Cinco de Mayo show offers multiple artists, few with talent.

Offering a variety of Texas underground rap artists, Bob and I were invited to venture down to downtown Austin to catch a concert with a Cinco de Mayo theme. Played at Spiro’s nightclub in the “amphitheater” (or so they call it) we arrived about 2 hours after the website listed it as starting. By the time we wove through the club into the back there were approximately 14 other people in the large area, standing quietly as some pitiful local rapper named “Mr. Playboy” attempted to rhyme. His set went on for a few songs until he eventually ended our suffering and made way for the next artist, yet another local called “KJ.” He looked about 14 years old and rapped like he was 11 or 12. He often referred to himself as ATX’s finest, and if that’s true then the rap scene in Austin is in a terrible state. About 3 or 4 more “acts” came on and continued to remind me what I hate about rap concerts.

As I said, we got there about 8 and it was now 11:30. If you’ve never been to a rap concert, here’s the deal. The show will have a time listed, show up much later than that, but early enough to get a decent spot. In between the opening acts opening acts they will play a tired assortment of popular songs that you will end up hearing at lest 4 times throughout the night. Last but not least, expect some amazingly crny sound effect in between songs like a glass shattering and a gun shot firing or something along the lines of that.

At about 11:30 or so the first act with any type of success came on. Jibbs, who has endured mild commercial success with the bubble gum hits “Chain Hang Low” and “King Kong” featuring Chamillionaire strolled through his set with no more than 40 people in the audience and made mention a few times that he’s getting paid no matter what, obviously saying that he could not care less whether people were there or not. Great attitude, Jibbs! He talked entirely too much during his breaks between songs, and I’m sure it was embarrassing for him to even be there performing in front on almost empty crowd with two top 40 hits under your belt. Quite un-entertaining all the way through, and even his two big songs got old quick. C-

About 30 minutes later Chingo Bling hit the stage. A local favorite and a legend in the Mexican community, he hit the stage hard with a pretty big crowd that obviously had a lot of love for him. I had seen Chingo in September at the Meltdown sponsored by Hot 93.3. Pointing out a little too often what he thought about both Bush and his immigration policy, Chingo displayed a political fury with a slogan that tells American’s the truth: “They can’t deport us all.” He’s right. My favorite line comes from a song due out on his forthcoming album that I loved at his last show “Don’t worry Kanye, George Bush don’t like Mexicans neither.” B+

Not too long after Chingo Bling left the stage came the onslaught of rappers from the original Screwed Up Click. Up first was a personal favorite of mine and a guy that doesn’t get out to much because of his physical problems that limit him. Big Moe hit the stage with his last radio hit blaring in the background “I’m Just a Dog.” Weighing well over 400 pounds and sporting a tee shirt that was at least size 20 XL. Unfortunately he was only able to perform one song due to his limitations. Trae was on the stage next and proved to be my favorite performance of the night. The least known artist in the new wave of Houston’s rappers, Trae delievers a soft and quiet message of sorrow seen throughout almost every song he puts out. He played all his anthems off his past 2 albums and even came into the crowd to perform the now infamous “Swang.” Featuring the now deceased HAWK singing about his dead brother FAT PAT, the audienced sang along with each and every line of Hawk’s verse. Lil’ O was a surprise, coming on last, but most interest was lost by the crowd after Trae’s amazing performance. A