First of the Month Smokeout

Phranchyze (photo by Jana Birchum)

Jae Jax and crew (photo by Jana Birchum)

First of the Month Smokeout

A music scene thrives on depth. Artists push others toward improvement. Saturday's First of the Month Smokeout at Flamingo Cantina proved both in spades. An audience of ATX mainstays including Zeale, League of Extraordinary Gz orchestrator Reggie Coby, the Subkulture Patriots, and Gary Clark Jr. gathered to see the next wave in an increasingly sturdy local hip-hop talent pool. Those arriving 30 minutes after initial curtain call missed young Frathouse Gang member Grimnasty flex highly enunciated Del the Funky Homosapien-style flows over 808 beats and Michael Jackson soul from under a flimsy Darth Vader helmet. Immediate successor Jae Jax – two weeks removed from turning 21 – asked "What's the fucking point?" with steady rapport and an amicable stage presence before the ever-friendly Phranchyze stepped in with a slab of quick-witted new material and a faithful ode to the Capital City. A surprise cypher featuring Phran, Zeale, SKP, and unconsciously awesome beatboxer Filthy McNasty preceded the evening's undisputed highlight: femcee Anastasia Anya Smith, who delivered a gifted combination of Da Brat's brass, Lil' Kim's sass, and singer Jill Scott's soul before a sixpiece band ready to go toe-to-toe with Latasha Lee's Blackties.