There are those that sit as bystanders and curiously watch the world from the outside in, never realizing all the while as slight occurrences happen, that things are changing. They are ignorant of the impact that these small anomalies will have on the cultural movement as it shifts before them. They accept things for what they are, they are merely voyeurs who adapt to a particular lifestyle based on what they think is the cool thing to do in the ‘right now’.

There are others who are only able to see what was coming, well after it has since arrived, they’re caught in the aftermath of the flood. They grasp at drift wood, and discarded pieces of what could have been ‘the best of times’ had they only been better prepared. And since they’re only left with regrets and a future of maneuvering life in ‘the struggle‘, I’ll call these people the ‘victims’ in our vast landscape of Hip Hop.

And then there are those that toil endlessly in silence; there are those among us who don’t need direction to find their own path forward. Luckily for us, there are still wordsmith’s out here who can take the magic of ‘now’, the memories of ‘before’ and the history of ‘back in the day’ of all shared urban culture and turn it into an example of music that’s light years ahead of what the status quo is doing.

Ian Wellz (@Ianwellz) and Trills Smith (@trillytrills) are these types of dudes.

I can’t even begin to explain the talent level each of them has as individuals, let alone how fly they are when they work together, so it’s without a doubt that I’ll be in the house tomorrow night at the UC Lounge (formerly Uncle Charlie’s) for their Light Years Ahead Hip Hop Showcase.

Here’s a little primer if you’re new to my inner circle, both of them and a few more of their crew hail from my adopted home town of Newark, NJ. With that being said, anybody whose in the know understands that artists from this historic cultural haven hit the ground running like the echoing patter of a pair of Jordan’s after a spray of bullets.

A story teller like Biggie, sprinkled with an irreverent tinge of resentment at the plightof inner city life, Ian Wellz is a highly anticipated underground (for now) lyricist, producer and musician. It would be an insult to call him a rapper; and an understatement to simply call him an musician.

His refreshingly raw, honest and unforgiving observance of subject matter is intimate, abrasive and moving. His lyrics touch you like the an abusive lover who says just the right things, in that familiar type of way, to cut deep like a knife.

His skill as a producer and engineer are not lost on the fact that his melodies bounce from one genre to another all while continuing to force a head nod from his audience. What would the industry do with another unapologetic black man whose musical ear creates offerings that exceed anything else you’ve been listening to, in both diversity and composition?

Professionally trained and locally respected, I would lie if I didn’t say that I bump his music in my Ipod next to Jigga, Kanye and B.I.G. When I want people to salivate over my hip hop offerings, I throw them the link to his collection of free downloads and give them the smug mug.

Whose this? Oh, shit, this doesn’t sound anything like a mix tape! Thanks, he’s dope. 

Yes, he’s so dope….and so is the man standing next to him.

Trills Smith is a lyricist, writer, and highly accomplished visual artist. Since we’re not talking about his paintings or the recent photo work he’s published on Amazon, I’ll attempt to only focus on his musical capabilities from here on out.

When I think of the best way to describe Trills, a soul clap comes to mind, he’s is the definition of the quiet, chill type of situation that doesn’t demand a standing ovation because he does not require your approval. Trills’ music is all army green jackets, sepia toned photos taken with your grandfather’s Brownie camera, and time spent kicking it with the people whose memories insist things were better, ‘back then’.

This music is for the soldiers that wash the hassles of everyday living away by pouring a double shot of coping skills. 

Listening to his latest efforts, Lush Life, reminds me of the type of lifestyle lived by people from back in the day, you know, the ‘old heads’ that gave birth to the current generation even if they didn’t stick around to raise you.

This is sipping music; laugh with your boys over some bullshit music; the “pour your broken heart into another shot” type accompaniment. This is the bartender will keep it coming and won’t ask you no questions type of music.

This is no surprise to me, as I personally know Mr. Smith is by far one of the coolest cats you ever wanna meet and you can do just that tomorrow night and see for yourself.

Hip hop is going through a change, I wouldn’t call it a re-birth, as we’ve been here before, but I will say that creativity, originality and substance are establishing standards in the music while the incoherent babbling of what used to be considered baby talk is being properly demoted to its proper place among entertaining fodder for the common folks ear.

I’ll be heading out to paint the town red with my consigliere Dee, of Dee Makes Jewelry, my other Dee, of  Little Bits of Paper and Things, and I’m hoping to catch up with Max, or any number of a crew of about twenty other people I run the NYC streets with and whom I would love to see. Foursquare me, find me Twitter, or just stop by and check them out because this is about people supporting people.

It’s the end of the year after all, and where else would I rather be than to be with cool, creative people whom I genuinely support? Fuck it, I’m officially done with 2011, the people and the bullshit, and maybe I’ll see you in the future…or not.

Until next time….

© 2011, TRJ. All rights reserved.