Live Shots

Hot Summer Jam 2009

The nearly two-hour wait to get from Decker Lane into the Travis County Expo Center meant missing ATX's Pimpin' Pen shaking the building with his durrty thump, but Saturday's Hot Summer Jam was an absolute marathon. The lineup boasted 12 announced performers and almost as many cameos, each proving they've got a wealth of ringtone rap material even if the style's well on its way to the grave. First rounders OG Ron C, Dallas' Tum-Tum, and Gemini fought to break the awkward silence between sets, trying to engage a crowd either tuned out or turned off completely. Local Chalie Boy had more luck, crooning stanky gospel on "Do the Ricky Bobby" until H-town lady Candi Redd dragged on "Independent Bitches" and short-sheeted the love fest. She pulled the same move after Lil Keke's glimmer of hope, following a Swishahouse succession of Yung Redd, Mike Jones (the first of three acts to play "Still Tippin'"), and Paul Wall (the second) ran through cuts from 2005. Swisha first lady Surreal's "I'm a Model" proved unfit to bring the Houston label back. Heavy-hitting headliners Slim Thug, Trae, and Bun B all brought the heat, but it may have been too little too late. The half-filled Expo Center slept through Slim's cameo tour of March's Boss of All Bosses and "Still Tippin'," of course, before Trae's 40-strong onstage entourage made it hard to find the Truth and even harder to hear his guttural drawl. Bun B delivered as expected, but hardly anyone on the floor had the life to keep up.