Los Globos Los Angeles, CA
Web: http://cescru.com
The Players: Donnie “Godemis” King, emcee; Mike “Ubiquitous” Viglione, emcee.
Material: With chemistry reminiscent of Tha Dogg Pound and rapid-fire verbal ability like their Midwestern neighbors Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ces Cru is a duo loaded with talent. These Kansas City chiefs deliver music that embodies a fresh combination of funk, rock and, of course, hip-hop. With “Sound Bite” and “Pressure,” Godemis and Ubiquitous make it clear they are hungry emcees, lyric-ally ready to take on whoever, whatever and whenever.
“Hope” is a bit mellower, as is “Double OT”; but whether fast or slow, Ces Cru’s flows are thought-provoking and compelling.
Musicianship: Godemis and Ubiquitous are in unison on every beat. Their punchlines, metaphors and topics comprise a unique blend of realism and sci-fi, thus confirming why TechN9ne signed these two in the first place. Artistic with a touch of comedic nobility, Ces Cru’s tonality is unmatched as they verbally swim within the rhythm of their music. “Give It To Me” demands phenomenal breath control by Ubiquitous, while “Every Weapon” expresses Godemis’ ability to hold his own in a solo effort.
Generating a sound that is gritty, witty and swift, with incredible hooks like a southpaw, this dynamic duo show they can stand out among millions of emcees.
Performance: At this show, Ces Cru naturally fed off each other’s energy on stage. Never stepping on toes, both members knew how to let the other shine when it was his turn to spit. Together, their stage presence mesmerized and was nothing short of inspiring. An added touch was the dark, colored lights and theatrical smoke that accompanied specific songs, adding the right atmosphere, emphasis and mood.
Summary: Ces Cru is quickly becoming a favorite in the underground scene. They understand their audience and realize that their music will forever be Strange. While commercialism is unimportant to these artists, they are nonetheless becoming massively known. Thriving on unadulterated lyricism, which is the essence of hip-hop, Ces Cru are leaders in the struggle to keep underground hip-hop alive and well. – Adam Seyum
