Life > October 4, 2007

By Liza Greenspun | News editor

“Yeah you know how we do. We do it for the people.” The Bounce Tour 2007, featuring Q-Tip and Common, proved that Common really does do what he does for “The People,” as his hit song off of his newest album, Finding Forever, says.

Once I got passed and accepted the fact that I was going to get to know my fellow concert-goers a little too well in the overcrowded N Club in downtown Greensboro, and that the heels I was wearing were probably not the best idea, I knew that I was in store for a night of high-energy hip-hop music in what was to be one of the best concerts I have seen.

As everyone packed themselves into the venue, up-and-coming rapper Percee P took the stage and opened the concert with his DJ, performing several songs and a capella verses.

Percee P’s performance probably would have been much more enjoyable had the venue not been so overcrowded.

The intimate setting of the N Club would have been an appropriate venue for the atmosphere of the concert had fewer tickets been sold.

There were simply too many people there, pushing into and stepping on each other, causing unnecessary discomfort.

It wasn’t until Queen’s MC Q-Tip took the stage about two hours after the doors opened that the crowd really seemed to start enjoying themselves.

Q-Tip had great stage presence and a remarkable ability to get the crowd involved, as he and his live band danced around on stage, even inviting a male and female audience member to get on stage and rap with him.

While the concert emphasized a shared love of hip-hop by all in attendance, Q-Tip did slow it down for a couple of jazz songs.

During his performance of “Bonita Applebaum,” Q-Tip had the entire audience swaying from right to left in unity as we all let the music overtake us.

Q-Tip’s show, which lasted about an hour, featured a roller coaster of songs, including tracks he did as a member of A Tribe Called Quest as well as his solo hits, including “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe and Stop.”

If Q-Tip’s performance is any sort of prediction about his upcoming album, it will be one worth buying.

Finally, the much-anticipated Common took the stage, jumping and moving with a surprisingly high amount of energy, really getting the crowd going with his passion for the music, his lyrical flow and his deep, smooth voice.

Chi-town’s very own Common also played some songs from the beginning of his career along with many tracks off his latest album, including “The People,” “Drivin’ Me Wild” and “Misunderstood.”

Before performing “Misunderstood,” as well as throughout other points of his 90-minute performance, Common spoke of various groups of people who are misunderstood.

He really getting the crowd riled up when he mentioned the timely Jena 6 cause, and he won laughs and cheers from the audience when he mentioned his fellow rapper and close friend Kanye West’s love for himself.

During his performance of “Come Close,” Common pulled one lucky female audience-member on stage, making the rest of the women in the venue swoon with jealousy as he hugged her and serenaded her with his smooth vocals.

In an impressive freestyle, Common received cheers by mentioning North Carolina A&T University, High Point Road and other popular sites in Greensboro, as well as alluding to Kanye West songs and expressing his political beliefs.

In a dedication to the late J. Dilla, Common performed his song “The Light,” produced by J. Dilla, who passed away in February 2006.

It received an emotional response from the crowd.

From romantic love songs, to “Get ‘Em High,” to deeper philosophical songs off albums Finding Forever and Be and in tributes to hip-hop by performing covers of songs that define hip-hop, such as NWA’s “Straight outta Compton,”

Common’s high energy and obvious passion kept the crowd excited and moving together as we let the music fill our souls.