Vince Bryant Unplugged
Walking into Houston’s Club Curve for a Friday evening hip hop show, one would expect the typical underground rap scene. Instead you walk into an elegant, classy setting, climbing stairs to reach Vince Bryant’s Unplugged performance and find yourself in the midst of sexiness. The tone was clearly set, live band, stylish contemporary décor, lit therapeutic candles, Vince Bryant’s specially requested professional culinary vegetarian cuisine and a room full of true hip hop supporters.
Lining the stage you see the four-piece band, background singers, dimmed lighting just at the forefront of two military issued U.S. Marine uniforms worn by former combat veteran and music hip hop lyricist, Vince Bryant. With clear view of the setting, the ambiance, and the people, I could see the amazement and wonder on the faces of the people on what to expect from this show. The words of the guests were ringing in the air, “he really did this” and “I must take a page from his book on this one.”
Suddenly you hear a U.S. Marine recruitment commercial blaring from the speakers, images flashing on the bar’s flat screen, an iconic voice speaking introductions, and the crowd in search of the voice yet not finding the speaker – knowing that the voice they are hearing is that of Vince Bryant. Suddenly taking a slow purposed stride thru the crowd appears a figure hooded and draped in a Marine Corp. jacket and black fashioned jeans. You can’t help but notice the figure isn’t wearing shoes. Even amongst the darkness, his bare dark socks stand out as he continues his stride to the stage. Mounting the stage, what becomes more apparent are the high top black tennis shoes that lay before him. Suddenly he eases his feet into each shoe, signifying that upon this stage, this day I have taken my rightful place, now walking in the embodiment of the purpose for which I was birthed. The words rang clear and the understanding of the title of his album was solidified. Behold I Return… The Resurrection of Vince Bryant. The stage, the props, Vince Bryant’s purposed walk to the stage all gave speech to that title.
Opening with his new project introduction “I Am The One” the message only got louder. I heard these words come from Vince Bryant – allowing me to understand the mind of a lyricist and culminating the feel that I grasped from the moment I stepped into the building – and they resonated with me in a profound way. He spoke, “Chosen to be the best man for the fans… I’m trying to rap in a strange land with strange people… I’m lethal.” While those words have a biblical foundation, they also signify a combat veteran who left his home to fight for the freedoms of another country to return home, still a lyricist, just to find himself engulfed in an estranged industry.
One has to realize while he was fighting in Iraq, a hip hop nation was dying and Houston was slowly becoming the slump that it had been dubbed… “the dirty south.” Back to reclaim the game and place Houston back on the map of true hip hop and music art form, Vince Bryant put on a performance that will echo in the halls of Club Curve for years to come. What we all witnessed was an actual performance much deserving of the main stage!
No longer will I walk into a “rap show” or hip hop show and accept an artist rapping over a CD of their own lyrics. Every artist in Houston has been called out to step up their performance, majorly. For $10, I walked into a gallery of sexiness, exquisite eating, live band and a high caliber performance by Vince Bryant. I have not been in a hip hop scene such as this one in many years. It is great to see that an artist of Vince Bryant’s caliber still believes in the art form and the showmanship of a performance. It was obvious he is well-versed in commanding the crowd, his band, his own performance and even the videographers as he performs.
Not only has Houston been waiting on the return of Vince Bryant, the resurrection of Vince Bryant will also prove to be the resurrection of the hip hop scene as we know it across the world.
For Booking Contact:
BreakIt! Management Group
832.969.5666
You can find Vince Bryant on:
Website: www.wix.com/breakitradio/vincebryant
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/vincebryant
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=540619533
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rapreformparty
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FOIMARINES
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Vince_Bryant
Breaking the Labels: Blog Spot 
MAN! Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa….your descriptive writing allowed me & others to visualize the a setting relative to a jazz brunch set. And for $10….”HOUSTON, we have a problem” if the place was not jammed pack to standing room only! If you can pay $10 to stand or sit around listening to the same ole’ music? from a DJ at a club, paying $10 for live music—content & ambiance is a drop in the bucket.
As far as Vince performance & music, one word—>>>ART. I was introduced to Vince’s music via Breaking The Labels. Although I cannot remember which song was posted by you Vanessa, that one song had me hunting through YouTube for more of his music like an addict looking for a substance. TX artists & beyond this is what musicians &music connoisseur, such as myself, look forward to and miss. Music is a form of art, not a bunch of words with no content! -V
P.S.Where can out-of-towners order the “Vince Bryant Unplugged”
Vicky…. your comment is so insightful… I have no idea where to start or how to respond…. this is beyond awesome…. I am just happy that you took the time to read it and view his footage. It was definitely a night to remember…. He set an incredible standard for all Houston artists to have to meet!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your thought and for sharing Vince and the movement with others!