Pharoahe Monch Rips New York’s SOBs, Celebrates W.A.R. Album

The title of Pharoahe Monch’s third LP, which hit stores, this past Tuesday, is W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). Last night (March 25th), as part of radio station HOT97’s "Who’s Next?" series at SOBs in New York City, the Queens-bred rapper celebrated the album’s release with a concert that truly embodied the spirit of that title.

After a brief opening set by upcoming MC Skyzoo and an impromptu performance by Left Coast legend E-40, the man of the night, Pharoahe Monch, took to the stage ready for war— literally— wearing a black gas mask with an olive green v-neck t-shirt topped and a green military jacket. He quickly removed the mask, and backed by his DJ, Boogie Blind, jumped into his set by performing a handful of cuts from his 2007 LP, Desire. He was flanked by singers Mela Machinko and ShowTyme, who provided backing vocals on songs like “Free” and “F--k You,” among others. Read more...