On February 8, 2014, Lee Promo presented Los Angeles with the Symba “Young Nate Nino” EP release party, held at Senior Fish. With live performances by Symba, G.L.A.M., YMTK, and Trev Case, the event started as early 6pm (with DJ Spill and DJ Cee Brown on the 1’s and 2’s) and stayed active throughout the night as each artist lit the stage on fire. Sponsored by the likes of Project Live LA, On Smash, Fusicology, and yours truly here at ILLSOCIETY, the event was a dope showcase of talent, energy, and some of today’s most promising hip-hop acts.
Trev Case and YMTK (Young Murph the Kidd) opened the set with high-energy performances that spawned lively crowd interaction, paying respect to the high percentage of SF Bay Area folk in the building. With Bay-area roots himself, Oakland rapper YMTK even let the crowd know “this my two step song” and got the crowd involved in the dance. Sharing the stage with YMTK was multi-talented producer/rapper/dj Trev Case, well-known in the Westcoast hip-hop scene for his quality beat production. Fittingly, he gave a special tribute to the late JDilla (February 7 marks JDilla’s birthday), displaying both his admiration and inspiration for one of hip-hop’s best music producers.
Also a beat producer herself, G.L.A.M. (Good Lyrics and Music) graced the stage to fully represent for the ladies. Not slowing down a bit, her fierce delivery and heavy-hitting rhythm kept the crowd on their toes. With her new mixtape titled “The Feel”, G.L.A.M.’s live performance attested to her rising-star quality. (Be sure to check out “The Feel” mixtape review, also by ILLSOCIETY)
Headlining the main event is Berkley-bred rapper Symba, whose name is coined after the character in the animated movie The Lion King. Symba (Young King) drops “Young Nate Nino” EP as his first project since the 2012 release of his first mixtape, II Words. Presented by Thizzler on the Roof, the free EP takes its title from Wesley Snipes’ character in the 1991 film New Jack City, Nino Brown. Says Simba, “I just want to motivate people — to get up and try something new. Quit following the same path.” Putting on for his city and making a heartfelt connection with the crowd, Symba shout out his hometown and offered insight to the inevitable obstacles one experiences while striving to reach their dreams. Commenting “This is for everyone who ever had a goal in their life,” his passion for his craft is highlighted in performances such as “The Bay” and “Why You Mad At Me?” Channeling a Young Nate Nino, Symba makes references to how Wesley Snipes took over the game, making moves to inspire instead of for mass appeal, noting “as long as people respect it.” Much respect, indeed. Continuing on his quest, Symba follows up “Young Nate Nino” EP with the sequel to II Words, titled II More Words, scheduled to release later this year.
–Leslie Dizon
(Aka Big L)
-All photos shot by Elainne Dizon
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