Lukewarm to Lightning ‘Hip-Hop’

Rap purists were treated to a showcase of some of the genre’s most significant and influential artists Thursday at the House of Blues at Def Jam Records’ “Pioneers of Hip-Hop” concert. Though sometimes disappointing, it was a substantial event that served as a testament to each of the performers--EPMD, Slick Rick and Run-DMC.

The evening’s highlight came halfway through Slick Rick’s 30-minute set when he was joined by fellow rapper and beat-box specialist Doug E. Fresh. Their 1985 songs “The Show” and “La Di Da Di” are two of the most famous cuts in the genre’s 20-year recorded history. Shortly after those tunes became rap favorites, Slick Rick embarked on a successful solo career that established the London native as rap’s premier storyteller. Thursday’s reunion was the first time the pair had been on stage together in nearly a decade, and the crowd erupted as the two teamed on spirited performances of the two selections.

Headliners Run-DMC struggled somewhat through their 50-minute set. Even though rapper Run attempted to keep the patrons animated, rhyme partner DMC was suffering from hoarseness, which sapped the back-and-forth energy the two usually share as they rip through classics such as “My Adidas” and “Peter Piper.” On Thursday, these songs became little more than showcases for Run rather than the group. Nonetheless, turntable maestro Jam Master Jay maintained a furious pace, quickly directing the rappers from song to song.

Despite their standing as one of rap’s legendary duos, EPMD got a lukewarm response from an audience that only seemed to know their most commercially popular tracks. During their 20-minute set, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith effectively used their signature tag-team rapping approach, but with unfamiliar songs and too many breaks to address the crowd, the two never got into a solid groove.