May 24–31, 2001

music

Sisterly Love

Girl power at Sistahs!

by Ainè Ardron-Doley

Power 99’s Sistahs!

A Celebration of African American Women, May 19, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The line was down the block and the crowd inside was thick with thousands of sistahs: lil’ sistahs, big sistahs, 20,000 or so in all. Air personalities circulated, posing for snapshots with adoring fans. There were workshops on health, finance, relationships, fitness, fatherhood and entrepreneurship.

On the entertainment front (because no one stands in line around the block for workshops), Inner City host Tiffany Bacon’s Nubian Cafe was poppin’ out of control. Though the open mic ran way too long, Lady Alma, G.U.M.B.O., The Jazzyfatnastees, Ryva and The Xenobia Dance Co. dazzled the crowd with true artistry. But it was North Philly’s Jag who stole the show.

Stepping on stage clad in fatigues, Jag ripped the show Black Lily-style but not before politely asking the sistahs seated in the front to "get up." Jag kicked an incredibly funky "Shake Ya Ass" remix of "Ain’t Nobody Playin’" to an unsuspecting crowd. This wasn’t her usual Five Spot crowd but the audience definitely dug her theatrics. A little later, Talib Kweli got the crowd to "Move Somethin’" as he blazed through several Reflection Eternal cuts. India.Arie ended her set after three songs. Just as she began strumming the first chords to her MTV-rotating single, "Video," she had to dip due to time constraints.

Meanwhile on the main stage The Body and Soul All-Male Fashion Show was a glorious thang. Men were meat and women loved it! Bare strapping chests littered the stage as pants slung low, ready to drop to the floor. Sistahs hooted and hollered until the echo in the convention center was unbearable. How do you follow this? R&B beefcake Tank gave it a try. He put the radio edit of his hit single "Maybe I Deserve" to shame as he crawled, knelt and laid on his back while working the crowd into a frenzy. Next up was a surprise performance by the winner of Power 99’s "Ultimate Sistah" award — Philly sistah Eve. With her mama sitting in the front row, a rambunctious Eve brought down the house with "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" and "Who’s That Girl."

Eve halted her impromptu set to introduce Big Daddy Kane. The "dramatic Asiatic" took the stage to a receptive young crowd that actually knew his songs. Kane pumped it up with the classics "I Get The Job Done" and "Raw" then brought out Greg Nice for his 1989 classic "Nice & Smooth." Kane returned in a slick Gucci suit hanging on his well built frame; sistahs loved it. He killed "Ain’t No Half Steppin’" and was out.

Sunshine Anderson ended Sistahs! 2001 with her radio hit "Heard It All Before" but sistahs were way too tuckered out to be appreciative. It was a long day.