It’s not every day that you see old-school African-Americans break dancing with post-collegiate white hipsters. But that’s the vibe that rap legend Slick Rick brought to Harpers Ferry in Allston on Thursday.
The sold-out show was packed early. Local lounge rapper Oak Lonetree opened with a 45-minute set, followed by Boston soul rock outfit the Eclectic Collective, which also backed Rick the Ruler.
Lonetree’s set ran the risk of being overrun by too many other crew members with microphones, but in the end his massive voice prevailed. The Waltham MC’s loyal following jumped highest to the energetic “Smash You Out” and the jingle-bell-driven “Crunchtime.”
The Eclectic Collective locked into fifth gear from the get-go. The band’s lead vocalists, Noni Kai and Dua, throw the mightiest one-two punch in Boston soul, and they used their collective range to illuminate such Eclectic Collective joints as the mesmerizing “Beeadoh.”
After Dua belted through amelodious anti-war tirade and Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock,” it was time for the headliner. “My name is Slick Rick and I represent the old school,” he announced to wild roars.
Rick began with his morerecent catalog, unwinding a pair of OutKast-assisted numbers that not all his fans knew. Still, his aura and notoriously opulent jewelry kept hip-hop heads roped in tightly.
And then came “Mona Lisa,” followed by “The Show,” which featured Rick’s longtime DJ, Kaos, covering the Doug E. Fresh beatbox part. While Rick’s music can stand alone, Kai and Dua’s vocals put new life into hooks on nearly every song.
At the show’s climax, Rick, who announced that he’s 43 years old and proud of it, brought fans back to 1985 with “La Di Da Di.” Contrary to the track’s famous line, “This type of (expletive) does not happen every day,” the Eclectic Collective has been backing Rick for more than a year, and its experience playing clubs across the country with him has resulted in a fascinating rebirth for the once-embattled icon.
Word around the club scene is Eclectic Collective will soon rearrange its lineup. Whether or not fans knew it, Thursday may have been the last time Boston sees the band with Kai. It’s a shame, but there’s no better way to go out than alongside Rick the Ruler.
SLICK RICK, with THE ECLECTIC COLLECTIVE and OAK LONETREE
At Harpers Ferry, Thursday night.
