Props and Bonds Saturday Mic Live September 17 Performance Reviews (General Overview)

–Introduction–

Props and Bonds Saturday Mic Live is an event that is hosted normally at and with Catalyst Hip Hop Miami (part of the reason it is free to attend). This happens monthly and usually showcases local artist but non local artist also regularly grace their stages.

–Music Quest : Props and Bonds September 17 support through the pain

This Saturday Mic Live happen to take place on September 17 around 9 PM. It is usually hosted by Luni Lunvin and Kosi Victor (two members of the group Silent Hand). The event is free and a sizeable number of people attended the that night.

– Overview–

This time Saturday Mic Live was a little different. The show started a bit slower than normal, as it opened with an extended open freestyle session (Cypher). This is one of the nice and interesting things about Props and Bonds Saturday Mic Live events. It really has pure organic Hip Hop elements like this always at play. Unfortunately on this night not as many rappers and freestylers blessed the performance grounds as I would have liked to see during the Cypher.

Still the freestylers while not mind blowing (this night, its been better other nights), did their best to entertain and past the time. I say this because initially the freestyles were solid but with subsequent rounds the quality dropped. This is not as big a deal for freestylers, especially the off the dome set. Sadly, no one really just stood out and destroyed the session (I especially am hard on myself as I was having a hard night due to emotional issues mostly).

It was an interesting cold open and once again really refreshing. Luni Luvin, really held it down and brought to the center of our attention an amazing free stylist (can’t remember name at moment will update with information) who rode the beat and gave us a show.

I have seen this guy around the grounds and over the years. He is someone you should watch perform and check for. Most of these guys are great guys, with the benefit of having availability unlike their more Hollywood counterparts.Come by Catalyst for more than just Props and Bonds, you will be able to catch some amazing Cyphers, Bboy training/Jamz, etc. Its a place where Hip Hop happens more than just once a month.

– 1# Performance Artist Review Dermo–

The first official act of the night was by Dermo. He’s tall and big man, with a good character. He came dressed in black and sported a sharp and cleanly handled beard. As imposing as his statue and figure is in a crowd, his abilities as a performer are even bigger.

–2# Performance Artist Review Southern Slaves–

The next act of the night was a group called Southern Slaves. They are a pretty good local Hip Hop group in Miami, Florida. (Personally believe that they need to release music videos). Honestly, I did not catch much of their performance mentally because I was in a bit of a place when they performed. However I have seen perform before and the crowd always loves them, it seems.

– 3# Performance Artist Review Young Blesson–

Props and Bonds booked Young Blesson, a performer that I really like alot. The most important thing to me when I listen to, or see an artist ,is to sincerely feel I am getting that artist. Young Blesson always seems to bring himself, I’ve never seen him short change anyone on that. That is an really important and underrated quality that alot of people do not look for enough. So, that is one of the first reasons why I like Young Blesson, and as expected that night he delivered with maximal effort.

– 4# Performance Artist Review Tamika J–

I am going to have to sincerely thank Props and Bonds Saturday Mic Live for blowing me away with this literally surprising performance. This is the first time I have ever seen Tamika J perform to my memory. I was beyond impressed with I heard and saw that night. I really value the sincere expression of the personhood of the artist. Well, Tamika J has soul, its just that simple, even If I wanted to, I could not reduce it any further.

– 5# Performance Artist Review Protege QOQ–

Another great performer came to the stage, his name is Protege QOQ. I didn’t know about him before but I do now. Protege is a great artist, great performer and a really cool guy overall. From what I saw that night, Protege is definitely going to get better. Which is scary in a way, if your a competitor. Its talent and drive with this guy, he has a focus that I don’t see often.

What made Protege even more spectacular is that he marked the room. What I mean by this, is that the performer prior to him, Tamika J was amazing. She had given a spectacular performance, which vibed differently to anything we had hear prior that night. It was a tough act to follow, if I hosted this event, I would’ve held an intermission so that the stage could cool off. However Protege showed me he doesn’t need intermissions, or any handicaps. He breaks through walls, that’s the type of guy he is, as time goes on raises the value of his performance that night to me.

– 6# Performance Artist Review Spaz–

The last act to grace the stage of Props and Bonds Saturday Mic Live was an artist by the name of Spaz. To be very honest, it might seem like I’m bias when I say the things I am about to say about Spaz. Why, because I happen to know him on some level prior to this event. That being said, this is not that at all, if its one thing I am, its very even handed. Spaz is one of the best emcees I know of period. When I coined the term “Bless The Mic With Bars“, Spaz is one of the emcees I had in mind when I developed that term. He is honestly amazing and the group Zolomon Grunji is like a super team of emcees.

– 7# Performance Artist Review Velvet Jones–

An artist that is rarely appreciated was the DJ. At many events related to Catalyst Hip Hop, Velvet Jones seems to br the DJ (the ones I’ve seen). There are other really skilled Dj‘s in the Catalyst residence that probably shut it down before I started writing these reviews. When it comes to a DJ with prodigious talent, I put Velvet in that category, easily. I don’t have much to say about his performance on a technical level because I’m not a sound guy. I can say on a sonic aesthetic level, Velvet was on point. No discernible problems, that is the high praise for those who operate professionally in sound. They are the people in the background. Without them, there can be no show(well, not a very a good show).

-Thanks to The Crew of Catalyst Hip Hop–

Thank you Catalyst Hip Hop for hosting Props and Bonds, Saturday Mic Live. Thank you for making it free, so that we can all enjoy this event. Thank you for putting on such a quality show, introducing us to such quality acts and being so tolerant with us as a collective group. It is appreciated, you make the Hip Hop scene a better place with the positivity that you bring to the Hip Hop world and local community.

Please show your support by following Catalyst Hip Hop, buying there merchandise to help them do more of their amazing charity work. They really do help alot of people, more people than they know. If you are planning to stop by, they have quite a few locations, so if your in South Florida its in reach. They have a spot in West Palm Beach, Its wonderful community there and I personal have enjoyed the events hosted there before. They have one in Homestead, I have never went to that one but I’m sure its pretty good. It deliverers the Catalyst experience, I’m sure to many who attend there regularly. The one that hosted this event, is the location in Miami Springs.

The team that serviced us that night was the one and only Super Dave, The Graceful Johanna, The Humble Will and The Guiding Kevin. It would be really hard to have that event without their aid. So please follow Catalyst Hip Hop, support them just with the push of a button. They do so many things in and around Miami for those in need and to make the a positive difference in the world. *Editor’s note: Possible picture for the Catalyst Crew and locations might be added. Other updates will be made as soon as possible.