“It’s not a party, it’s a vision,” Prince Markie D confirmed as a full house floated into the back room of Santo on Lincoln Road. If it’s humpday and you’re a hip-hop appreciator or a sexy female trying to get your groove on, there’s only one place I predict you’ll be – Miami Live. With expected VIP treatment for select ladies, party givers Michael Madd and Abebe Lewis were sure to keep the chicks in check with a mix of shots, Patron and, of course, some bubbly. As the showstoppers continued getting the ladies all riled up, I was wondering who on Earth was going to tame them for the circus they were about to observe. A party for DJ Khaled and Ace Hood, producer Gorilla Tek’s b-day and Miami Live all rolled into one? Sounds dangerous...and it was. Even local CCC boss Rick Ross came out along with hip-hop trickster Fabolous. As DJ Obscene began ripping a tight scramble of jams on the ones and twos, the Miami Live band took over hypnotizing the crowd with instrumentals of Kanye’s “Flashing Lights” and spicy Timbo/Flo-Rida track “Elevators.”
As corks flew from wall to wall, man of the night DJ Khaled shuffled from the floor onto the stage, accompanied by the first We The Best Records artist, Ace Hood. Alongside the hip-hopper stood a larger-than-life cutout of himself, which normally, I would think was typical, but it suited the mood this Live around. Ace Hood violated the mic spitting rhymes from his first single “Cash Flow,” followed by a rewind and encore, as expected. The newbie must be reelin’ in the flow, because homeboy was sporting a signature Gucci jacket with matching belt and some serious iced out neck candy boasting his new mother ship, We The Best Records.
Soon after, the twosome was joined by local flavors Grind Mode and Ball Greezy, who were sure to keep heads bobbin’ and feet flexin’. In Live tradition, the boys did a few verses from hit single “I’m So High,” but were soon showed up and scarred dirty by more than one statement made by rookies Git Fresh. The four piece made their grand entrance serenading with verses from fresh catch “Booty Music” accompanied by hot chicks throwin’ dolla' bills y’all all over the place. Those cats made it rain all over the stage...and by the looks of half of those chicas, I’m not talkin’ about old man G. Wash.
I’m pretty sure Miami’s hip-hop scene is taking over for a while, and to support this agenda, Khaled tempted Daddy Dollars with a taste of “I’m So Hood,” which ended up being an act Trick could not get cold feet for. For those who didn’t catch Trick Daddy’s “In The Air Tonight” rendition at a previous Live, brutha even spat a few verses from old battleground staples “Nann N*gga” and “Down Wit Da South,” which was just as good as the sweet chronic making its rounds in the house. A couple young bloods from Miami trio F.A.M.E. showed love; stage-bound style.
The night was signed and sealed with a dab of freestyling from Livers tryin' to raise ruckuses in the house. Bringing flaming flows to the stage, battles were had out with Brooklyn's Rahsaan, Madd's newest prodigy, reigning supreme. Once again, Miami Live took first prize in holding down one of the illest urban showdowns this city's ever seen. No worries, Madd and Lewis, you can hop off that throne and take an intermission 'til next Wednesday night...
