The Wildstyle Story #23: Live Performances Part Two
In #WildstyleStory: Live Performances Part One, I focused mostly on us performing at talent shows, including many of the struggles we faced. However, the reason we continued to do talent shows was because of the lack of many other outlets. In fact, our only other option for performing in Lake County at that time was at the House Music parties. I could be missing something, but circa ‘88-’90, it was rare to see any rap performances in North Chicago or Waukegan that weren’t talent shows. The Genesee Theatre had a couple rap events that I can remember. Roxanne Shante played there 9–6–1986, but I missed that show somehow, perhaps I was working. On 3–14–1987, LA and I went to see the Boogie Boys there, and local group, MC Council opened up. I don’t have any specific memories about this show. I was only reminded of it from reading my journal. Additionally, when His Majesti got signed to Egyptian Empire, Shakespeare and Drew Rock spent part of the Summer in Lake County, and they did a performance at the North Chicago Youth Center, but that was at one of Captain 2 Fresh’s regular parties, so it was a rare occurrence where he had performers there. I don’t even remember another time of him having performers, and I don’t think I’d even would have thought about asking him if Wildstyle could perform because those were HIS nights and he used to kill it on the turntables and I was a fan of watching/listening to him doing his thing. At much as a loved MCing, and wanted to build a career, I wasn’t one of those MCs who try to always jump on the mic at every party. I was there for the DJ first and foremost. In any event, I remember that His Majesti show pretty well, parts of it anyway, and they performed a couple songs that didn’t get released at the time. And, that’s really all the all out Rap shows that I remember from back then. I’m sure there were other rap shows, but as I mentioned elsewhere, I was also working at MCDs every weekend, so that leaves plenty of opportunities to miss things.
However, once Wildstyle acquired the Roland TR-808 in mid to late 1988, the word travelled around town fast. People were always tracking me down to ask about the 808. And, by the time 1989 came around, Hip House was in full swing, but the House crowd could also appreciate the bass tone of the 808. So, Wildstyle did a few shows where we would get like 5–8 minutes to do two songs, or a song and a freestyle. At least for one or two of those we had the 808 live in the venue. I’m pretty sure one of those shows was opening up for White Knight at Fiesta Palace, when he was on the height of the hit “Yo Baby Yo”. I believe Wildstyle was the only full Hip Hop act on that bill. And, if this is the show that I have a memory of, I think we performed “Goin’ 4 Self!” live with the 808 at the venue, and then did some freestyle rhymes and scratches over Young MC’s “Know How” instrumental, because I loved how the Dust Brothers programmed those drums! It’s a possible another one was a Fast Eddie show, but that’s a blur. The thing is we were always getting on these shows after they were locked in, so I don’t think we were ever on a flyer. Besides, Fiesta Palace, we also performed at Puerto Rican Society in Waukegan, and did at least one show at St Nicholas Hall, and that one I have a date for because it was in my calendar book from that year, 5–27–89, which is two weeks after we recorded “Beat This!”, so I’m guessing this is the one show I have a very blurry memory of us performing this song and me being happy with it, especially how we killed the trade-offs on that last verse.
The only other show that I have memory of happening with all three us on stage, is our performance that was set up for the Atlantic Records Rep to see us, and that was at the Waukegan Y on Sheridan Road. I don’t remember much about that night, except for almost getting in a fight with a wanna be gangster at the door for thinking he shouldn’t have to pay, and the fact that I felt like we gave a solid performance that should have helped us secure a record deal, though that obviously didn’t happen or we wouldn’t be celebrating our unreleased recordings. As far as why I don’t have memories from this show, I suspect it is because I was feeling the pressure of throwing my first event and also doing a performance that could be a make it or break situation for getting a record deal.
Although the primary reason for this event was for Wildstyle to perform, for some reason I don’t remember, we didn’t put our name on the flyer. My best guess is that back then, the best way to have a great turnout was to let people you know you had the best DJs, rather than trying to get them to come watch a Rap performance. In approaching it that way, we only promoted the DJs, and we had, who I would consider, the two hottest party DJs in town on the bill, Treach JC aka Deejay Bird of Chapter 2 and Captain 2 Fresh, arguably Lake County’s most prolific and long-lasting Hip Hop legend. And, Maxx Maxx was billed as a guest DJ. One of my good friends back then, Willie Johnson aka Black Man Willie did the flyer for the party, which had a $3 entry fee. I dig a little deeper into this show, as well as its aftermath, in #WildstyleStory-Group Bio Part Four: Finalization.
Additionally, when Maxx and LA recorded “Exploits of the Lyrical Legend” with BaddMixx, that song definitely built up some traction locally and they did two local shows. The only one I remember(ed) was at Neon City, which was a short-lived teen club in Zion, IL, that eventually closed after a brawl/mini-riot. But, I remember going to see Maxx and LA perform their “hit” song, and they absolutely killed it! I was 100% a fan that night. However, when I interviewed Maxx, he mentioned that the biggest show he ever remembers doing was where he and LA performed at the Fiesta Palace, again only doing this one song. He didn’t remember any specific details about it, only that the show went really well, and for perhaps only a brief moment, he felt like a superstar who had finally made it.
I wish I had a flyer for their show at Neon City or Fiesta Palace. I don’t even remember how they were billed, maybe simply L.A. and DJ Madd Maxx, and Maxx doesn’t recall either, but we both know it wasn’t billed as Wildstyle. I do know I was there at Neon City, dead center in the crowd, excited to witness them in action. I had never really had the opportunity to do so, as every other time they were on stage, I was up there with them. And I mean that literally, I don’t think neither one of them ever did a show previous to this that wasn’t a Wildstyle performance, with the exception of Maxx as a DJ spinning records at parties. As for the show, it was great. They had the crowd rocking with them. L.A. had a great stage presence. He worked the whole stage and engaged the crowd, all the while hitting them with top tier lyricism. I was proud of them. If I’m being honest, I was also a little sad because I don’t think any other moment felt more like the end of Wildstyle. But, at the same time, I was also excited for what the future held for the two of them as artists! I was a FAN.
All in all, performing on stage was some of the best moments in my life at that time. I loved the energy and feeling of performing. It didn’t matter if the crowd was big or small, but to be fair, for those talent shows, the crowd was usually pretty sizable, and the same was true for the House Parties. Ultimately, Wildstyle never had to worry about if our name was strong enough for a draw. We performed at events that had built in audiences and we were merely able to capitalize off that. But, I don’t want to sell ourselves short either because I think in many of those cases some people did come to see us as well. In the end, when Wildstyle came to an end, so do my performing days, as I shifted my focus to other things, but those memories shall live on forever.
