June 08, 2009 @ 9:10 pm

VIBE WAS THERE: Hot 97’s Summer Jam

Brad Wete

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Jay-Z steals the show and pardons T-Pain

Like a thief, Jay-Z stole the shine from this year’s headlining acts at [WQHT-FM] Hot 97’s annual Summer Jam concert. But they didn’t make it to hard for him to take. The show was hardly spectacular.

The evening kicked off with former Pretty Ricky member, Pleasure P, running through a lackluster set, capped off with his ode to infidelity, “Boyfriend # 2.” Then came the reggae boys. Jamaican sensation Serani hopped on stage with “She Loves Me” and recent smash “No Games.” Mavado mashed up second, performing “So Special” and a handful of hits. Elephant Man even joined in on the fun, winding it up to “Nuh Linga.” All the songs performed are no doubt hits in Hot 97’s tri-state range, but none of the performers lived up to the hype their songs require. Their sets were dry, sometimes completely inaudible. But they were not alone in their staleness.

The-Dream’s set was just okay, at best. Sure, he’s the Radio Killa, but definitely not a showstopper. Summer Jam could easily be a 100% hip hop show, as most of its attendees rarely ever hope for an extended R&B set. The-Dream’s 20-minute showing of monotone melodies only lifted past boring when he brought out Fabolous for “Throw It in the Bag.” To the disappointment of many, Fab was off the stage just as fast as he was on. Based on his allotted time, one would think that wasn’t the man who gave New York hood hymns like “Breathe” and “Make Me Better.”

With the crowd growing anxious, finally they received what they wanted— Jadakiss. Looking right at home, Jada immediately took command of Giants Stadium. Along with The Lox, the Yonkers MC had the night’s most thorough set. “Knock Yourself Out” and “We Gon’ Make It” were a huge boost to what had been a dreary night so far. Kiss also broke up his set to bring out Jerimih for “Birthday Sex” and Busta Rhymes to growl through “Respect My Conglomerate.”

Mary J. Blige’s jazzy set was also a crowd pleaser. She pulled out Method Man for “You’re All I Need,” then let him rock with his partner in rhyme, Redman. Sound issues ruined what would’ve otherwise been a stellar set. The stadium’s music system gave out towards the end of “Da Rockwilder,” reducing the duo’s classic tune to a bassless, faint outro.  

Young Jeezy’s set is garnering the most buzz today, but it doesn’t have much to do with him. The trap star ran off a few off his jams including “Who Dat,” and “Go Crazy” before he brought out his first guest. Internet sensation Drake came out to the squeals of all the ladies, before cranking out his hit, “Best I Ever Had.” Then Jeezy returned for his 2008 anthem, “Put On.” When the time came for what many know to be Kanye West’s verse (West was a no-show), Jay-Z sauntered out instead. If the stadium had a roof, the screams Jay received might have blown it off.

Dressed in black from his New York Yankees fitted to his sneakers, Hov rattled off his remix verse, which shouts out Hot 97’s big show. “I put Biggie in my raps/ I put Nas with Def Jam, I let Diddy do my tracks/ I put on for my city that's a motherfucking fact/ I put Mike Jack on stage at Summer Jam, Billie Jean/ I put Prodigy in his place on that Summer Jam screen."

After pausing to take it all in, he let a new cut loose. Transforming a festive occasion into a burial service, Jay performed “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)” from his forthcoming Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation/Atlantic). (Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex and Mister Cee premiered the track last Friday.) Jay lays autotune—the device that’s propelled artists like Jamie Foxx, Ron Browz and most notably, T-Pain to Billboard hits—six feet under. But just when most thought no one was free from Jay’s wrath, Pain crept on stage, proudly standing alongside the Roc star. As Jay said to Flex and Cee on Friday: Pain, West, and Lil Wayne are exempt from the Auto-Tune ban.

Hov only spent eight minutes on stage but the night was his. Everything that followed was anticlimactic. T-Pain’s set was a dry run of all the hits he’s produced for himself and others. DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, and Maino all arrived with little fanfare. Noticeably absent was Rick Ross, who’s having a stellar year.  

The night’s big finale was a Cam’Ron-less Dipset. Jim Jones and Juelz Santana stumbled through their songs as the stadium emptied. Many wondered why Dipset closed the show, hoping that an epic reunion with the former Diplomat captain would take place. Harlem was supposed to hold it down. They didn’t. It was Jay’s day.

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