Posted on Fri, Aug. 18, 2006

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A Jam filled with hip-hop's best

By DAMON C. WILLIAMS

Hip-hop at its purest will be on display when Boot Camp Clik joins Wu-Tang Clan, Jedi Mind Tricks, Rakim, Redman and Reef the Lost Cauze tomorrow during the Around the Way Jam at Festival Pier.

With this lineup, promoters may deliver a show worthy of comparison to the classic tours once headlined by Run-DMC. In fact, this show - with nothing but SRO tickets left yesterday - is so anticpated, even the artists themselves are looking forward to it.

"Man, this is really going to be something," said Tek, half of veteran rhyme squad Smif-N-Wessun, which is part of the bigger, multi-member collective known as Boot Camp Clik. Other members include O.G.C., Cocoa Brovaz, Black Moon and Heltah Skeltah.

"It should be one of the greatest shows in the summer," Tek said. That's beyond debate, as each entity could headline a show on its own.

Wu-Tang Clan enjoys the cult following of a Run-DMC or Juice Crew. Even the 2004 death of charismatic member Ol' Dirty Bastard hasn't diminished Wu-Tang's fan base.

Wu-Tang counts Method Man, Ghostface Killah, RZA, GZA, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Mastah Killa, Raekwon as members. The band's hits read like an all-time-greats collection - "C.R.E.A.M.," "Bring Da Ruckus" and "M.E.T.H.O.D. Man" go with such later classics as "Triumph," "Hellz Wind Staff" and "It's Yours."

But Wu-Tang, as thorough a collective as it is, won't be the only act bringing a satchel full of hits.

Rakim, hailed as the "God Emcee" for his untouchable flow and for lyrics that resonate with Five Percenter theology, burst on the scene in 1987 with "Paid in Full," an album many rate as one of hip-hop's all-time Top 5. It produced standards "I Ain't No Joke," "Move the Crowd," "My Melody" and the classic title track.

After splitting with partner Eric B. after 1992's "Don't Sweat The Technique" album, Rakim's next two discs - "The 18th Letter" and "The Master" - showed him to be at his razor-sharp best.

Said Tek, anticipating the event, "I know it's going to be a blend of music we do. True school, middle era. We have over 20 albums collectively to choose music from."

Boot Camp Clik formed in the mid-'90s, and although the collective has released just three albums, including last month's "Last Stand," its members have had a hand in era-defining hip-hop standards such as 1993's "Enta Da Stage," which contained the hits "Who Got Da Props?," "I Got Cha Opin," "Buck Em Down" and "How Many MC's... ".

When talk turns to standard-bearing discographies, Sean Price echoed the sentiment of his lyrical brethren.

"You know, we're going through [our catalog], pulling out all the stops," Price said, noting that he is friends with everyone on the bill, which should add to the smoothness of the show. He and his partner, Ruk, comprise Heltah Skeltah, a duo that released a pair of albums that also helped shape mid-'90s hip-hop - '96's "Nocturnal" and '98's "Magnum Force."

"Jedi is my peoples - we're on two albums with them. Wu-tang is people, too. I caught the end of the Ghostface tour and did a thing with U-God. I also had a song with Reef, so you know it's going to be a lot of us jumping on stage, doing songs with them."

As a solo artist, Price released "Donkey Sean Jr., the Official Mixtape CD" in 2004, and the critically acclaimed "Monkey Bars" in 2005. He expects to release his next LP, "Jesus Price Superstar," soon.

Speaking of critically acclaimed emcees, Newark's Redman can whip out the hits as well.

Redman, formerly down with the impressive Hit Squad, is known for his nasal flow and sick lyrical command. The punchline king has released seven full-length LPs and several mixtapes.

It's a given that East Coast emcees consider the whole Eastern Seaboard to be their home, so it's no surprise these artists are very comfortable appearing here.

"It's like New York to me, like my second home," said Price of Philadelphia. "When I come out there, I'm home already."