SMIF N’ WESSUN at the Drake Underground (1150 Queen West), Saturday (June 15), 11 pm. NXNE wristband or $15 and Yonge-Dundas Square, Sunday (June 16), 7 pm. Free. nxne.com. See listing.
This year’s NXNE lineup is full of young rappers in their early 20s, brand-new hip-hop groups throwing back to the golden age and experimental emcees who combine elements of electronic music, blues and rock.
Refreshing, then, to have a free show by a couple of Brooklyn vets who’ve been rapping longer than Joey Bada$$ and Lil Jaxe have been alive.
Smif N’ Wessun’s Tek and Steele came up in the same scene as the Wu-Tang Clan and first appeared on Black Moon’s 1993 record Enta Da Stage, and their 1995 album, Dah Shinin’ (featuring hit single Wrekonize), is required listening for any hip-hop head. They’re set to release In God We Trust this year.
Twenty years is long in the rap game. Wrekonize.
If you like Smif N’ Wessun, also check out DL Incognito at Sneaky Dee’s, tonight (Thursday, June 13), 1 am or the Antiheroes at Wrongbar, Saturday (June 15), 10 pm, both NXNE wristband or $15.
