How The Grouch Stole Christmas featuring The Grouch, Brother Ali & Eligh @ El Rey Theatre – 12/1/10

Good hip-hop shows are few & far between. I’ve been to hundreds of concerts in my life yet only a few really great hip-hop shows stand out in my mind.

To this day, Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli) closing out the Coachella main stage in 2005 remains my all-time favorite hip-hop performance but all 3 times I’ve seen Atmosphere (at Coachella 2006, Outside Lands 2009 & The Fonda in LA somewhere in between) have been BAD ASS. I LOVE Slug & Ant’s beats are like no one else’s. Ant also does the majority of Brother Ali’s beats, which was part of the reason why I was so excited to attend How The Grouch Stole Christmas featuring The Grouch, Brother Ali & Eligh at El Rey Theatre last night. I was pretty sure Brother Ali would be great but I didn’t know exactly what to expect from The Grouch & Eligh (both vets of the classic super group Living Legends). I was wholeheartedly impressed.

The Grouch’s set was SOLID & included guest appearances by Eligh & practically ALL of Living Legends (except for Murs…darnit) but, in my opinion, Brother Ali was the highlight of the evening. He performed a cover of recently deceased Eyedea’s Smile & I seriously almost cried (not typical for a hip hop show but SO touching!). 

Brother Ali’s songs are full of positive messages &, in between songs, he shared some powerful stuff with the audience. At one point, he even managed to get everyone in the crowd to turn to the person on his/her left & right & say “I love you, motherf*cker.” I told a complete stranger I loved him & he said he loved me too. We had a moment…as did every other member of the audience. It was awesome.

Brother Ali is one of THE best (& most underrated) hip-hop artists of our time. If you don’t know his music &/or you think it’s a little strange to be a fan of a Muslim albino rapper, stop being so close-minded & start listening! :-)

Brother Ali

The Grouch & Living Legends

Eligh & The Grouch