Should perform: Mos Def and Talib Kweli as Black Star
Did Perform: Pharoahe Monch, Rahzel, Common and Ice T.

Bassline at Paradiso, Amsterdam, has a rep for being not very good for your next-day-on-school-or-work. The doors don’t even open till it’s 23.00 hours. And shows starts in general at 2 ‘o clock in the morning. No problem if it’s Friday or a Saturday but on a Sunday?! You can imagine that you’re kinda pissed if you have to stay up that long, especially if you have to be at your job at 6.30 to start working or you have an exam at 10.00 ‘o clock in the morning. Kinda pissed like many others that it all started that late. Kinda pissed that Black Star was canceled. Murth The Man-O-Script: "That’s fucked!". But hey instead there was Common and Pharoahe Monch. Rumours came through the grapevine that the surprise act, as a make up, was Guru with Rahzel.

So here we were, thinking about how late it would get this night. First the surprise act then Common followed by Pharoahe Monch. Would we still make it on time for work and exams? Don’t think so. The idea came up just to make some pictures and to go home. For the story we would ask some of our friends who would stay till the end. Lucky thing that we stayed…

At the moment Murt came on the stage there was a special vibe. He was rolling in his hosting. And kept being on stage, even when Common came together with Rahzel and DJ Crossfader. "Hey Common doing a show together with Rahzel?" This was no routine concert, it started to look more and more like a celebrities jam session. And yes it was. Everybody was feeling and doing fine. By the way, in the audience it was easy to pick out Kelis (big blond Afro) mingling around not looking in a hatefull mood at all.

At a certain time you could see Deams in the back of the stage and a minute later Murt informing Rahzel and Common. If you know Ice T is in town you know he hangs with original ruffneck Deams. And YES! There he was, Ice motherfucking T!! Dropping some verses and being the celebrity hype man for Rahzel and Common. The Dutchies showed him mad respect and love. The crowd already showed much and much love for Common and the Godfather of Noise. But went nuts when the Iceberg came onto stage.

Backstage some ladies weren’t feeling his nuts and walked out when Ice T walked in: "Yo all you ladies start to play with your tities, because brothers ain’t having it." Brothers digged Ice’s suggestion as a way to break the ice. Back to the concert, it was great to see them three to perform live together. It was history written in front of your eyes and we were part of it!

After this could Pharoahe Monch maintain the spirit? Well yes he could and when Simon Says started to blast through the speakers it was on. Everybody went bezerk. Peeps climbed on stage getting even more wild. This was the best Bassline ever.

Mickey One and AQ.