Dallas Hip Hop All-Stars: DOMA Video

It was the performance of the night, if not the year

by Mike Orren

DALLAS — The one thing that has kept me watching awards shows over the years is the once-unexpected, now all-too-expected rare superstar performances. These generally fall into two categories:

1.) The comeback. (80's Aerosmith with Steven Tyler flying in on a Baby Grand during the opening of "Dream On."; Sly Stone at this year's Grammy's)

2.) The all-star collaboration. (My guilty favorite among these was Guns n' Roses with Elton John at the MTV awards lin the early ninties -- when I play air guitar, I AM Slash, taking my solo from atop Elton John's piano.)

The Dallas Hip Hop All-Stars performance at the Dallas Observer Music Awards was clearly in the latter category. Everyone in the Granada who was paying the slightest attention knew that this was slated to be the high point in the evening -- and it was.

Steve Austin, Money Waters, Pikahsso, Headkrack, and Tahiti all turned in strong solo performances and then joined together for the inevitable bang-up collaboration.

Despite my earnest promises to Headkrack after the show that I would have the video up before sunrise, technical difficulties intervened and it's taken me a couple days. But now we have the performance here for your viewing pleasure.

Conventional wisdom says that online video should be short -- and that more people will want to watch the individual performances. I'll do a chop-job when time permits to make that happen later. But for now, and for your own good-- watch the whole 30 minute affair here. Part of what makes this such a remarkable video is the paplpable energy in the room, even during the handoffs. (That, and the unsuspecting crowd member having to explain his complaint that somebody owed him money.)