It isn’t enough that MARINATE, Boston’s longest-running hip-hop night, is celebrating three years in the scene – it’s also doing so on New Year’s Eve. " The New Year’s Eve party is going to be crazy, " promises TOMMEE (a/k/a Thomas Ballard), one of Marinate’s resident DJs. " This will definitely be an electric boogaloo vibe. "Ballard’s résumé includes appearances at the Point, the Midway Café, Enormous Room, and the Skellig in Waltham; after moving here from Buffalo, he fell in with Marinate co-founder KNIFE, eventually setting up shop at the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes. " The Milky Way is everything I want in a venue, " says Knife. " If I just want to have a beer and play one round of Ms. Pac-Man and call it a night, I can do that, but if I want to act a fool on a packed dance floor while ‘Laffy Taffy’ is playing, I can do that, too. "
Tommee and Knife have been cutting records together since 1998, and like Tommee, Knife has played all around town. " There’s nothing better than seeing a full house dancing to mid-’90s hip-hop and R&B, knowing all the words, and partying with friends, " he says. The night has attracted a league of MCs, DJs, and dancers with names like Pseudo-Slang, Tableek (of Maspyke), Slaine (of Special Teams), Virtuoso, and DJ So & So. " Our goal from the beginning was to merge a DJ night with a live performance, " Tommee explains. " Too often, shows are overloaded with too many MCs and not enough DJs. We’re about bringing it all together in a party atmosphere. " " I remember God Forbid of the Alaskan Fisherman in a light blue suit and white gloves serenading all the girls R&B style, " Knife adds. " That night was absurd. I just remember lots of cat calls. "
After three years, the resolutely eclectic vibe has found a large Boston following. Even in a venue that’s off the beaten path of the hip-hop circuit, Marinate is a resounding success. " There’s been so many nights when the lights come on and the dance floor is still packed with people that don’t want to leave, " Knife says with a smile. " People leave their attitudes at the door. "
For New Year’s Eve at Marinate, that dance floor will include Boston’s finest breaking crew, the FLOORLORDS, along with Boston’s bubbling R&B star LEE WILSON, whacked-out rhyme spitters the PORN THEATRE USHERS, and golden child DJ FRANK WHITE. Plus, the club will be open till 2 am. " If you like BS-free hip-hop and R&B, " Tommee promises, " the place you want to be is the Milky Way. " But what about bowling? " I’ll bowl your brains out, " Knife says. " I’ve got ill bowling skills. Don’t test me. "
