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Positively Flint : U of M's Mfuse

U of M's Mfuse

I am not sure how the people at U of M's Mfuse pulled this whole thing together, but I thank them for keeping it a cost free event.

U of M's Mfuse
Rob Gill

I have seen Grammy Award winning (2008 “Southside” - album Finding Forever) rapper Common perform a few times before in Detroit and Chicago, but I have to say that this show was probably the best one yet.  The only thing that was lacking was the usual group of friends that perform with him, like Talib Kwali, Kanye West, the Roots, etc., but this day had so much more.  For starters it was free.  I am not sure how the people at U of M's Mfuse pulled this whole thing together, but I thank them for keeping it a cost free event.  The weather was perfect for an outdoor concert, sunny and 70 degrees, and once we figured out how to maneuver our way through the closed streets of downtown Flint, we were able to find a parking spot overlooking the stage (which was much appreciated by my pregnant wife).  There is no way to know for sure how many people attended, but I would guess somewhere around 1,000, and it was an unbelievable mix of races and ages.  It was strange to see senior citizens right along side toddlers at a hip-hop concert; I must say it was a first for me.  My own four year old had a great time, dancing and begging to watch from my shoulders when I wasn't holding the camera.  

Common was preceded by a bit of local talent including a couple of very talented local poets King Hen and Future.  It was inspiring to hear the faithful words of King Hen, as he rhymed about God in his life and the need for Him in our community.  Future followed, continuing to encourage the crowd to use our minds and hearts.  There were also two local rappers that were just too typical to enjoy, standing on stage talking about selling drugs and making money.  I could have handled not hearing these two, but I must say that the poets and Common made it well worth putting my wife and son through the punishment of these two locals.

Common (Lonnie Rashid)  graced the stage for almost an hour performing songs from all of his albums, including classics like "Love of My Life ", and "The Light", and as well as some new material from his cd,  Invincible Summer.  He mixed things up with a two minute freestyle about our very own Flinttown (check out the video), a medley of hip-hop classics spanning the past twenty years and a tribute to DJ's everywhere with his own DJ Dummy taking the stage all to himself.  He was also very outspoken about his support for Barack Obama and his content for the current administration.  He told the crowd that he grew up in a city similar to Flint, with the blight and joblessness and explained that it will take all of us (and Obama as president) to affect any kind of real change in our communities.  If you are not familiar with Common or his music, you should have a listen sometime.  A combination of music from some of the most talented producers of our time (the late Jay Dee, from Detroit, Kanye West and many others) and his smooth soulful voice and real message has made Common very successful in an era of bling-bling and thug rap.  Over the past fifteen years or so he has grown from a little known Chicago mc to one of the nations best-known storytellers, and he has done this with virtually no radio airplay or mainstream television appearances.  It was hard work that made things happen for Common, like constant touring and his many collaborations with friends like Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Talib Kwali, the Roots, Pharaoh Monch, John Legend and Erika Badu that gave him the huge underground following that he has today.  Like many musicians out there, he has crossed over to acting as well.  You can see him in movies, Smokin' Aces, American Gangster Street Kings (in theaters now, in a starring role) and television appearances on Scrubs and Saturday Night Live.


Be sure to check out Common when he comes back through on tour, and his new cd Invincible Summer coming out on July 24, which contains six songs from his 9th album due out in the fall, The Believer.  Also be on the look out for more great events by University of Michigan's MFUSE.  Check them out on the web for more information.

http://www.common-music.com
http://www.umflint.edu/mfuse
 

Flint Talk Writer: Rob Gill

Rob Gill

I am a chef and food writer. I've been trying to survive here in Flint and the surrounding area most of my life. Learn more at...
http://www.myspace.com/rob12345dora123
Fine food in Flint? Eat at Makuch's...
http://www.myspace.com/redroosterflint 

 

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