Elzhi

Live reviews

• Elzhi

  Detroit rapped Elzhi emerged on the scene in 2001 with a reputation that already proceeded himself as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret" due to the fact he had been working on verse for years before he joined successful outfit Slum Village. This gave him the opportunity to travel the world with the group showcasing their impressive hip hop in which they collaborated with the likes of Dwele, Kayne West & John Legend.

  So when Elzhi, real name Jason Powers decided to go solo in 2009 it could be said he had hip hop's best possible upbringing. It would have been quite easy for Powers to have simply released a variation of what Slum Village was doing, yet what makes this artist so interesting is the fact he used his experience and personality to create a brand of hip hop that is unlike most other performers.

  His use of perplexing rhyme include polysyllabic ‘patterns’, internal rhymes, alliteration, evocative imagery, simile and metaphor makes Elzhi the thing of English teachers' dreams. The way he translates this complexity onstage is astounding and audiences find themselves cheering crazily as he raps through a sentence that would be difficult for most people to just say. His understanding of grammar pushes his hip hop to new levels, and the chance to see the tongue twisting 'It Ain't Hard To Tell' is an opportunity you shouldn't miss.

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  by sean-ward

• This show was awesome, I really enjoyed myself. Can't wait to see this artist in the city the next time. I would recommend that others check out this show as well.

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  by mcclendon31