The MTV Campus Invasion Tour exploded in Philadelphia, Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Mann Music Center. It was a night of pure fun and energy, while none of the acts disappointed the eager college crowd.
Opening act, Black Eyed Peas kicked off the concert, rushing on stage with their renowned energy.
Although not as high profile as most hip-hop groups out there today, their stage show was unforgettable. Group members, Taboo, will.i.am and api.de.ap had a unique chemistry, and the crowd took notice. “That’s the Joint,” their signature cut, was the finale to a tight performance, featuring member Taboo break dancing, a forgotten element in hip-hop’s evolving culture.
It didn’t matter that the second act, the legendary De La Soul were without Maceo (A.k.a. Plug 3.) True De La fans were able to recite tunes such as “Breakadawn,” “Saturday,” “Long Island,” and more recent hits, “Oooh” and “Thru Ya City.” Posdnuos and Trugoy definitely held it down without their partner, receiving assistance from the energetic audience. De La Soul did not disappoint even the most doubtful audience members.
Wyclef Jean, the headline act, turned the concert into an urban block party.
His entrance was memorable. He burst down a large flight of steps, proceeding to freestyle in Japanese, French and Spanish. He also performed verses from the two previous Fugees albums, like “Mona Lisa,” “Ooh, La, La,” and “Vocab.”
Could it be that the Fugee beef is finally over? None other than Pras made a guest appearance, leaving fans to wonder if thing are finally “all good” with the Fugees and a reunion album can be expected.
Without hesitation, getting the crowd involved is what Clef is all about.
During a “Clef” intermission, he asked for some participants to proceed in a freestyle session. About six people took part in a one-minute session to see who had the best rhymes. Clearly, it was a tough crowd; some freestylers were booed, others were cheered.
He sent shout outs to all the Caribbean islands, especially his own Haiti. With a longer than expected set, Wyclef’s performance was well worth the five dollar admission.
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