Review - CLASSIFIED - THE GARRICK CENTRE - Winnipeg MB. Canada - 4/08/2011

Review - CLASSIFIED - THE GARRICK CENTRE - Winnipeg MB. Canada - 4/08/2011
ByAndru Valpy - CJUM 101.5 FM

Was anybody listening to Classified on Friday night at The Garrick Centre?

The answer to that question, was yes. Hundreds of people filled the open floor at the once movie theater, and in a place that used to be filled with silence...the beats began to drop. Juno nominated artist Classified took to the stage shortly after 10:00 on Friday April 8th during his Hand Shakes and Middle Fingers Tour.

The lights dimmed, fog filled the stage and Montell Jordan's This is How we Do It started with fans clapping and welcoming the east coast rapper to "Peg City" for his seventh time.

With a coy smile and a t-shirt that said "Hip Hop Ain't Dead", Classified climbed the steps of the stage to prove his shirt right and take the fans to the skool of Classified.

With a puff of smoke, the show began.

The show started off with samplings of his new album Handshakes and Middle Fingers, including his recent single "That ain't classy" which seemed to be a favorite amongst fans.

Three or four songs into the show Classified greeted his fans and asked if they were listening which had the eager fans responding with cheers and yelp. As the screams filled the room, the opening fanfare for his single "Anybody listening" kicked in. The percussion and bass beats seemed to blend perfectly.

As the show progressed, Classified started digging into the vaults to bring back songs that were influential on him growing up as a kid, including a well mixed collaboration of 90's and early millennium hits. While hearing Classified rap along with artists like Dr. Dre, Outkast and Jay Z, fans started to appreciate where Classified's inspiration comes from.

In his lyrics, Fans have the chance to learn more about Classified and his upbringing in Nova Scotia and Canada. On stage, Classified not only shows his sense of patriotic pride, but also shares it with the fans who have helped support him along the way.

And though some may assume that the various awards and nominations Classified has received would make his ego larger than life, the rapper didn't seem to let it get to his head as he shared smiles, drinks, and even his stage with Winnipeggers who packed the house to see him.

In fact, at one point during the show Classified invited two Winnipeg ladies onto the stage to rap along with him. The two chosen fans were picked out of the crowd because they were seen rapping along to every song that Classified preformed. As they hopped on stage Classified took the time to thank them for being fans and treated them to an experience that they will surely remember for the rest of their life.

As the two and half hour show came to an end, Classified reminded his fans to be proud of where they were from, and with that ended with his single "Oh..Canada".  Seeing it preformed live certainly brought out the patriotism in the crowd, with fans singing and dancing along as they absorbed the popular singer.

Before he left the stage, Classified touched on a subject that all Winnipeggers are very familiar with, and as in his farewell promised that "Just like the Jets" he would be back soon.

-Av

(Be sure to tune into Episode 73 of Wake Up Winnipeg at 6:00 PM CST on UMFM 101.5 FM which airs Wednesday April 13th for our exclusive interview with Classified)