The Nomad was abuzz Tuesday night on Inauguration Day. While I expected a large Somali presence and street celebration like the night of the election, the mood was a little more sedated, sober as the news agencies put it. In fact the crowd was as diverse as Obama’s family with samplings from the University to North and South sides. Of course everyone was partying Tuesday and Nomad was no exception.

DJ Verb X helmed the night with his reggae spin, mixing in a few popular beats for the new in towners. After a few delays, we finally got to hear Illuminous 3 who released their debut album in December. Their performance was succinct, tight, and riled the crowds into a dancing mood. Illuminous 3 is hip-hop young and fresh, with an instrumental sound and lyrical tact that is sometimes near hypnotic. Though the booze and aura of the night might have contributed to that.

When Guardians of Balance (G.O.B.) finally took the stage, I finally felt the impact of the night, because the sociopolitical suffrage that hip-hop represents, for someone who isn’t black, it didn’t hit home until this moment. They describe themselves as “hardcore, unduplicatable, gorilla educational, high north hip hop–shots paul style” meaning they draw from the cultural conscience of our roughest neighborhoods (of course rough means not as many luxury cars per capita in the Twin City). It’s music that you listen to, you envelope yourself with.

DJ Verb X (myspace)
Illuminous 3 (myspace)
Guardians of Balance (myspace – cdbaby)

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