In Da Basement Showcase №2: Bub Up, Meech and Swisha Pearl Gift Raps for New Year
CULTURE’s “In the Basement” online show ended the year with a bang by putting together some of the city’s hungriest working artists for a year-ending showcase. The event was hosted by IDB host and Chicago’s own Swisha Pearl in Pilsen’s Club Soda.
Boys vs. Girls led all acts with his spontaneous dancing and electro-pop infused raps. Performing with songs like “No More Parties at James Dean’s House” and “We are the Goonies” set the bar for a night as it was fun, rhythmic and chased the theme of celebrating an incoming new year. However, a more somber song shortly followed with “Grandma’s Summer Jam” allowing himself a stake of vulnerability with the crowd. He reflected on family kick-backs, and gun violence preventing youth from enjoying the simplicity that is childhood.
The show hit a peak when Trigney Morgan brought witty hooks funky beats to the center stage. He led off his set with a track that made most in attendance reflect on their lives as Millennials with “Not Ideal.” Though it was the first appearance for Trig at Club Soda, minutes into his performance and everyone was singing “Window Shopping.” The 6-foot-4 rapper even brought Chicago rapper/poet/activist/actor Mykele Deville for their collab, “Stratosphere.”
Lake County’s Bub Up followed Trig and succeeded in turning the crowd up. In one of the most engaging sets of the night, Bub performed his hit-single “Better in Person” and selections from his new mixtape, “Bubcember.”
Headlining artist Meech dazzled Club Soda with a soulful mix of hip-hop and R&B. His sound, symbolized by his well received project “Saints,” was a hit with show patrons with songs like “Saved,” and fan-favorite single “HBH.”
“In Da Basement” host Swisha Pearl concluded the night with one of his best freestyles to date and a slew of songs that displayed his raw rapping ability.
CATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW HERE:
