Its extremely hard, even for a writer, to come up with a description accurate enough to describe the stranglehold The L.O.X. and Ruff Ryders had on Philadelphia during the mid to late 90s and early 2000s. You really kind of needed to be there. Even at the height of their beef with Philly’s own State Property, there were people here who would have rode for Yonkers guys over the home team. Maybe it was their grittiness, maybe their lyrical ability just really spoke to the essence of Philadelphia. Whatever it is, I can say this past Sunday, August 11th, The L.O.X. surely felt that love at Franklin Music Hall celebrating 30 years of their existence. The crowd in the sold out venue showered the trio with the passion only a Philly crowd can provide.
The Lox | photo by Melissa Simpson for WXPN
30 years of music provided a wealth of material to perform, and that’s what The L.O.X. did, with a set list three pages deep. The set was full of everything from singles to album cuts, mixtape verses, guest appearances, and of course hits from their numerous solo records. What may have been most impressive, so much so that the trio made mention of it in amazement, the crowd was rapping every word. It always amazes me that I can remember so many lyrics to so many songs from my youth, but can’t recall what I learned in school those years. But Sunday I was with a sold out venue full of people just like me. Remembering music that made us feel things.
The Lox | photo by Melissa Simpson for WXPN
Styles P, Jadakiss, and Sheek Louch were introduced to the world from Yonkers New York, but Philadelphia was early to embrace them. That formed a bond that is just as strong to this day thirty years later. The L.O.X. put on an extraordinary performance giving their audience what they wanted and honestly all Philly asks for, everything you got.