If "Be The Change You Want To See" Was A Person: LA RUSSELL
There's something special about LA Russell. You may be able to see it in his IG videos and hear it in his songs, but you feel it when you watch him perform live. His whole being is dripping with "I LOVE THIS SHIT" energy along with, I do it for myself, and I do it for y'all, the industry is not a priority in my decision-making aura. In the times that we are in, that is what sets him apart from many of the mainstream rap artists today.
On Saturday, LA Russell did a Pop Up Show at Market Hotel, the perfect venue to host a lyrical emcee such as LA Russell. The J & M train played supporting roles as the train station was visible through the stage's window. It gave it that 90's Hip Hop, raw feel. You know, like those late Brooklyn nights on the train with your friends doing Cyphers, and listeners would vibe out or jump in. This Cali emcee made his set feel so Brooklyn.
Dressed in sweats and Crocs, LA Russell's attire matched his music: Raw, authentic, and unapologetically him. He delivered the essence of Hip Hop with eclectic wordplay, rollercoaster flows, dance moves, and bursts of energy, accompanied by his DJ and Keyboardist. The red lights haloing the stage reflected the fire and passion felt through Russell's performance. He delivered life through words for almost 3 hours nonstop, flowing in and out of songs, mixing freestyle elements, and even showing off his singing skills in "Slippery Slope" & "Gotham". One of the first songs that got the crowd lit was "BlockChain" from the album 8lbs 2oz. Concertgoers were reciting so much of the song that he just smiled while they finished the bars. 6 min. read
In between tracks there was utter silence amongst the crowd. Not out of boredom but because the room was lingering on every word that came out of his mouth. He even had to check in with us and ask, "Are you guys enjoying this?" We responded with a unanimous roar of satisfaction, then quieted just as quickly. He replied, "Wow, I love this. Like y'all really locked in." He took a minute to survey the room. I'm not sure if he was thinking of the next song, but based on the mood and the fact that it was nearing the end of the show, I would wager to say that this young man from Vallejo, California, had a moment of being in awe that people appreciated his music this much. He was reflecting on how his gifts reached over coasts and landed in the Concrete Jungle where we welcomed him with open arms, embracing his journey thus far.
One of the highlights was when LA Russell started what seemed like a freestyle song. He kept repeating a hook and told his Keyboardist Brian to pick up the melody, and we watched the beat build and the magic come through the speakers under the blue lights and the silent J train in the background. Poetic Justice.
I felt like I was chillin’ in the studio with him as he concocted music. Between his team filling in the lyrics when he was too hype to finish and the transitional conversations and anecdotes, it felt like family. We were placed smack dead in the middle of the process, watching a caterpillar become a butterfly before our eyes. The performance was so intimate that for a moment I wasn't in the Market hotel, I was just one of the homies hanging out in the studio while my rapper friend was in his creative bag.
His smile and laugh are infectious. He shows what he is feeling wholeheartedly, and you cannot help but take part. With grown man bars that speak on the struggles of life, finances, love, and friendships, one smile from him reveals a child-like innocence that he’s managed to hold on to. The Black boy joy for me was significant. It may seem minutiae, but in an era where the music surrounds sex, drugs, and violence and everyone wanting to be a gangsta, seeing this young Black man speak from the heart vulnerably and smile and still be respected as a man, is essential for his generation to see. "I'm chillin', smiling, having a good time. If you're not, that's unfortunate. It's just a hug probably needed," said Russell after performing one of his heartfelt tracks.
And just the way music changes moods, LA Russell went from talking them grown man bars to breaking into dance moves during songs like "10s, 20s, 50s, 100s" while the audience took over the words yelling, "I'm out here grinding (Go get that bag!)."
As the show was closing, he took requests from the crowd, and that's how we got L.A Leakers. The color on the set changed from Red to Blue, and as the blue light engulfed his frame and I listened to his contemplations over beats, my thoughts ruminated on Police Brutality and the fear young black men feel when those Red & Blue lights flash behind them. As he boldly and powerfully recited the lyrics to his peers in that room, something about that moment felt Free, like I could see his voice mattered, and with what he was saying, I was delighted about that.
LA Leakers Excerpt:
Black man
Better stand tall and keep yo chin up
Black man
Lead by demonstration lift yo friends up
Black man
Move from the heart and getcho mind right
Black man
Made lemonade outta lime light ah
Turned a execution to a revolution
We don't want yo pity we want retribution
We don't need excuses we need new solutions
LA Russell is an innovator in the music game as he drives home that industry deals don't have to factor into garnering success. He has put himself in a position to have creative control and financial literacy in the Music business. He is the CEO of Good Compenny, an independently funded and operated company that provides local talent assistance in their Music career. They do not charge artists for their services, donations support local and independent artists all over the Bay Area. He even turned heads when he first announced that he would perform at Backyard events. Everything about him is about being close to the people who support him, not being on an elusive pedestal pretending to live a life that doesn't exist to him while selling that dream to you. Dubbing his music Life Rap, ("I should stop calling them songs, these are life hymns" LA Leakers Freestyle), he is inspiring young people that whoever you are, whatever you like, however you live, talk about that!
Keeping with his Grassroots artistry, attendees bought tickets at the price they chose to pay. After watching his show, I realized LA Russell knows precisely what he is worth, as he states in his song, he's "Priceless." Meaning, no matter what amount he charges, it still won't be enough, so he's going to let us show him how we feel about him. In the past, consumers have paid up to $1000 for concert tickets, because not only does he understand, but his fans do also. The constant content, gems being dropped, and even his new book "LIMITLESS "THE 10,000 SHOT THEORY" show how seriously he takes his craft, and the scary part is, he's only just begun.
In Brooklyn you can expect to go to a concert at 7pm, but the young MC said, "I wanted it early so you can bring the family, the grannys, everybody. That’s very important to me, family is very important to me. I don't want to be out 9pm – 10pm at night." That spoke volumes to his values.
If you take nothing else from LA Russell, take these two things, 1. The best thing you can be is yourself. Your soul matters more than a false image. 2. Be the change you want to see. You don't have to follow the blueprint. Create something new if you don't like the options. You have the power to produce change. And speaking of Change, LA Russell believes you need to start with your energy. "Energy is Currency. Energy gets you in places that nothing else can, get your energy right." I DIG IT.
Be sure to follow his IG @larussell and check out the next time he is in your city. You won't regret it.