Show Review: The Pangea Reunion Show (aka The House Party of the Year)

By Keegan Hamilton Sun., Dec. 14 2008 at 1:22 PM

Categories: Fiesta!, Music, Reviews, Snapshots

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If you love St. Louis hip-hop and weren't at Pangea's house party reunion show in south city last night, then I am truly sorry for you. The past, present and future of St. Louis hip-hop were all gathered in one room, performing and having a blast.

While the event was promoted heavily with flyers and on MySpace pages, it still managed to be low-key. The crowd was large but friendly, and the show went down in the basement of the house. It was smoky, crowded and hot as hell, just like a good house party should be.

The hosts of the party, the Midwest Avengers, opened things up with a handful of their rock/rap jams.

Next up were the stars of the evening, Rockwell Knuckles and Wafeek, reunited under the banner of Pangea.

With Trackstar the DJ on the turntables, the pair plowed through a half dozen songs that included cuts from Knuckles' Northside Phenomenon and New Standard Mixtape and Wafeek's The Aristocrats Mixtape.

It was beautiful. The two old friends were clearly having a ball, rapping each other's verses over impromptu remixes and reveling in the moment.

Eventually the show turned into a sort of Best of 2008 St. Louis hip-hop revue. Family Affair took the stage to perform "Bang 2 Slang" with Rockwell. Black Spade picked up mic to sing the soulful chorus on "Her Perfume," while Rocky and Feek rapped their verses from the song, which was on Spade's To Serve With Love. Tef Poe took a turn. Vandalyzm got on stage for "Three the Hard Way," which featured both Rockwell and Wafeek on his latest record.

Virtually the same lineup has performed the most of the same songs at the Gramophone a half dozen times this year, but there was a much more raw, honest, and energetic feel last night. Maybe it was the copious amounts of liquor that were being consumed -- or maybe it was the simple fact that all the rappers were at ease doing what they've done years with their old crew -- but the night just seemed special.

Judging from the performances and the fact that damn near every artist is working on new solo records for the coming year, including a Black Spade-produced Pangea collaboration, this was a helluva sneak preview for 2009.

Vandalyzm

Black Spade

Wafeek

Wafeek again

Tef Poe

The Midwest Avengers

Family Affair

Wafeek and Rockwell Knuckles

Wafeek

-- Keegan Hamilton

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