Boogie SXSW 2015 | NPR MUSIC FRONT ROW

Boogie SXSW 2015 | NPR MUSIC FRONT ROW with tags sxsw, boogie, the reach, bitter raps, let me rap, wit me, do it like we, find me, gangbanging, god work, oh my, the change, music, npr (radio network), hip hop music (musical genre), npr music

The first voice we heard when Compton rapper Boogie took the stage Wednesday night wasn't his. It was Darius, Boogie's five-year-old son, booming out the speakers and making occasional appearances throughout his set. This is Boogie's first SXSW, among his first concerts and the beginning of a career that will have to be built on the road, which will mean stretches away from his son, stretches when his son's voice will have to be piped in just like it was at Stubb's. The way he's open, both in his music and in person, about the crossroads where his talent and his commitment have deposited him, makes you root for him all the way.

Over the course of his set, which was comprised of specifically personal songs performed in order of increasing intensity — with a few asides for anger and, in his words, "ignorance" — Boogie steadily won over a swelling crowd. He made them laugh with "Bitter Raps," impressed them with an a cappella rendition of "Let Me Rap" and tugged the heartstrings with those sweet little boy ad libs. The pacing was confident and the songs were strong. There was no affect — all legitimacy and promise. -- FRANNIE KELLEY

Set List

"The Reach" 0:21

"Bitter Raps" 2:50

"Let Me Rap" 5:32

"Wit Me" 7:47

"Do It Like We" 9:22

"Find Me" 12:08

"Gangbanging" 14:24

"God Work" 17:24

"Oh My" 9:09

"The Change" 22:59

Credits

Producers: Saidah Blount, Mito Habe-Evans; Technical Director: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Katie Hayes Luke, Morgan Walker, Carlos Waters, A.J. Wilhelm; Audio: Timothy Powell/Metro Mobile; Director: Mito Habe-Evans; Assistant Editor: Maggie Starbard; Production Assistants: Lizzie Chen, Nathan Gaar; Special Thanks: SXSW, Stubb's BBQ; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann