Summer of Queens
Ladies first!
Queen Latifah at the Hollywood Bowl, 6/29/24
I didn’t consciously plan it that way, but my work in June and July has largely been about musical royalty, a summer of queens!
Over the last two months, I reviewed Janet Jackson’s tour stop at Chase Center in San Francisco and lived inside the Rhythm Nation for weeks afterwards. In Los Angeles, I covered a MusiCares panel on mental health with MC Lyte, Saweetie and pivotal choreographer and TV host Big Lez, witnessing the formation of new friendships, then flew home in time to review Missy Elliott’s first headlining tour in Oakland, appearing with Timbaland, Ciara and Busta Rhymes, a night that I could still cry from joy just by thinking about how unexpectedly electric it really was. And that put me right back in the Rhythm Nation, dusting off my steps.
In between, I went to the Hollywood Bowl and was moved up out of my seat by Queen Latifah’s set at Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop Is the Love of My Life, which also featured Common, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, The Pharcyde, Black Sheep and Jungle Brothers. I floated around the venue, which is my favorite, so many times that I risked getting kicked out by an usher who asked, “Do you actually have a ticket?!”
I couldn’t help it. I needed to dance around the place. I was compelled! The first rap concert I ever went to was the Sizzling Summer Tour in 1990 at Shoreline in Mountain View, which included a young artist named Queen Latifah alongside acts like Public Enemy, Digital Underground (with Tupac as a backup dancer) and Kid & Play.
A huge throne and the Roots to back her up at the Bowl would have been plenty, but she brought out so many incredible guests that it’s still hard to believe: MC Lyte, Monie Love, Yo-Yo and Lady of Rage. I eventually made my way back to my seat to find that my high-quality dinner leftovers were yoinked. They’re still missed, but that was the price of a once in a lifetime experience.
The Roots played for every act onstage in a mixtape-styled format, taking a break only to let DJ Shortkut bring the house down with a set that included a very timely drop of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” that had generations of Angelenos singing along.
A few weeks after the show, Shortkut experienced a serious health emergency and is currently recovering. There’s an incredible Block Party Fundraiser for DJ Shortkut planned at Victory Hall in San Francisco on August 4, with all proceeds going directly to his family, if you’re able to attend or help out.
If you are in my Music Book Club, you may have seen me talk about the Bay Area rap book that I am writing and intend to publish through it. I’m also working on a sequel to my 2005 Southern rap book to put out when it turns 20 next spring, and currently making interview requests with my favorite artists from the current generation, who are all women. I’ll keep you posted on both projects.
Speaking of Queens
Use this Zoom link to participate in my conversation with Kathy Iandoli at noon PT/3pm ET on Sunday, July 28, and join Music Book Club to learn about more incredible authors and their books! We started in January and are already in our second season of programming.
It’s a wonderful community that you may enjoy whether or not you read the books — no homework required!
Recent published work
• Missy Elliott works the Oakland Arena like a Warrior on her first headlining tour [SFGATE]
• 'I'm still disgusted': Janet Jackson rails against 'injustice' at San Francisco concert [SFGATE]
• ‘Groove’ is (still) in the heart [48 Hills]
• Hey guys, don’t snitch on SF’s secret spots [48 Hills]
• Rapper-chef Lyrics Born says show’s next season ‘will blow people away’ [48 Hills]
• 5 Ways Mac Dre's Final Living Albums Shaped Bay Area Rap [GRAMMY.com]
• 6 Takeaways From Megan Thee Stallion's 'Megan': Snakes, Shots & Self-Assurance [GRAMMY.com]
More letters from Tamara Palmer
• California Eating — I am happy to offer you the incredible chance to design your own custom chocolate bar from Charles Chocolates, which was recently named Best Chocolatier by San Francisco Magazine! Enter the contest here.
• Creative Jobs (free job listings!)