Well We completed yet another glamorous, low- key, crazy-fantastic, ordinary night at the best deal in the illest hiphop event in the city: The Gathering. Addressing recent issues, we began charging a $1. cover , and as hard as times are our folks didn't skip a beat. Everybody repped lovely for thier individual elements as us. Breakers held it down. Shouts to 360, Fresh Select, as well as all our legends that come support on the reg.(Bad with names forgive the lack of any personal props) Graf writers  were in few 3 's But spotted a few talented  hands  on the papers.
We were graced with turntablism of Razor Ramone who not only found time to "Cut the record down to the bone, at times even scratchin his own name over b-boy/girl demanded breaks., but also managed to squeeze " respect to the Gathering" scratch into the set.  Ramone is world traveled dj/turntablist and currently working on several mix tape projects to be released later this year.

  Our featured act was a Gathering legend and West Philly's own Whirlwindpowered by  The Back of the Bus(live band). Whirl started with some pre recorded tracks that beautifully melded into an instrumental explosion that included everything from a classic rock influenced hiphop display to a hard edge up tempo finally " I Love My Friends" that could waltz onto pop rock /MTV playlist with no protest and artistic integrity in tact. A short but sweet cypha was  followed by guest set of Dj Alex that shifted gears into the house realm  depositing us safely  enlightened into  raw world of Ramones breaks once again.  The sound anchor for the evening was our resident  cdj'ist/turntablist  Double E who not only carried the cypha on his back like a Jansport, but blessed us with an education from every thing from The Beatnuts to Common, to Jam On It to e'rything that would had ya Gram moms in the corner poppin and lockin.
Outside the cyphas were floin to the sounds of instrumental gold provided by  Nile Hardin and the Milk mann.
Sooooooo much more to mention but time is calling and life don't stop.
So until Sept 25th i'm have to say ...I'm OUT!  But If Ya slept on this def catch the next  one!

It was a rough three months but we survived! First of all, Soooo Much Love for everyone that made our return gathering a truly dope event! The bulesque dancers, the mexican midget wrestlers (exscuse me .." Lucha Doritos") , the fire jugglers, Cirque De Soliel, The Philadelphia Zoo for donating the elephants, Mr. Woo's in Chinatown for the black market fire works, and Robins 8th & Walnut for the complimentary diamond studded platinum Gathering chains we gave away! ...What? Okay ,maybe I'm exagerrating a lil bit there was only one elephant and it was a baby elephant..but it was still a great time.

But special thanks goes to allof our dj's ; Double E, Deuce, Ambush, Skeme ,  Luke Raws, Phsh, also to our guest dj's Juice E  (Sucia @Madame X in NYC, Havana Outpost) and Lil Dave of Ill Vibe Collective (Eavesdrop/WKDU, Xochite). Every type of dancer in the spot was able to rock out. There was even some illicit vogueing @ the very end courtesy of what we'll be calling Ambush's "Guilty Pleasures set" . I'm always grateful and proud of the "real " BGirls and BBoys for testin  there skills against all styles and vibes of  hiphop music instead of grillin me all night in demand of more breaks. I love dem classic breaks too ,dats where most of the best sample come from sun! But the culture doesn't thrive on merely breaks alone..but be sure there'll be more & more breaks to come. Shouts to 360 Gun Battalion Crew (Hannibal,Macca, Just, Mighty) Brooks Jones, Joe Stunna, Mal, YNot, Mel, Walt, and every one else whose name escapes me right now. & though the Breakers , Popper & Lockers Have seniority ,. everyone is welcome to rock they dance...If you think you  can.

Next  mention goes to our feature act Vice Versa. Two ill ass emcees with enough enrgy for the whole crowd. Anytime you can get the predominantly BGirl/BBoy crowd to shout ya name back to you in call & response , you doin somethin' right. Not to mention two emcess of the NOW generation of "make money take money rappers" not beatin you in the head with fantastic crime stories they barely old enough to have experience and just bein themselves is rare if not refreshing.  And thanks soundman JasonB hookin up the crispy cordless mics cats got jump off stage and rock in the crowd.  VV gave a healthy a dose of  fresh/classic including joints feat. L Tyranical & Born Prince of Magnum O. Expect major things in the future.

Next : The emcees. My personal area of interest. Emcees,emcees,emcees(sigh) No, actually the cypha though not thee most eciting ever was memorable for a few features. 1. we had a few more sisters on the mic then usu. and two of 'em even dared to blow a few notes and held it down bringin a lil harmony to the otherwise rap heavy circle . An  emcee named Unique made debut in the Gathering cypha and though a lil nervous I thought came wit a respectable flow. Let's see my man Hass from 4-6th  killed it back to tthe crowd the whole time chastisin the newbie rappers on stage with a heavily pronounced , natural, breathy philly delivery. Overall a tight cypha including an as expected strong display from The One Sun Lion Ra( formerly of SquadZilla) , wrapped up by the usu suspects Trans Mu Ans, Agent Moe, Nile Hardin, & myself. Again apologies to any names I forgot.
The Graf Artist continue to contribute to the visual story of our culture leaving there marks on the appropriate sections .  We had no signifigant damage this time but due to issues in the past we'll still be taking preventive measures including but not limited to more places & materials for grafing, and a reinstatement of featured graf panel as well a 1$ cover charge to cover the cost of damages and extra materials.
Big respect to HHAP the Hip Hop Arts Program, As well as Thor Takeover & the IIour Show on 88.1 WPEB longtime supporters of the Gathering. Also Complete & total appreciation  towards Gina Renzi and The Rotunda itself for providing a home for us for so many years! Couldn't do this without you!

And To Repeat Yes The Gathering well be undergoing one major Life altering change this year in attempst to improve the event for evryone. That Life altering change is...A COVER CHARGE of a $1.00 YES!! A WHOLE ENTIRE DOLLAR!  I know it's big change and a huge investment in these uncertain time. And I don't know about ya'll but my every dollar is precious,but still I think The Gathering is way more than well worth it. If you feel the same I look forward to seein you and you George Washington this month(August 28th) for the truest expression of hiphop in Philly.
And one last time  if I've forgotten to mention you you have my deepest apologies, send me as many angry e-mails as you must and eventually I might remember but don't be surprised if i still forget.
Truly Ya'lls,I-Be4Evr : Host/Organizer/ Shaper/Molder :The Philly Gathering Inc. a.k.a The Gathering