Taking flight

Kaze - The Library - Sep. 25

There are few things more enjoyable to me than hip-hop supplemented with live instruments. So when Chapel Hill emcee Kaze was performing at The Library Friday night with Wilmington hip-hop/jazz/funk ensemble Organix, I was happy. Teaming up for the mixtape release party of Kaze’s First in Flight, the group’s dynamic helped bring an energy that is often devoid from hip-hop shows. After watching Kaze, however, I realized he would have been just fine without the band. With guest Mr. Mohalyn helping on the hooks, Kaze was back and forth across the small corner stage faster than he could move onto his next bar. For as lyrical as Kaze is, it’s amazing how animate and committed to displaying every emotion in his songs the rapper is as he performs. It’s part of what makes the backing band so essential for Kaze’s set. The rich soulful sound coming from the bass, keys and live percussion added that extra umph with each of Kaze’s Tiger Woods-esque fist digs. Organix emcee Fuzz Jackson also took a break from vibing in the crowd to hop on stage to drop lines on a couple tracks. Speaking of the crowd, Kaze had a constituency on the dance floor, singing along to the hooks and requesting quite loudly that he should perform “Fresh” off his mixtape. The show’s attendees were treated when “Fresh” proved to be the highlight of the set, though it was tough to out perform “A Day in the Life,” “Blowing in the Wind” and “919 Fashion.” Kaze also gave a newbie some time to shine as Fluent opened the show with a several song set and numerous forays into the crowd as he rapped.

Click above for video from the performance.

Kaze - "Fresh"