Yo Majesty and Does It Offend You, Yeah? play at the prom in Chicago
May 13, 2008, at the Mansion
By Genevieve Diesing
Published: May 15th, 2008 | 11:50am
If a Chicago venue exists that could be considered appropriate for the openly gay female rap duo Yo Majesty and electro-punk Brit group Does It Offend You, Yeah?’s bill, the Mansion most definitely is not it. Set obscurely on a residential corner in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood, this relatively unknown theater is, well, a mansion.
Showgoers entered through a wrought iron gate, passed lilac bushes, and sauntered up stairs before arriving at the venue’s main stage, which was located in a large and airy ballroom much like a high school gym. Although there was ambiance aplenty, the drafty location was hard on the acoustics. In addition, the entry was all ages, and there were what looked like chaperones lurking in the arena’s back corners. The setting was dangerously close to a high school prom’s.
Until, of course, indie-digital-hardcore outfit Does It Offend You, Yeah? tore into its set with an untethered roughness completely undetected on its album. The group, known for “We Are Rock Stars,” delivered tracks from 2008’s You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into (Virgin/Almost Gold) with an unprecedented ferocity. The group’s trademark hard, repetitive, techno-influenced beats layered with raucous vocals sent the medium-sized crowd into a frenzy.
Although the most anticipated live performance of the night was Yo Majesty’s, hoots and applause were kept to a minimum when rapper Shunda K. sauntered out … alone. She nevertheless dove headfirst into the band’s biggest hit, “Club Action,” as the absence of of Yo Majesty’s other half became increasingly conspicuous. Even during the song’s infectious chorus (“Fuck dat shit!”) the crowd was half crunking, half confused.
Finally, after a few songs, Shunda admitted to the audience that co-rapper Jwl B. wasn’t able to make it that night, but the show would go on just the same. “Things haven’t been that great between us,” she admitted after the show. “But Yo Majesty lives on. Fuck that shit.”
What words of wisdom. Shunda carried on the performance while advising the crowd to “always believe in yourself” and rhymed as furiously and confidently as ever. Though no antics for which the group has gained a reputation, such as toplessness, were served up, Shunda delved bravely into songs from her upcoming Domino Records debut while circling the stage with complete bravado. Yo Majesty’s signature mixture of unapologetic sexual declarations and spiritual affirmations were just as convincing coming from just Shunda herself. Even the chaperones seemed to like it.
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more