As the summer came to an end, so did its most valued companion, the “summer time anthem.” A lot of artists still managed to have moderate success over the world’s most celebrated three-month period despite the ever-lasting decline of record sales. Those who kept the temperature way above normal during vacations, barbeques, and Fourth Of July extravaganzas are now preparing for the cold shoulder of winter, while hoping that their icy efforts will generate into millions and millions of stocking stuffer revenue.

Usually when a record label decides to release a project, it’s done in a strategic and calculated manner so that the album can reach the highest rate of achievement it possibly can. Therefore you rarely see the anti TRL and 106 & Park movement making too much noise when school’s out, because that period is mostly always reserved for the heavy hitters.
 
So while the All-Stars are clearing out lockers, their MC counterparts who have been batting cleanup are getting ready to take the field—one player in particular is Massachusetts’ own Hip-Hop purist, Termanology. Hailing from Lawrence MA. The half-white/half Puerto Rican lyricist has taken the underground by storm within the past few years, and in doing so has gained the respect of artists and producers like Pete Rock, Bun B, Sheek Louch, Freeway, Hi-Tek, Havoc, and The Alchemist who all gave contributions to his debut album, Politics As Usual which hits stores at the end of September. With his release date nearing, the Beantown representative took his show on the road to New York where he gave a performance at The Knitting Factory for his ever-growing fan base.
 
On the cool brisk night, you could see promotional posters tattered on every streetlight that was in the vicinity of the small venue. As his street team greeted everybody outside wearing black t-shirts marking the name of the album and the release date, the line to the entrance of the club continued to accumulate. After what seemed like a brief wait, the line started to move, with the doormen checking ID’s and leading people inside. Upon entering the main hall of the club, you could hear Termanology’s full album on rotation throughout the room while a lonely DJ set was on the stage with no turntablist in sight.

There was a single female bartender who was left with the task of taking care of the mixed crowd who consisted of hipsters, college kids, and backpackers. After the third playing of the album went by, DJ Statik Selektah emerged from backstage to officially welcome all the people who came to see his artist. At that point, he asked if everyone was feeling the album, and after the audience gave it a positive response, he assured the crowd that the show would begin shortly, then he left the stage, but not before cueing up Termanology’s album from the top one more time.
 
After what seemed like an eternity of anticipation, the once energetic crowd began to get antsy, and inpatient waiting for the live entertainment to commence. Sensing the discomfort from the audience, the guest of honor himself Termanology came out to the stage, dapping everyone in sight, and displayed the coolness of a PR person reassuring the people that came to see him that they won’t be waiting for too much longer. After defusing a frustrated mob, his album continues to play while the DJ set on stage still remained un-manned. With everyone talking amongst themselves, while guzzling mixed drinks and beers, the sounds of Termanology’s album start to get drowned out by a tremendous amount of screams and applause.

With everybody turning their attention back to the stage to se what’s going on, you could see Hip-Hop icon DJ Premier bringing his records on stage, and preparing his equipment. After an impromptu sound check goes horrible wrong, Premier interacts with crowd stressing the importance of coming to the show early enough to have a proper sound check—while he’s waiting for the technical difficulties to be resolved.

At one point the sound crew gave the Gang Starr affiliate the green light, but the crowd let him know the sound was still heavily distorted. Being the consummate professional, he continues to engage the crowd in order to keep the peace by offering his apologies, telling jokes, and testing everyone’s Hip-Hop knowledge. During this time, an unknown figure decides to walk up on stage, and hangout with the legendary DJ/producer. When the person reveals himself into the light, it turns out to be none other than Hip-Hop veteran Bumpy Knuckles who was rewarded with cheers by all the people still waiting for everything to get underway.

After Premier is given a second green light to start the show, he wasted no time showing off his turntable wizardry by spinning classics by Brand Nubian, Nas, Mobb Deep, Jay-Z, Big L, Biz Markie, EPMD, MC Ehit, Ice Cube, Group Home, Jeru The Damaja, Geto Boys, M.O.P., and a catalog of vintage Gang Starr material. The crowd who at one time were tired of waiting, were now on the verge of exhaustion from jumping around and singing their lungs by participating on every record that touched the needles. After taking the people down memory lane, the beat maker supreme was recompensed with a thunderous roar, while he doused Termanology with compliments.
 
The main attraction finally hit the stage, and got right down to business performing songs off his upcoming release. After the music died down for a moment, he asked the crowd if they were familiar with a song on his album called ‘In The Streets.’ With everyone still debating on an answer, he explained how Lil Fame of M.O.P. was featured on the song, and then invited the one half of the Mash-Out Posse to the stage to perform it alongside him. With the crowd now up in arms, the Brooklyn native took the stage with a microphone in one hand, and a Heineken bottle in the other hand as he ran through his verse effortlessly. When the song ended, Termanology thanked Lil Fame for coming out to support him while Brownsville MC got an even bigger thank you from the audience.

Termanology then started up again with a few more songs from his album, and then took another interlude to apologize to his fans for the show not being tight enough; citing that all the material was new and has never been performed live before. He then gave members of his crew an opportunity to showcase their talents as they dropped rhymes with no beats behind them. When his crew was done, he then gave Queenbridge’s Blaq Poet who was also in attendance the microphone to perform acapella as well.
 
After sharing the love, he then asked the crowd if they were familiar with another song he had on his album called ‘Watch How It Go Down.’ The rhetorical question was met with high excitement as his DJ played the Premier-produced track with Termanology pouring his every being into the song. With cameras flashing, and people screaming, he ended the song by slamming the microphone onto the stage and walking off with the sounds of all his supporters firmly in the background.