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| Marshall Boyett/The Times-Standard |
| KRS-One performs for the crowd at the Arcata Community Center on Saturday. |
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For the second time since 2006 began, Humboldt County was treated to the Knowledge that Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone. KRS-One rocked the stage at the Arcata Community Center on Saturday to what was reported to be a sell out crowd. Though people were saying it was sold out, there sure was a lot of room. It was probably to give enough space to the Humboldt Rockers break dancing crew, who spun, broke, popped, locked and leapt around like they were on tumble dry. Another crew started to
encroach on the Humboldt Rockers' circle and a good ol' fashioned break dance-off began. The vibe reminded me of the climactic scene out of some '80s break dancing movie: The gym setting, the stage lights, the crews battling it out on the floor. Things got quite testy there for a second and a few times I thought the pops and breaks would turn into punches and bashes. I got a feeling in my large gut that made me believe the whole rival thing was set up; still, it was entertaining, but back to the stage. There
were a few bands before Collective Elements, but I can't recall their names. Not because they weren't good or anything, just because they opened up and I was still settling into the mode to watch a show. Collective Elements took control on stage and did a decent job, keeping the hesitant crowd inching toward the stage. The Dirty Rats took over and infused the crowd like a lyrical Red Bull. Though the Rats rocked the stage, people could sense that KRS-One was just around the corner and the anticipation grew. And without the lengthy breaks in between sets like a rock show, KRS-One almost immediately jumped on stage to ride out the swell started by the Dirty Rats -- well, he did after his DJ argued with the sound man for a few minutes over levels in the monitors. And KRS-One came out with a vengeance, but those speed bumps he hit when he too had to argue with the sound man about levels got annoying. His songs ranged from some old Boogie Down Productions stuff to stuff fresh off his
new record. But when he called for “B-boys and B-girls” to take the stage and every person who thinks drunken wobbling is break dancing jumped up. That got old fast. There were decent dancers up there, but they were hidden behind numb skulls who wouldn't make it into the blooper reel for “So you think you can dance,” not that I watch that show or anything because I don't. Seriously, I don't so drop it. Once again I left the show feeling like I had just
been baptized in the church of hip-hop by its highest priest. Now that KRS-One has been up here a couple times lets get some of the other Godfathers of hip-hop up here, like Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane or Run DMC. | 
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