My good friends from Basic Shapes ended a short Northwest tour last night with a show at Portland’s Greek Cusina. The show was upstairs from the restaurant, in a small venue room that had low ceilings for a really great vibe. The show itself was slow to get started, but once it did it threw down hard.

There were several different MCs that came out to perform.  Prophecy the Iron Monk was first, warming up the crowd with his hype beats and rhymes.  The b-boys started things off during his set, getting more energy as his show went on. K the I??? busted out some of the fastest intellectual hip-hop I’ve heard. All of it had a positive message and made me feel so uplifted. After his set, the music got the whole place moving, and soon enough there was a dance circle for the b-boys. Some of the breakers were flipping upside down and showing some incredible acrobatics, with style to spare. I tried to do their skills justice with some shots, but it was really amazing to watch.

Basic Shapes took to the small stage and brought with them their usual high-energy show. These guys continually show me what music is all about… the enjoyment of making it, and the enjoyment of feeling it. They did not disappoint, and by the end of their set the room was dancing.