Armed with nothing but horns and drums The Soul Rebels filled Brooklyn Bowl Thursday night. It was the first of a three-night residency for the New Orleans based funk/soul/jazz band who seamlessly blend these genres with a perfect mix of hip-hop.
Warming up the crowd was DJ Natasha Diggs spinning deep dance classics and she also filled in for DJ Questlove’s weekly Bowl Train set later that night.
Natasha Diggs
Natasha Diggs
Thursday’s show happened to be Thank The Media Night at Brooklyn Bowl. All journalists received complimentary admission by showing their business card at the door. It was also the first night of tributes to Hip-Hop’s biggest legends.
Soul Rebels
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After beginning the set with some Rebel originals, they welcomed a ripped and shredded Grandmaster Melle Mel. The original “MC,” wearing a tank top with his likeness printed on it, rapped his 1982 hit “The Message” while horns blared and the crowd sang, “Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge!”
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Melle Mel
Melle Mel
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The next hip-hop pioneer the Soul Rebels honored was Rakim. Decked out in Army fatigues, he muscled through his hits “Paid In Full” as well as “Don’t Sweat the Technique.”
Rakim
Rakim
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Rakim
Soul Rebels
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim
The Rebels also covered some rap classics like Lil Kim’s “Crush On You” and “Can I Kick It” by A Tribe Called Quest. However, the night was not over; at the end of their set, The Soul Rebels vowed to return for a second set following Natasha Diggs’ Bowl Train DJ set.
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Soul Rebels
Article: Michael DiGiovanni
