A Tribe Called Quest / Rhymefest / Consequence / The Procussions

The announcement, coming more than a month in advance, that A Tribe Called Quest would perform their first Toronto set in a decade caught more than a sceptical few off guard, leaving many scrambling to secure admission after tickets sold out within hours. As the night finally rolled around, the only remaining question was how many filler acts would stand between anxious fans and their main event? SoCal trio the Procussions, with their Anthony Kiedis-fashioned, sack-squeezing front-man and clever choreography, got things rolling, followed by a short and disorganised set by almost Tribe member Consequence. Chicago’s Rhymefest then stepped up to bring an increasingly impatient room back to life with a humorous performance marked by a rambunctious freestyle that saw the charismatic MC cite Stephen Harper, hop a barricade into the crowd and then offer up his right sneaker once back on stage. With that, the table was set for the ATCQ reunion. Ali Shaheed Muhammad led the way, sequencing the Midnight Marauders tour guide as the three members embraced mid-stage before breaking into "Buggin’ Out” and kicking off the celebration. A youthful and engaging Q-Tip, ever the consummate performer with his fresh old school fade, dress shirt, bow tie and suit vest, held the house in his hands, running through everything from "Sucka Nigga” to "Butter,” as a husky Phife peppered his own verses with clever improvisations. Ambiguous fourth member Jarobi slid onto the stage early on to complete the reunion, though he saved his shining moment for an audience assisted Busta Rhymes verse to close out "Scenario.” The euphoric energy of the night gave the perception of a Tribe at the height of their "Award Tour,” as if nine years hadn’t passed since they called it quits. When it finally came to a close with that very song, what clearly remained was the irrefutable evidence of the sheer impact ATCQ has had on every hip-hop generation.