Live Review: PRhyme at Hawthorne Theater, 3/8

Royce da 5'9" of PRhyme at Hawthorne Theater on March 8.
By MATTHEW SCHONFELD

For many artists, a Sunday night show is a death sentence. But for DJ Premier, arguably hip-hop's most influential producer, selling out a venue on a school night is an effortless feat. 

On March 8, the Hawthorne Theatre filled with hip-hop heads—not Twitter-versed teens in bucket hats and joggers, but real heads, who chatter about Mystikal in between acts and chant “R.I.P. Guru” in tribute to Premier's fallen Gang Starr partner. Before PRhyme—the legendary DJ's new project featuring Detroit rapper Royce Da 5’9—took the stage, Your Old Droog, a tall, baby-faced New Yorker with a big mouth and a lot of hype behind him, warmed up the hardcore crowd with appropriately rugged verses delivered through a permanent smirk. 

It was the ideal set up for Royce, who also carries a forceful stage presence and wields the mic with a veteran's ease. Nevertheless, he remained humbled by the man standing behind him. 

“I’ve been working a long time to say DJ Premier is my fucking DJ,” he proclaimed. Between scratches and sample loops, Primo returned the sentiment, taking on the role of proud mentor and hyping up his cohort with the confidence that he's once again backing one of the toughest MCs in the game right now.   

All photos by Matthew Schonfeld.

Your Old Droog:

 PRhyme:

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