When we arrived at the Jackpot on Saturday night for the third installment of Jockin’ My Fresh, the crowd was already in full bloom. Rich Brown was just wrapping up his set onstage, and a night of potent and high-powered hip hop was about to erupt.
The Winner’s Circle
The first thing that caught our attention with this set was when the sole female in the group got onstage and started belting out “Rap skinny bitch! Rap, rap skinny bitch!”
Sassy was the name of the game with The Winner’s Circle. We heard a lot of attitude and lines like “Fuck you, I’m from Kansas!” and it made our hearts swell with pride.
Strider
Strider’s energy was through the roof from the get go. He immediately woke up the sleepy crowd by thrashing about the stage and slowly shedding his clothes.
Strider may have shocked the crowd by jumping into the lineup like a ball of fire, but his talent is nothing to be ignored. The performer was spot on with fast-paced, energetic rapping. He’s the type of artist who will refuse to let the folks in the back not notice his antics onstage.
He really got the crowd going, and we noticed some extreme dancing near the stage. Of course, any mention of Team Bear Club from the performer was met with a warm and energetic reception from the crowd.
Conchance x Black Jonny Quest
Conchance and Black Jonny Quest ditched the stage a couple of songs into their set and opted to corner the audience on the floor.
They did a very good job of getting in everyone’s face, but they rewarded them with a comical cover of “You’re So Vain.” It sort of reminded me of the way Das Racist covers adult contemporary songs.
The clownish duo was fun to watch. There was so much shoulder patting and fun camaraderie between the two of them, it was almost like watching a buddy cop movie. They were very demanding of the audience, but it was alright because the crowd was ready and willing to obey any order the partying duo gave to them.
Ebony Tusks
Ebony Tusks may have had the set of his life on Saturday night.
If the Lawrence scene didn’t know that Cowboy Indian Bear’s Marty Hillard rapped before, they sure as hell do now. Hot off the release of his music video for “Everybody Run,” Hillard filled the venue with scenesters eager to see his show.
But first, he got a little intimate with the crowd. He started off the set with some “real talk” and a serious message. I don’t think the man ever misses a chance to really connect with his audience.
Hillard has come a long way from a year ago, when he introduced Ebony Tusks to a Jackpot crowd with his gaze lowered, the lights off, and the crowd ever so humble. Now, Hillard has become an expert in getting a full-on party going on the stage. It was infectious, bright, and powerful. If you weren’t rocking out with him, then chances are your soul is cold and dead.
Greg Enemy
The enigmatic Greg Enemy rounded out the night with new songs and smooth beats.
The man has an intoxicating stage presence, and was a fantastic choice as a headliner. The Kansas City native was armed with little more than a laptop, but he really doesn’t need much more than that. He’s charming as hell, his tone quiet yet at the same time intense.
Don’t let his small frame fool you. Greg Enemy definitely packs a punch.
For more photos from Jockin’ My Fresh 3, check out the photo gallery here.