Love or Something Like It: Nas & Damian Marley Live in Brooklyn (Review & Video)

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“Romantic” is hardly a word you would ever hear uttered to describe a hip-hop concert, but there was definitely a whiff of love in the air Saturday at the Nas and Damian Marley show. The heady blend of stellar scenery at the Williamsburg Waterfront and the epic presences on stage culminated in an especially beautiful night to be in Brooklyn.

Not even the fact that doors didn’t open until 7 – a full hour and a half past the posted time – could topple the crowd’s unwavering geniality off kilter. The seemingly endless line-to-a-line-to-a-line that snaked along the edge of Billysburg was robust with beaming bunches of friends, couples, and an all-around good vibe.

The warm-up DJ spun the crowd back in an old school time machine blasting the best of those “I haven’t heard this in a minute!” goodies. As the queue trickled in, scrambling for Porta-Potty stops and booze bracelets, he took it upon himself to set the tone for the evening.

“If you’re here with the woman you love, make some noise!” he bellowed. Minutes later -- taking it to the next level quicker than you can say “Khloe Kardashian”-- he implored, “If you’re here with the woman you’re gonna marry, I wanna hear you!”

Now, while I can appreciate the sweet sentiment -- or, as much as is feasible when this is being barked over DMX’s “Get At Me Dog” – I couldn’t help but imagine how awkward that might have been for all the first dates in the place. Or -- even worse -- for any precarious pairs on the verge of “The Talk.” In any event, I dubbed the match-making forcing MC, “DJ Cupid.”

If you’ve never been to a show at the Williamsburg Waterfront, make it a priority. Staked out in the makeshift beer garden before the show, buzzing with enthusiasm and Brooklyn brews, the opening act may as well have been the sun slowly slinking behind the legendary silhouette of the city. Even once Nas and Damian were up -- between the captivating performances in front of you and the magnificent Manhattan nightscape at your back -- it was hard to know which way to gaze.

Ambiance aside, the main attraction was indeed the pair behind “Distant Relatives.” Damian Marley sprung into view, feverishly flowing his part of “As We Enter.” He was immediately joined by Nas, who poured on his portion of lyrical prowess.

Once things were underway, the next couple hours got away from everyone as the artists entangled the crowd in a spectacular swirl of rap, reggae, and revelry. With the one project between them, Nas and Marley were able to balance their album’s mantra of brotherhood and ancestry with the messages from their greatest hits. “If I Ruled The World,” “Welcome to Jamrock,” “One Mic” and other classics all got their time to shine, much to the frenzied pleasure of the sold-out throng belting the words back to their authors.

Nas - "Made You Look (Live)"


The gleeful energy of the event was intoxicating; you’d think we’d have been exhausted by all the excitement. (The dude steadily waving the Ethiopian flag throughout the show, on the other hand, was probably another story.) But the music’s uncanny ability to boost spirits further still with the first notes of another unmistakable song is no doubt a testament to Nas and Damian Marley’s strength as artists and performers. The show, and the atmosphere it created, was a living reflection of the tenets of “Distant Relatives” – a tribute to music, its power to propel people forward, and love in all its forms.

Nas & Damian Marley - "Africa Must Wake Up"


Perhaps to drive the point home, Damian capped the night with a pitch-perfect cover of his famous father’s “Could You Be Loved?” As we all bounced around to the beat, ecstatically shouting the words both to each other and no one in particular, it was clear that the answer to that question was a resounding “yes.”

Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock (Live)


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