Few venues I have been to compare to the experience of 7th Street Entry in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the same sense, few acts (I've seen) compare to Why Khaliq. So when I had the chance to see him perform at 7th Street the answer was a no-brainer. A week after premiering his short film, The Mustard Seed, a mix of musical and cinematic arts, Why Khaliq was set to perform some of the tracks off the film. Before he stepped onto the stage, a slew of acts would set the bar for him.

Been Reza

An important aspect to any concert is the ability to get a crowd in the mood, Been Reza did that and more. Unleashing a mix of his own beats and remixes of popular beats, the crowd was intstantly sucked in. I even lucked out to have met Knucky Brown and Juicelord in the audience, who were so impressed with the beats they laid down an impressive freestyle while listening.

Lost In The Wild

A duo reminscent of Cherub, Lost in the Wild brought a smooth indie feel to start off the night. While not quite as electronic as Cherub, this duo featured two excellent singers that could groove with the best of them. The frontman, who also stepped aside to played an electric piano, had a impressive range on the microphone not just with notes, but also in his ability to bring an essence of hip-hop. The second member, a funky guitarist, also brought a range of vocals to the mic.

J Plaza

While Why Khaliq stole the show, J Plaza put on one of the most impressive sets of the night in particular because he did the entire set while battling a sickness. J Plaza brings a lot of energy when he graces the stage, but he showed his range by slowing it down for the style of show this was. He played a mix of old and new music and had the crowd vibing to his every word. His latest single, "Ashes," brought him off the stage and into the crowd for a more personal experience. Surrounded by the crowd as he poured his soul out, he brought everyone in for a inspirtational moment before ending his set.

Audiyo Element

I didn't know what to expect when a crowd of people took the stage next. Audiyo Element brought a range of sounds to the stage with two guitarists, a keyboard player, three singers, a rapper, a drummer, and production artist. While that many people on a small stage can sometimes clutter the music, Audiyo brought an inspirational and gratifying sound that uplifted the crowd. One thing that truly set them apart was how well they improved on stage. From guitar solos to drum solos tot he impressive vocals, Audiyo Element.

Why Khaliq

If I've said it once, I have said it a hundred times. Why Khaliq combines everything I love about hip hop. This set was unlike the prior sets I had seen from Why Khaliq in that he had live instrumentals on stage with him. Josh Johnson on saxophone fed off the existing beats freestyling when the groove hit him. Blayr Alexander, of Audiyo Elemennt, added just enough style and flow to bring the whole sound together. Starting the set off with a recently released song, "Dirty Showers," Why had the audience on their toes waiting for more. Bouncing back and forth between old and new music, the set had everyone grooving to the jazz infused style Why Khaliq brings to the stage. Being that two of my favorites acts played the same night, it was the cherry on the sundae to see Why bring up J Plaza for their project #GO. This night was about his premier and he ended his set with a barrage of new tracks that had everyone looking on the ground for the jaws they dropped.

2017 is off to a quick and impressive start, seeing many local acts break through to new crowds, new stages and new adventures. If you aren't from the Twin Cities, it is worth the trip to see these acts and many more in the cities perform. If not, it's only a matter of time before they are in your city performing.