In the ย90s, the New York crew Brand Nubian set itself apart from socially conscious hip-hoppers like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul by taking a more militant approach to politics. A sample from 1994ยs ยSweatin Bulletsย: ยThe devils make me sick / I love to fill them full of holes / kill them all in the daytime / broad motherfucking daylight.ย (FYI: Theyยre not talking about red devils, folks.)
Brand Nubian, however, was just as much awe as shock. Empowered lyrics combined with clever jazz-and-funk-filled beats garnered the group mainstay status. Later efforts, such as 2004ยs Fire in the Hole and 2007ยs Timeยs Running Out, display a tamer rhetoric but prove the group has maintained a chemistry through multiple breakups and regroupings. See them keep up the intensity today with Connie Price and the Keystones, and DJ Cosmo Baker at 9:30 p.m. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel. For information, call 713-225-5483 or visit www.warehouselive.com. Free, but you must RSVP at www.scion.com/livemetro.
Mon., Feb. 25, 9:30 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Feb 21-27, 2008.