Trevor Matczak

Bowers
Composition
11 April 2016
Flatbush ZOMBiES 3001: A Laced Odyssey Tour

A jaw-splitting yawn overtook my body, as the week was almost over; and
after a long Thursday, I could hear my bed calling my name. Tonight, my sleep
would have to wait though. The familiar sight of the Chicago skyline approached on
the horizon as I drove East on Illinois Highway 290. The sight brings a nostalgic
smile to my face, while my mind begins to anticipate another night full of memories.
That clear, breezy March night, I was on my way to the Concord Music Hall to see a
music group I had been looking forward to seeing for a long time- the Flatbush
ZOMBiES.
This East-coast rap group is comprised of 3 artists: Zombie Juice (rapper),
Meechy Darko (rapper), and Erick The Architect Elliot (producer & rapper). The
three grew up near each other, shared Jamaican cultural roots, and began
collaborating with music in their early years of high school. I love the old-school of
rap, the type of stuff you can just ride to all day. What the Flatbush Zombies, and
the rest of their rap collective Beast Coast- including Pro Era and The
Underachievers- are doing is bringing back the old boom-bap Brooklyn style rap in
their own unique way. I am a proud, avid music listener, and I have a very broad
range of appreciation for music. The ZOMBiES are fun to listen to for hip hop fans
and experimental listeners alike, because they are a diverse group- putting out
bangers (This Is It, New Phone, Who Dis?, Palm Trees, etc.), kicking it back
with a lyrical wave to vibe to (Regular and Complex, Friday, My Team,

SUPREME, etc.), and even an appetite to experiment with their psychedelic-like

beats (A Spike Lee Joint, Club Soda, JupiterSound, etc.). After years of
downloading mixtapes, they have just released their first studio album 3001: A
Laced Oddysey, and one of the early stops of their tour was Chicago. So, it was
finally time for what is the defining moment in my fandom between music that I will
listen to occasionally, and music I really follow: the live performance.
Thursday, March 31st was the day, and I had made my way to Chicago almost
immediately after I got home from class. As soon as I arrived in the city, my night
began well. The CVS Pharmacy directly next to the concert hall was being utilized as
parking for the event. Cleverly, I realized that at six- something, the CVS would still
be open for normal customers as well. So, I parked in the reserved customer area
avoiding having to pay for parking. However unfair as this may seem, Im a college
student that could always use the extra buck; I simply viewed it as thinking outside
the box as I watched everyone else be sucked into the trap of paid parking. Exiting
my car, I began to head in about a half hour before seven, when the show was
scheduled to start. I collected myself on my way in, reminding myself I was not only
here for pleasure, but to delve deeper and critically analyze the show I was about to
see. Walking through security without having anything confiscated from my person,
unlike a good majority of those who were walking in, I walked down the thin hallway
to a staircase that would take me three levels up. The area was nice and open, but
not too big all at the same time. A stage up front, with a pit floor below transformed
to progressively elevated levels of standing area and seats, and looking up I saw a
balcony wrapping around the top of the room already filled with people. After
purchasing an astronomically over-priced water bottle, the opening act Remy Banks
was just about to hop on stage.

The place was not packed yet, and I had my doubts at first of how successful
of a show could be pulled off at such a small venue. But life is what you make it, so I
tried out a spot decently close to the stage to view the first performance. Remy
opened it up and threw down some hard hitting beats, laid back rhymes, and made
a new fan out of me in the short time he was on stage. By the time he was finished,
the place began to finish filling out. I had a feeling the house was about to get wild,
and Im too old for a bunch of people breathing down my neck, mosh-pitting, and
constantly focusing on not being stepped on instead of listening to the music. So, I
made my way near the back of the room, while maintaining a fantastic view of the
stage. Next up was A$AP Twelvyy, a member of another popular New York based rap
group- the A$AP Mob. Twelvyy gave a bouncing, energetic performance, and even
proceeded to come out and party with the crowd for the remainder of the show.
Anticipation grew, and right as the clock hit 8, the room went black, and the
ZOMBiES notorious intro - given by Juice - started
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, WE the Flatbush ZOMBiES proudly
present to you its blunt smokin, a** gropin, microphone rockin, undisputed
champions of the wooorld
Erick Arc Elliot
Meechy Darko aka Fleezus Christ, aka I am not the father
Onto the stage came the Brooklyn natives one by one, and wasting little time,
dropped their trademark opening song from a throwback mixtape called Dont Do
Drugs Kids. The room erupted with energy, and they did a great job at keeping
everybody moving for the duration of the show.

The visual appeal of the stage was simple- they were working with a
backdrop and a combination of spot and laser lights. The simple design, however,
was more than enough because the real show was happening on stage. The beats
ever so craftfully concocted by Erick were shaking my soul. The vocals were nice
and clear, I was able to hear each line being spit harder than the last. Most
importantly, as I sat back analyzing, I realized the three of them drip of their own
entertaining and vivid personalities that are distinctly individual, yet combine
together quite perfectly.
Little time was taken in between songs for the preaching that most artists like
to do at shows, instead I was given slightly more than an hour and a half of constant
tightly packed bars. As I stood in the back of the room, I began to realize I was
around people similar to me. True fans of the music who werent necessarily here for
the party, but genuinely interested in the music. Laid back with a perfect view, I was
loving the show. I began to people watch more closely, as an artists fans and the
variety of said fans says a lot about the artists themselves. Despite a very apparent
cult following, the group had a wide variety of people at and loving their show. I
spotted a nicely dressed man mouthing along with each line spit on stage, and
decided to approach him (briefly to others as well) to get a different perspective on
how the crowd was liking the show. Looking at him, as was his impression of me
apparently, I would not have guessed that he rocked with such a wild group. Malik
shared with me that he stays in the city, and that this was his 7 th time seeing them
around the country! I stood by him for a large part of the concert, occasionally
trading a word or two. The majority of our time spent however, was rapping and
dancing along with the great selection of tracks the ZOMBiES laid out.

We were left with a brief inspirational speech from none other than Juiceexclaiming how important each and every decision we make in our lives is crucial in
ensuring a future for ourselves, our kin, and all alike. Short and sweet, the crowd
was left with 3 quick tips: Open your minds, Lions dont lose sleep over the
opinion of sheep, and dont vote for Donald Trump.
Walking out and back to our cars, Malik remarked they never disappoint,
they just always seem to keep developing their performance and stage presence
every time I see them. Although I had no previous experience with them to
compare to, I could not have agreed more. I was leaving very satisfied. For twenty
dollars, I had just seen an artist at a clean, low-key concert hall. I didnt have to
worry about locating the jumbotron in order to see the artist I paid to watch live. I
even got to comfortably vibe out to the music of an artist currently climbing the
charts with their new album. The experience, and the performance I was given was
more than worth the amount I paid for the ticket, and Id still be saying the same if I
included the money that I (should have) paid for parking. As a person with a large
appreciation for music and art, one thing that stands out to me very quickly is
passion. The amount of energy put out by the artists, and effort to connect more
personally with the crowd shows me that these men are thankful for their fans.
That evening, I walked in to that concert excited, but still ready to get into my
bed as soon as it was over. However, walking out with a smile on my face, new
experience under my belt, and probable damaged ear drums, I was invigorated and
did not regret my decision one bit. The only thing I could have asked for was for the
show to go all night, and I would have lost that sleep with no second thoughts. I
would recommend going to see a live performance to anyone remotely interested. A
unique rap style and hard hitting beats combined with a wavy and defiant persona

about the group is progressively picking up more support each and every day. Dont
be surprised the next time youre walking down the street and hear the name
mentioned, and absolutely believe the hype. For now, the ZOMBiES are just picking
up traction, but who knows what the future holds for these 3 talented individuals
and their clique- soon the Beast Coast collective may just be the second coming of
the Wu-Tang Clan.