MATURE AND CANDID The Rhodeshow crew. |
AS220’s Broad Street Studio is home to the multi-talented performance art collective known as Rhodeshow, who recently dropped their second full-length release, The Growth Project 2.0, with none other than local legend Joe Beats providing the beats.
The AS220 Broad Street Studio program specializes in engaging local youth in various art-making workshops, with a focus on recently-released state juveniles and DCYF teens. But, Rhodeshow member and BSS performance art coordinator David Gonzalez insists, The Growth Project 2.0 is no after-school rehab special or corny 13-track Just Say No commercial; the Rhodeshow troupe lives the lyrics and rocks the mic with a nonchalant confidence and fluid, streetwise delivery without glorifying the negative choices surrounding young people.
“Personally I’m not so interested in the positive message but moreso a real message,” Gonzalez noted, and reiterated by co-coordinator and Rhodeshow female emcee Anjel Newmann, “I don’t feel that I promote positive hip-hop, just real and honest art as a whole.”
Beats, he brings his usual A-game throughout. Dense rhythms and neck-throbbing percussion on tracks like “36 Hours,” “I Had a Feelin’,” and “Lego” are particularly vicious and complement the subject matter. “Corruption, lies, greed, drugs — this is how the media manipulates us,” goes the chorus over a twinkling piano loop on “Listen To the Buzz.”
Beats said: “This group of young adults are well on their way. I could easily duo up with any of them and release it to the audience at large. Throughout the whole recording I was consistently humbled by their efficiency, maturity, and candor.”
The teaming of Rhodeshow and Beats shouldn’t be missed. “I love our new CD but nothing can compare to the Rhodeshow’s energy when we are live on stage,” Newmann declared. The Growth Project 2.0 is available now at the Rhodeshow site (Myspace.com/rhodeshow or therhodeshow.com) and will be available for $10 at AS220 on Saturday, May 31 at the CD release party and live performance with Beats in tow (admission is $5). The show starts at 8 pm with the destined-for-stardom Mary Bee opening — think Tori Amos meets Bahamadia.
