Photos: Legends of Hip Hop Tour 2011
The Legends of Hip Hop Tour 2011 rolled through the Chaifetz Arena along with some of hip hop’s earliest and most influential artists, including Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Salt ‘n Pepa, Biz Markie, Kurtis Blow, and MC Lyte.
Photos: Drake @ The Fox Theater
After catching Drake at the Bamboozle in New Jersey this spring, I was excited to get an assignment to cover his headlining performance at the Fabulous Fox Theater. While his festival show had alright lighting, it was really Drake’s fun an engaging performance that really made for compelling images. For his gig at the Fox, [...]
Photos: Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. World Tour
Rocking the E.N.D. World Tour, the Black Eyed Peas delivered a fantastically photogenic performance, including big lights, great costumes, and an arena-fill stage presence. If anything, there was so much going on at any given moment that it was tough to choose one’s subject – a great problem to have for any music photographer.
Photos: Common
Hip hop is probably one of the more challenging genres of music to photograph. With often animated stage presences, quick movements, and mic-in-the-face performances for many rappers, clean shots are no easy matter. Common’s performance in downtown St. Louis was no exception. Thankfully, the production had some nice lighting effects, so together with Common’s command [...]
Photos: Drake @ The Bamboozle
I had no idea what to expect with Drake, but I have to give it up to the rapper – his set was a genuinely nice surprise at The Bamboozle. Lots of energy, mugging, and attitude that came through even with some off lighting. Not easy to photograph, but certainly fun in the effort.
Atmosphere
May 21, 2009 – On the home stretch of their “When God Gives You Ugly Tour,” it was clear that Atmosphere were in top form. If the band was road weary, it surely didn’t show as they rocked a tight performance for their first St. Louis date in nearly three years.
Portraits: Attracted to Gods
May 22, 2009 – I caught up Nate Collis and Brian McLeod of Attracted to Gods, a rockin’ two-piece band from Minneapolis.
Unladylike
February 19, 2009 – Coming in with the one-two punch, newly Def Jam-signed rap duo Unladylike brought a fierce and unrelenting set to the Swagger Like Us Tour, priming the stage for headliners T.I. and Ludacris.
Jim Jones
February 19, 2009 – Showing the world how to pop champagne, Jim Jones’s performance on the Swagger Like Us Tour seemed as if it could have been any other night at the club for the rapper, as he drank, puffed, and passed, all while never missing an opportunity for a well-timed pelvic thrust. Needless to [...]
T.I.
February 19, 2009 – Headlining the Swagger Like Us Tour, Atlanta’s T.I. capped off the night with his own brand of braggadocio, the kind of do-or-die strutting that had the rapper offering to take haters off the hands of his fans one song while ripping off his shirt and throwing it to the fans during [...]
Ludacris
February 19, 2009 – Performing on the Swagger Like Us Tour, Southern rapper Ludacris brought equal parts braggadacio and impeccable showmanship to the stage at the Chaifetz Arena.
Gym Class Heroes
January 8, 2009 – Performing on the I Am Music Tour in support of Lil Wayne, Gym Class Heroes performed a quick-hitting set that included fan-favorites like “Peace Sign” and “Cupid’s Chokehold.”
Nelly, Murphy Lee, and the St. Lunatics
August 30, 2008 – In surprise appearance, the St. Lunatics stormed the stage at the Chaifetz Arena, making their first group performance together in eight years. At the center of the spotlights were Nelly and Murphy Lee, who delivered a tight and quick set of the crowd-pleasing jams before Lil Wayne‘s set capped off the [...]
Nas
Backed by DJ Green Lantern on the decks, hip hop luminary Nas took the stage in a fiery performance that had the house shaking with tracks from 1994′s Illmatic to 2008′s Untitled and everything in between.
Lil Wayne
August 30, 2008 – After devastating performances by the St. Lunatics, multi-platinum recording artist Lil Wayne rolled into the Chaifetz to throw down, spit fire, and claim his title as best rapper alive.
Talib Kweli
Opening for Nas on the Jones Experience Tour, underground hip hop star Talib Kweli delivered a tight set that drew from his deep catalogue, including old standbys like “Get By,” from his debut solo album Quality, and “I Try,” from The Beautiful Struggle.
The Roots @ the Fox Theatre — 2008.05.29
With not a turn table, DAT, or laptop in sight, the Legendary Roots Crew lit up the Fox Theatre in a fiery deliver of their trademark live show.
The Roots — 2008.04.18
“The ever-elusive hip hop,” riddled Black Thought, pausing between songs. “Is it dead? Is it alive?” By the end of the night, this last question would be answered with a definitive positive in performance by the MC and the Legendary Roots Crew.
Music Soulchild @ the Pageant — 2008.04.09
Stepping out into the spotlight in a silver-studded vest, matching slacks, and his signature aviator sunglasses, there was no doubt: Musiq Soulchild was home. The acclaimed soul singer slid out onto the stage and into the spotlight with all the ease of walking into his living room, greeting 1,500 of his closest friends.
N.E.R.D. @ the Pageant — 2008.03.09
The moment Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley explode onto the the stage, the crowd has forgotten about the 45-minute set change. Backed by Chad Hugo on the decks and a full band, the two tag team in a kinetic performance that had hands in the air from the opening bars and kept them there until [...]
Trey Songz @ the Pageant — 2008.02.26
With men in slick suits and woman decked out in fur and heels, you’d think the crowd passing into the Pageant was hitting the latest late-night hot spot rather than a music event. But that’s exactly what the masses came for as they braved the cold for an evening of soulful heat from rising R&B [...]
Galactic w/ Chali 2na @ the Pageant — 2008.02.17
There’s a thick haze inside the Pageant, and a little use of the olfactory senses immediately makes it clear that it’s not just the water hazers at work in the venue. In a sprawling two-hour set, New Orleans-based funk group Galactic brought grooving, feel good performance with special guest Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 fame.
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