– 5# Performance Artist Review Protege QOQ–

 

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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.

An important skill that I don’t see often enough is narration and narrative. Alot of upcoming artist, don’t do this but the legends usually do it. This skill is important to help relate and connect with the audience. It also helps to direct, unify the work, and captivate the audience over the course of the performing set. Of course their are many more things that narration and narrative does which are important but it would be too lengthy to focus on them all for now.

Its easier now to see how powerful of a tool narration and narrative is because mankind is designed to perceive the world. This means that we intake things through narratives. The brain of a man is so redundantly developed for this function, it is seemingly impossible to alter it to do anything else. It may even be impossible to not conceive of consciousness without the ability of narratives. Protege employs this skill, and that already sets him apart from many performers. This puts him in the potential league with legends just for the reason that they also employ this underused humanizing factor.

Protege QOQ told a story, the story of how he became so dedicated to his craft. That narrative was so powerful I could see it touch every artist and professional in the room (myself included). Protege told us alot about his person, he’s a hardworker with great work ethic. However the current economic state has workers like him, working harder and harder but getting less and less reward for their efforts. Not only that, the harder workers get the worse hours and seem to be the first to be laid of if they can find the job(which they have difficulty attaining for the same reason). This drove Protege to pursue his dream, which he set goals for and then turned those goals into objectives that he is clearly reaching. I can on a deep level, relate to the principals in the story. When he caught us all, he then went into his powerful song. This song was directly related to his narrative which only empowered its effect. A high skill, that again when used is by most is usually not synced well with what is developing. When used appropriately, It becomes a powerful tool that furthers the art.When he was done with his track, Protege had everyone  for the rest of the night.

There is so much I can say about his performance. It was that good,  I can go on and on because he touched so many principal areas, which I don’t see often. So, its easy to say ‘Protege is an Emcee who blesses the Microphone‘. The highest honor I can say about an artist that does Hip Hop.

The host Luni Lovin and Kosi Victor gave Protege a great opening. Like a person who follows the path of an Emcee, Protege played off the introductory humor of the hosts opening a few times in his set. This helped to somewhat offset his serious, personal and thoughtful tones with light organic humor. This also told us more about Protege, the artist and the person. He is a family man, who is dedicated to the art and gives everything to his audience. He never tries to short change those that invest their time into his product and craft. He gives and gives, and that makes it hard for most people not to want more and more.

Closing up, Protege did something else I also see rarely. He further personalized his story with us about Joel Stigale. A man that has touched so many people in the local Miami, Hip Hop scene alone. A man who is a key reason why Props and Bonds was able to put on this Saturday Night Mic Live.

Protege talked about this relationship with Joel. He gave those that didn’t know Joel a taste of  what a relationship with him was like. By doing so , they formed  a relationship with him as well, even though he recently pasted away due to medical complications. Protege QOQ, let the track play, stood silent and let that speak for him. The difference of this action, emphasis the importance of listening to the words of his song. He was able to guide people to listen to lyrics and that is not something that people do a lot, especially in today’s atmosphere.

I didn’t see anything lacking in Protege‘s skill set. I see areas he could improve but nothing that was bad. He’s very well rounded, all his skills are at solid levels. This is quite impressive because most people are not this overall sound. Breath control,  sonic pacing, microphone control, audience interaction, space utility, lyrics and lyrical delivery were all firmly there.

 The most immediate area that I can see Protege QOQ improving on for the fastest results is lyrics. I quite enjoyed his skills, he is better than most and can honestly get by with just this alone. However I think he cares about his craft and wants to keep continuously improving.  So lyrics would be something I would note as something that can improve (this can always improve for everyone so its kinda default).

Next, I would say his sonic pacing could be a bit better. Now, when I say this I am stretching because he is really solid. I am judging him by the best I’ve seen like Immortal Technique, KRS 1, DMX, Jay Z, etc (off top of the head). So these are just two things that I feel that with a bit more improvement would help him to see the most gains in closing the gap with the legends. This again is high compliment because I rarely judge people by that standard at this level. I have to consider them solid emcees for me to do this and Protege is one of the most well rounded emcees I have seen in along time.

I can say alot about more about Protege, why because he gave me so much. He’s that type of artist, sincerely follow this guy. Your not going to be short changed on effort and skill. He’s an artist to invest into, buy his projects and or support him with your time. Protege gives alot, and that is something that I rarely see in today’s music climate. 

 

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

 

Or

–6# Performance Artist Review Spaz–

 

 

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