Rounding out a fantastic summer of live music in the country’s hip-hop capital was a tightly run Moredopemusic show. Nestled in the heart of Decatur, the artist development and services company is where manager Daniel Day Zuko has made his stomping grounds, discovering and developing new talent like Forrest Isn’t Dead, Frank Mayson, and Jordan Danielle Harris. On Saturday night, the company curated a show at Smith’s Olde Bar that felt more like a community event, where different artists come together to share their talent and vision.
Following the success of his single “Rock Da Boat,” Baton Rouge’s own Lango took the stage as the first act of the night, performing cuts from his new album Melting Point, a self-produced effort that he’s currently hanging his hat on. Having opened for artists like Saba and Young Nudy in the past, Lango continues to provide support for the Midwest and Atlanta’s brightest young stars, hoping to headline his own show in the near future.
Throughout the night, the showcase maintained a heavy focus on diversity and inclusion, a facet of Atlanta live music that makes it a unicorn in a wish-wash of bland collaboration. Keenon Rush rinsed his hands with multiple records intended to introduce the crowd to his eclectic sound. The emerging rapper rocked a white graphic tee with black Adidas track pants and white Nikes. Having donned rapper-of-the-moment JUICEWRLD’s tour dates on his back, he dove into “PSA,” a standout from his previous LP, Citizen Keen. Ten minutes into his set, following a heated, aggressive performance of an unreleased track titled “Headlock,” Rush launched into another new cut, “It’s My Party.” This one sounded more pop-oriented, yet it still soared, lifted by its staggered drums.
Jordan Danielle Harris
Next up, Atlanta musician, model, and actress Jordan Danielle Harris serenaded the crowd with her smooth guitar and soft, buttery vocals. Wearing a white shirt that read “Love Is Free,” she performed her two most recent singles, “Signs” and “Spells,” among a handful of other songs that highlighted the singer-songwriter’s penchant for crafting R&B and pop-inflected anthems.
Following Harris, Justin Forrest Kleindienst took the stage to deliver songs from his solo project Forrest Isn’t Dead. Throughout his set, Kleindienst and his bandmates exuded a vibe that echoed his love of classic acts such as the Cure and the Smiths, as filtered through a modern indie pop and hip-hop lens. His performance of “Crave,” featuring singer and Emory University student Bella Dodd, elicited “oohs” and “ahhs” (not to mention an “oh my god!” or two) from attendees.
Closing out the evening was Haitian-American rapper Frank Mayson, who unleashed the night’s most raucous performance. Throughout his set, Mayson invited varying collaborators on stage to perform some of his most energized, adrenaline-fueled cuts. The result was an electrifying atmosphere that ensured the showcase ended on a high note.
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Web: moredopemusic.com
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Twitter: @moredopemusic”