ProHipHop at MAGIC, Fashion & Apparel Trade Show

LAS VEGAS - Although MAGIC got underway yesterday, I got in town late and waited until today to register. First observations of the Las Vegas Convention Center: courteous and friendly, albeit firm, staff. Turns out that the PR firm handling MAGIC isn't credentialing bloggers as journalists, so I had to register as AllHipHop.com staff writer. Up to four journalists from one outlet are allowed to get all-access press credentials, and as it turns out, I'm the sole AllHipHop cat out here thus far.

I have yet to make it to the show floor ... so check back later for details on what I see there later.

In the meantime, last night got my Vegas stay off to a good start. HipHopDX.com sponsored a Little Brother/Lupe Fiasco show at a pretty spacious venue on the strip called the Empire Ballroom. Thanks to fashion editor Starrene Rhett, I got in as VIP and had a chance to see the crowd as well as the artists. Little Brother, sans 9th Wonder, got it off to a rockin' start and Damien Brockington joined them on stage for a well-balanced attack of raps and R&B.

Between LB's and Lupe's performances the crowd was treated to something special, a piece of living Hip-Hop history. Grandmaster Caz, Busy Bee and Rock Steady's Crazy Legs came on stage to spit a few bars and just get the crowd hype. Hype indeed they became ... and your truly's jaw damn near dropped.

Lupe's show was better than the last one of his I saw, but it was nothing worthy to write about at this point.

Now off to MAGIC ...

-Slav

Slav Kandyba writes Hip Hop Files.