Fri., Feb. 3
DJ Quik at House of Blues
My Grammy Week got poppin’ tonight with a DJ Quik show that was off the hinges!
Quik walked out in a big old perm and warned the audience, “This is something you don’t see in a hip-hop show.” True that: With a nine-piece live band and two back-up singers, Quik began to rap (or sing, really) classics from his first album, Quik IstheName, like “Sweet Black Pussy,” “Born and Raised in Compton,” and the cool irie -feelin’ reggae hit “Tha Bombudd.” Bass player Erick Coomes made the night sound real deep-funky, especially on the James Brown cover “The Payback.” Quik also went into his new album, Trauma, including “Fandango” — with B-Real at his side — “Till Jesus Comes,” and “Black Mercedes,” with Nate Dogg joining him onstage. Quik even brought out surprise guest Chingy on the cut “Get Down.” For the encore he performed “Tonite,” and celebrated the night with some Veuve Clicquotchampagne, some bottles of which he passed out to his loyal fans. We saw producer Fredwreck, Power 106’s Big Boy, Capitol Records’ Richie Abbottand the Mijares clan, Sara and Zazil. (Man, those girls can dance!) Quik finished things off by stage diving into the crowd. It was a night to remember.
Sat., Feb. 4
The Conga Room
Tonight I checked out the pre-Grammy party at the Congo Room, rolling in with O.G. Mexican comedian Paul Rodriguez (who’s in the new film The World’s FastestIndian)and partying with a packed house of lovely people, including The West Wing’sJimmy Smits and ER’sEriq La Salle, who was getting down to live salsa. Memo to the producers of Dancing With the Stars: Sign Eriq up. Dude can dance!
Sun., Feb. 5
Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl Game at Lovell’s pad [L.A. Weekly research coordinator and lover, y’all], cool and quiet. Pittsburgh wins and Big Snoop Dogg is happy. Question: If you’re playing in the Motor City, why not have Motown artists at halftime instead of those retreads the Rolling Stones?
Mon., Feb. 6
The Fugees on Hollywood & Vine
Hip-Hop history was made tonight when the Fugees reunited at Hollywood & Vine in front of a few thousand Angelenos. Wyclef Jean came out first and dominated the group, becoming the group jester and commentator. (“Peace to Tookie Williams,” “George Bush better take it easy” and “repping the Mexicans” were some of his freestyling riffs.) Lauryn Hill appeared in a black-power afro (“I’m not crazy, I’m just a strong black woman”) and Pras in a pink coat. The group ripped into “Mona Lisa,” “How Many Mics,” “Fu-Gee-La,” and each performed songs off their own albums. They came back on “Ready or Not,” and Lauryn sang “Killing Me Softly” and gave a shout-out to baby-daddy Rohan Marley on “No Woman No Cry.” Bushwik Bill of the Geto Boyz, DMC of Run DMC and Warren G were in the house.
