event by taking photos and experiencing the essence of the show. We came with a total of 9 people. All of us bearing cameras and media equipment in support of Jae. We did this to show the people of the big apple how we roll. We go hard for Baltimore. But do we really?
I wasn’t the only media present at the Inauguration Concert. There were three internet radio shows present; Lyve Lyfe Radio, WVMR, and Baltimore’s own Strong Way Radio. But what took the icing on the cake was Shani Kulture from Hot 97 dropping by in full support of the showcase, as well.
Shani Kulture delivered a message of positivity that was well needed. He encouraged each and every artist’s’ passion for what they do. Coming from someone currently working in mainstream media with large notoriety, encouragement felt like it had come spewing from the fountain of youth. There’s no doubt admiration was projected at it’s finest from prospective talent in the audience that night.
The evening was full of energy and driven individuals. Simply off the atmosphere alone, you’d feel good about what you’re apart of, which is why I needed to write about this particular showcase for Doc’s Castle Media.
Where are these kinds of shows in Baltimore that have this energy?
Not to knock Baltimore too much, there are plenty of notable showcases and shows that receive a good amount of support from locals; like TheMixx Festival hosted by DTLR and The 2nd Anniversary of Baltimore Beat Club hosted by The Lineup Room. We even have shows like Baltimore Crown Awards that celebrate the successes of artists striving to share their passions in the city. But there are many shows that are “ghost,” without even a handful of spectators insight. Baltimore lacks the artist at the shows showing brotherly genuine support. I always ask why is it this way?
If Baltimore could take just a pinch of energy felt that night at the Inauguration Concert, I’d know it’d be another proud moment and a step forward towards the #NewBaltimore that we idolize in 2014 when there was buzz in the atmosphere of a new generation of artists changing how we celebrate indie artists in Baltimore. If we gained the energy felt during the Rockview Ent. show, we might actually have a chance to climb out of the barrels this city seems to be too familiar with.
If I were to suggest some things that happened in New York that Baltimore artists should invest in doing, there wouldn’t be much I’d need to share. Simply showing up and show out for your friends is all that’s needed to be done.
Each artist in the building that night came with an entourage of supportive friends. Similar to attending a high energy sporting event, all friends cheered on their artist like no other. The night started off with each group of friends showing love solely for who they came for. But by the end of the night, the love shown spread into a huge circle of love. Everyone became one, with the help of the evening’s special guest Shani Kulture encouraging everyone to support all of their peers. He reminded the audience that performing in front of strangers isn’t easy. These artists had the courage to entertain the room. Shani basically told us to show our respect and listen to them.
Maybe artists in Baltimore don’t understand that concept of support at all. We ask our friends to come to our shows and end up partying with strangers. Every time we get to a point when we feel like we’re crawling away from the barrel of constant hate, we get pulled back in by those who are the closest to us. Trying to gain support in Baltimore is a never ending battle familiar to anyone who wants to pursue a dream.
“We are better off moving to another state to get ahead,” says a majority of dreamers spotted in the Baltimore arts scene. They say it as if other cities, like Atlanta, GA, and Los Angeles, are the chosen “mecca” lands, getaway places for serenity and peace, for their passions and talents.
This is not so if we’d just support everyone where we are.
Otherwise, my surroundings in NYC made me hopeful to see a concert like the Inauguration Concert replicated in my hometown. There were enough Baltimore natives there to experience the night’s vibes. Hopefully, those people can spread its essence somehow, or maybe I could be reaching.
Why do you think Baltimore artist struggle to gain support from their peers? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Did you catch the visuals for Boutzie’s Intoxico? Watch the music video for Intoxico feature Flu_x and Jimmy Apoet on Doc’s Castle Media.