October 1996, Rec Hall, State College, Pa.
I got into trouble with this show, not for what I did but for what I wrote.
I was working for the State College newspaper as a sportswriter and Gen X columnist when news came that for this show, officials at Penn State would add extra security. Metal detectors would be employed at the door as the collegiate powers that be feared the more diverse crowd would be dangerous.
I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but I’m pretty sure I called Penn State officials “racist.” This did not go over well with Penn State officials, or my bosses, and was asked not to write a column anymore. So I stopped writing the column, but no, I did not apologize.
The security only made for long lines at the door, as anyone who knew anything about the bands knew it was unnecessary. But State College is not the most, ummm, diverse of places so anything that seems slightly urban is viewed in a certain lens. I was surprised the two bands came to State College at all.
In the lead up to this show, I was all about seeing Tribe. Creators of one of my favorite albums (The Low End Theory), A Tribe Called Quest must be considered one of the best rap groups ever, and I would add one of the most under-rated groups in general. Does anyone have a better voice than Q-Tip? Is there anyone with better with veiled rage than Phife? Lyrically and sonically, the pair mesh perfectly.
I knew about Fugees as its album The Score was making a steady rise through the ranks. There was no denying the fine singing of Lauren Hill and production excellence of Wyclef Jean — but to me, the band was famous for covering another hit song (“Killing Me Softly”). Yes, they did it well, but it helps when the original song is great. I would buy The Score not long after the show and realized there was more to the band, but for this show, Tribe was the reason.
And they were great. I went with my friend Ana, who knew more about Fugees and less about Tribe, but she came away impressed. Rap shows can be a mixed-bag, without instruments groups sometimes aren’t sure what to do on a stage. But at this point Tribe were experts at their craft, and moved through “Scenerio,” “We Got the Jazz,” “Check the Rhime” and “Can I Kick It” (yes they can) with deftness and ease. If there was a Hall of Fame for voices, Q-Tip has to be in there along with Don Pardo and the guy who does those movie intros.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Fugees, but they knew how to create an interesting show. Wyclef came out first, with guitar in hand, improvising with a DJ and drummer for 25 minutes or so. Why the improvising? Well it turns out Lauren Hill was not with the band, so that element making Fugees better than others was missing. I wasn’t aware she wasn’t going to be there and it made a difference (like when I realized Steven Page from Barenaked Ladies was no longer with the band two songs into their show). “Fu-gee-la” and “Ready Or Not” were solid, but “Killing Me Softly” was not the same with the guest singer.
Tribe won the day, but that should be the norm. And I’m still writing what I want, so that worked out too.
