ROX-TV goes on location to the Crofoot in Pontiac for the R.A. The Rugged Man show. Hip Hop is alive and well.

Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. As always, we try to capture the vibe of the street and the industry so that we can bring back the sounds to our readers. There is no better way to do that then to roll up the sleeves and hit the bricks. It seems that Michigan has slowly started to come back to life after it’s covid deep sleep, and shit is starting to happen everywhere. Probably the most important thing is that shows and concerts are coming back to us, which are the backbone of the music industry.

If it doesn’t take place in real life, than I would have to argue “did it take place at all?”. The answer might surprise some of you, but I’m a human and my world is the physical one. I don’t have lots of faith in the digital world for several reasons, but most of all because of the fragileness of the internet/social media. It is helpful and we are using it for this article at this very moment, but it can all go away and be lost if someone pulls the plug on it.

If we invest too much into one medium, we run the risk of losing everything overnight depending on who gets to censor the internet or who’s running the country. It’s real. Imagine if you woke up three weeks from now and the internet had collapsed? Your YouTube library (or other outlet) would be erased, and you’d have no physical copies of your favorite music. It could all go away in the blink of an eye. Imagine if people stopped going to shows and events, opting to watch the gig from a digital source. Do you know what happens? The ability of physical venues and theatres to survive is put to the test, and without bodies and paying patrons, the venues slowly close and die. Someone might say “well we can still view the shows on the internet” and that is true, at least for today. But what if?

The reason I drum on about all this is to raise awareness that the digital world is neat and fun, but without the real world, there would be nothing to view or watch in the digital realm. One should not replace the other but that’s how it feels sometimes, at least through my eyes. Someone once told me that if “you don’t use it, you will lose it”. I have to agree with that and it seems that once something slips away, it’s gone forever. Don’t let the underground scene die. Get out into the real world and see shit with your own eyes. Support the local shows and artists whenever you can. Make physical copies of your music so that people will have the songs regardless if the government flicks off the internet or not. Now on with the article…

 

5:45pm

I arrived at DJ Carlito’s house and met with him and the Rude Boy. We had made plans to see R.A. The Rugged Man live at the Crofoot in Pontiac and the show was fast approaching. DJ Carlito had turned me onto The Rugged Man’s music a few months earlier and I liked what I heard. I’m from the nineties and I remember hearing hip hop coming from the East Coast and really enjoyed the music. When I heard The Rugged Man’s music, that’s the vibe that I caught. True hip hop in it’s purest form. I couldn’t wait to hit the show and see it for myself. After some pre-show warm up, the Drifters were rolling up I-75 headed for Pontiac.

We arrived at the Crofoot a short time later and tried to find parking. Although the day was slowly coming to an end, most of the street spaces were still filled. This left me one choice after cruising around the block once…paid parking. Although I’m not a big fan of the process, we had little choice in the matter. I pulled up to the parking gate and was confronted with a series of buttons and options that I couldn’t understand. Why does shit have to be so fucking complicated? Twenty years ago I would have handed some guy five bucks and parked, but this is 2021 and the machines are winning.

With no human in sight, I was forced to deal with an electronic “usher”. I hit several buttons in an attempt to get some satisfaction, but none was coming. The electronic pillar just blinked back at me, as if to say “you dumb bastard”. After trying things my way, I eventually read directions and shoved in the plastic. The machine gladly took my money and the gate slowly opened. It’s a shame because the robot had replaced some human’s job and it was bummer. How long before humans get fed up with being replaced by machines? I hope it’s sooner than later.

7:15pm Alive on arrival

As we made our way up the stairs to the Pike Room, the music slowly came into focus. The bass was bumping and the sweet sound of live music was slowly engulfing me. I was in the right place. We talked to the door man and after checking the list, we were allowed to pass into the show. There was a dope duo dropping lines on the stage and hip hop headz were everywhere, sipping beers and nodding to the beat. It felt good to be out in the world and we were in the right place. The energy was raw and flowing freely. I took a minute to absorb as much as I could. Nothing beats a live show….nothing. I was out and about with my fellow Drifters and the night was full of possibility.

As always, I decided to drift around myself and see what the scene had to offer. While the show pulsed up front, I slowly strode to the back, where the merch table was up. I was happy. People were still making physical items to be bought and enjoyed for all time. I let my eyes wander over the records, shirts, and cds. There is nothing cooler than a merch table and I let the image simmer in my mind. Hip Hop was alive and well in Pontiac on this midsummer’s night.

I didn’t buy anything immediately because I didn’t feel like carrying the stuff all night, but I promised myself to return before the show had ended.

7:59pm Open Minded rocks the stage

I found myself floating around the room and enjoying the sounds. Like I’ve said many times before, I used to stay laser focused on the stage when I was younger but these days, I’m more into taking in the sights and sounds collectively. All the parts that make up a show are important and also serve a function. I’m just more aware of that importance these days and tried to divide my time up equally, while simotaneaulsy trying to enjoy myself as well. I succeeded.

The group Open Minded was tearing it up on stage and also had a nice merch table set up on the other side of the Pike Room. I was thrilled when they announced from the stage that they had “cd samplers, stickers, and other shit for free”. I don’t mind paying top dollar for things I like but who can beat free swag? I walked over and picked up a copy of the CD and after the group finished their set, spoke with the members of Open Minded.

The sampler looked dope and I grabbed a few stickers while I was there. More stuff for the collection I always say. The temperature was rising and the heat was getting to me. I’m a cool cat and not a huge fan of being overheated. The Drifters decided to post up at the bar, where the only seats in the joint were available. This wasn’t my first rodeo and I knew that holding down a spot at the bar would be a nice place to rest the legs.

We grabbed the last three available seats and continued to watch the show from a place of comfort. The floor was getting packed and bodies were everywhere. It was a proper show and all the things that were needed to make it a success, were there.

8:23 pm Reverie takes the stage

As the night rolled on, the next act up (from my memory anyway) was the beautiful Reverie. She was from the west coast and the crowd went crazy for her music. She came correct, dropping amazing lyrics and making her presence felt on stage. DJ Carlito knew about her music as well and told me that her music was fire. I agreed after sampling the sounds for myself. Elsewhere, the hip hop headz were getting thirsty and the bar was struggling to keep beer stocked and available. I witnessed at least three loads of the gold stuff being brought up on a cart from somewhere else in the building. Judging by the thirst of the fans, they needed at least another ten loads to keep up with the demand.

After Reverie wrapped up her dope set, she hit the floor and began meeting with fans. A true sign of an artist. I like nothing more than artists who aren’t afraid to meet and bullshit with the people that come to the shows. I think it’s a sign that the artist is in touch with the crowd, who want nothing more than to get close to their heroes, if only for a quick chat and connection.

DJ Carlito and Reverie struck up a conversation and a few pictures were taken for history’s sake. We must preserve history at all costs, or lose our collective knowledge and experience (This includes things that are not nice because the quickest way to repeat anything is to forget about it, which can create a space for it to return. Ugly history is just as important as glorious history. To erase history, could very well lead to the same conditions one is trying to destroy). I’m not talking about any one time period or place on earth, I’m talking about the whole experience. The earth is very old and human history is rather long. It’s important to know as much as we can about the entire show, not just selective moments in time. So anyway, back to the show and the reason why we were there.

8:57pm R.A. The Rugged Man brings the thunder

Throughout the night, I had heard a lot of good music and observed performers rock the crowd. The acts leading up to the Rugged Man’s set were all great and deserved to be applauded for their efforts. They had made the night memorable, but the time had finally come , for the moment that most of the headz had been waiting for….R.A. The Rugged Man. The main floor was in a frenzy and the Rugged Man had complete control and command of the stage. There is nothing more powerful than an artist that knows how to handle the crowd and Rugged Man effortlessly took everyone on an amazing ride.

During the set, he continually called out to the crowd and the crowd responded time after time. To hear a couple hundred people responding together gives me the chills. I love that shit and it gave goosebumps. At one point, the Rugged Man pulled up a fan onto the stage who began beat boxing with a mic. It was perfect and sounded super fly. There was no bullshit and no fights, just a bunch of people with the same love: Hip Hop.

In classic fashion, I never wanted the night to end but that was unrealistic. The night most certainly had to end at some point whether people wanted it to or not. I understood this and accepted it, but it wasn’t my preference. The Rugged Man absolutely killed his set and the crowd was completely enthralled by the performance. I can say this with great certainty…if you enjoy that classic old school vibe with expert delivery and intoxicating beats, than Rugged Man is definitely for you.

The Drifters decided it was time to get moving and so we made our way out of the venue, just a few minutes ahead of the crowd. We stopped in front of the neon sign for the Crofoot and snapped a few pics for old times sake. Who knows when they might come in handy, especially when writing a book which I am currently in the process of doing.

As we parted ways on the street, I stopped to take in the night sky one more time before jumping in my ride. It had been a great night with good people. We had done our part in supporting the local scene and the music that we love. We had enjoyed the time and no one could ever take that away from us. We had linked up with the hip hop tribe for an evening of vibrational energy and it was a good feeling. Don’t let life pass you by, we are only here once for these specific times, it will never be this way again. Time will march on and things will change. Don’t be filled with regret when it was your time to enjoy the real world. Use it or lose it….That’s all the time we have tonight. I thank you for reading this and hope to see you at the next show.

 

Signing Off,

Mike Shepard

ROX-TV Head Writer

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