Hezekiah will celebrate 10 years of Hurry Up and Wait at Johnny Brenda’s

Ten years is a big milestone in music, and local rapper Hezekiah is celebrating the anniversary of his debut with a “black-tie performance” at Johnny Brenda’s on August 15th.

Joined by the Stroke String Trio, Hezekiah will reflect on his first album Hurry Up and Wait. At the time of its release in 2005, Pitchfork reviewer Jamin Warren said:

…[If] Delaware statesmen put up nominations for state emcee, Hezekiah has to be on the ballot. The First State native son has played the backdrop for the likes of Musiq and Bilal, in addition to catalyzing the producers’ open forum, the Beat Society. And although I’ve never met him, I bet he’s got one of those neckbeards the kids are clamoring for, as well as a lot of knit hats.

Hezekiah released this album’s lead single, “Gypsy Slang”, back in 2003, so Hurry Up and Wait is an appropriate title for his proper career jump-off. Drawing heavily from the Philadelphia hip-hop sound creeping across the Delaware River, Hezekiah adheres to a strict diet of hi-hat/snare combinations and chest-rattling bass that cover his missteps as an emcee. (“How you gonna bust with an umbrella up your in butt opening up?”) “Right On”, for example, pulls straight from the Time-Life hip-hop collection circa 1998 with a propulsive soul clatter that mimics a keyboard courting the bass drum.

Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here. Check out some songs from the record below