Camp Lo is a rap group from the Bronx who melds hip-hop with jazz sensibilities and funk.

After having a hit single, “Coolie High,” from The Great White Hype soundtrack in early 1996, they released their debut album, Uptown Saturday Night, in February 1997. The record contained the best known song, their 1997 hit, “Luchini AKA This Is It.”

Uptown Saturday Night, recently celebrated it 15th year anniversary and in celebration the duo will be performing the record in its entirely at on the Sound Academy stage on December 12 as the next instalment in the ongoing ‘Legends: The Hip Hop Series”

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Host and first opening act was Toronto’s own Diaz, who got the crowd in the mood for what was to come, while J. Pinder hopped off stage and blended with the crowd mid-song, giving us a grunge-rap vibe that was no doubt a nod to his hometown of Seattle. The audience though, was growing restless. They were ready for the man of the hour.

After a short set from tour DJ, the anticipation in the venue rose just before Black Milk’s live band, Nat Turner, made their way to the stage for what the audience knew was about to be a dope show. Bass, Keys and Drums took their positions and for just a moment, you forgot this was a hip hop event. When Black Milk bounced onto stage, the energy finally shifted into gear. Opening with Tronic’s “Try”, the momentum got started early. As the night went on and crowd continued to grow, Black ran through most of the tracks from his 2010 release, aptly titled Album of the Year, including “Black & Brown”, “Distortion” and “Keep Going”. “Gospel Psychedelic Rock” must have touched one very drunk enthusiastic fan, who got on stage not once, but twice during the extended set.

Black Milk’s sound is known for heavy and intricate instrumentation; focused mostly on drums and it’s something that translated perfectly within the live band environment, each element pulsing perfectly through the venue’s speakers and filling the entire spot with the sound that fans expect from the Detroit MC. Black makes it clear that he’s creating an experience with his show, a reflection of the work he puts into his studio releases. Black’s mixture of his resident turntablist with his band members makes for a sound that’s distinctly Motor City.

Circling back to some older work, Black kept it rolling, exclaiming “I know I got some Tronic fans!” before launching into “Bounce” and “Give the Drummer Sum”; complete with a solo from his talented percussionist. Black closed out the show (well, attempted to) with “Losing Out”, proving to inspire to biggest and rowdiest crowd reaction as the bassline dropped. Leaving the stage with a still-hungry crowd, the “encore!” chants filled the venue and eventually brought him back to the stage to perform “Overdose”. After being re-joined on stage by his band members, “Sound The Alarm” would be the show’s real closing, wrapping up the performance in a way only he could.

The best (and most obvious) statement of the night? “I know Toronto has love for Detroit hip hop!”

That we do.

- Jae Fiasco

Footage provided for TOFLO.com