Greetings all - I had mentioned earlier that Lauryn was the headliner of homecoming at the University of Miami. This concert happened last night - I wanted to share the experience with the org as we discuss Lauryn on a regular basis.

There was a rapper from Atlanta named Donnis that opened the show.... very cliche, sample-laden material about money, hoes, weed, etc. It was fun watching the pre-school childen play on the giant slide and the trampoline while this child was on stage screaming "burn mother fucker burn!" and "you motherfuckers is gonna get fucked up tonight right?" It was classy, all ages entertainment - totally appropriate. He had a band up there but all I heard was the backing track - all the makings of real talent.

That guy finished and we all waited around for an hour for Lauryn to start her set. About 45 minutes into the wait black SUVs began to appear and head towards behind the stage. In preparation to get the crowd hyped, "DJ Rampage" again asked us "motherfuckers" if we "was feelin alright", screaming "Miami" over and over again. I mean - these guys realize they are at a paid gig for a University, right? People that attend lectures on topics such as, say, GRAMMAR, for 12-16 hours a week. Maybe if they did not act like monkeys I wouldn't, ya know, describe their antics as monkey-like. But they were totally monkey-like. DJ Rampage did everything short of fling turds at the crowd. (I do apologize if that statement was offensive to monkeys.)

OK so that guy screamed at us and played Jay-Z tracks for around thirty minutes. It is worth noting that the crowd knew all of the Jay-Z lyrics from ten years ago (give it to me, the "ceo of the roc" song ((why is that line so memorable lol)).

Lauryn hit the stage like a fuckin' whirling dervish - screaming, jumping, throwing her hands up and kicking her feet all over the place.

Set List: Lost Ones, Take Too Much, I Only Have Eyes For You/Zealots, Ex-Factor, To Zion, Fu-Gee-La, Ready Or Not, How Many Mics

Show clips on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/wa...r_embedded

It was NOT the Rock The Bells type DJ Mash-up show where she performs over other songs/beats.I would say that it was a rock show. The quiet/chill/soul moment was "I Only Have Eyes for You" which segued into a dope version of "Zealots".

This was an AMAZING aural assault of reinvented tracks. Her band included two drummers/drum kits, 3 keyboard players, bass, guitar, saxophone, "DJ Rampage", and 3 backup singers. Each song was LONGGGGGG (over 5) with extended solos and call/response. Lauryn was very involved with directing the band during the set and that was really fun to see. She looked lovely - giant afro, two piece suit, white shirt, gold chains....

Her family was all over the place on each side of the stage... it was very rasta. She mentioned Rita Marley was back there and Rohan was on bass (I think). At one point during "To Zion" she brought a young boy out and he sang the "is in Zion" part back and forth with her. It was adorable and she was beaming. Honestly I've seen the YouTube videos of recent L shows and she seemed kinda not too happy - her demeanor was FUN, classy, happy. I feel blessed to have experienced this show.

Alot of my friends/colleagues at the University were disappointed with the show as she did not simply recite album material. I loved the variety, the energy, the creativity - at the end of "I Only Have Eyes For You" she was singing "I only have eyes for UM" which was awesome. She also at one point encouraged the audience to "be creative!! Be creative!! be original!!"

I can die happy now. I was so worried the show was gonna be disappointing.

[Edited 11/6/10 11:56am]

[Edited 11/6/10 14:37pm]

Sounds like a great show, glad you had a good time! Thx for sharing.

Lauryn has always been one of my faves. I'm always hopeful that she will release new material and make a comeback.

If this chic comes out at the Prince concert I'm attending on the 17th...I'm gonna LOOSE MY EVER LOVING MIND!

Irony: College student complaining about opening acts saying mother fucker over and over because some students attend grammar classes 12-16 hours per week starting description of headliner's set by saying she "hit the stage like a fuckin' whirling dervish".

Glad she didn't disappoint. I would have lost my fucking mind when she performed "Ready Or Not".

Cerebus said:

Irony: College student complaining about opening acts saying mother fucker over and over because some students attend grammar classes 12-16 hours per week starting description of headliner's set by saying she "hit the stage like a fuckin' whirling dervish".

Glad she didn't disappoint. I would have lost my fucking mind when she performed "Ready Or Not".

HAHAHA!

she did though!! her energy was incredible!

and also i am not studying grammar... my point was more that there were kids there! kids that were likely 5 and under dancing to this child screaming obscenities...

call me old fashioned but it felt wrong. the only cuss lauryn let out was the expected "add a motherfucker"