Photo by Brandon “Belvi” Banks

LIL B

He’s probably the most controversial figure in hip hop right now, but if the world he’s molded (“Based” is what he’s dubbed it, with his being the “Based God”) isn’t a big “gotcha,” then he’s also probably one of the most truthful. He ambled onstage Saturday night, smiling in his serene way that’s as charming as it is unnerving. A sense of the unknown shrouds him, but it doesn’t seem like he’s trying to intentionally project any mystery. Just as on the Internet (he maintains some hundred or so MySpace pages), he spewed proclamations like a preacher: “The internet has changed my life,” “I am the most prolific writer in hip hop.”

That last statement might be verifiable. A couple of months ago, he unloaded a massive 676 tracks onto the Internet. Sure, many of his songs are droned variations on the theme, “Hoes on my dick cuz I look like [fill in the blank, preferably with a celebrity like Mel Gibson or JK Rowling].” Yet there’s something circus-like about him, and his Paid Dues set revealed that whether the crowd gathered to gawk or giddily engage with him, no doubt he does have their attention.

After performing a few slower songs, he knelt on one knee for an extended period of time and thanked the Internet (?) for saving him from depression. When he decided to take it up, though, bass shaking the speakers and stage so hard they were quivering, the audience whooped and began “cooking” (the dance Lil’ B invented that literally mimics cooking an omelet or flipping pancakes) exultantly.

Producer 9^th Wonder, who caused a Twitter tantrum recently by making song for Lil’ B, Phonte (of legendary underground group Little Brother) and Jean Grae, was onstage for B’s entire set. “I’m just putting myself out there, like, ‘This is me!’” Lil’ B exclaimed. You can’t fault someone whose success comes from that.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE

By far the most fun set of the day, the foursome of Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5’9″ performed in the inexplicable cage—but not for long. Crawling over the fence or leaving the ring from the side gate, the rappers all broke out one way or another, even if they joked about Ortiz not making it due to his fluffiness.

Each paid homage to his hometown, to the crowd’s delirious approval—Crooked I, from Long Beach, doubled up and offered a tribute to the recently passed Nate Dogg; Brooklyn-born Ortiz played Biggie; Royce da 5’9”, from Detroit, saluted Eminem; and Budden—well, New Jersey native Budden played himself (“Pump it Up”).

The natural frontman for the supergroup, Budden breathes charisma. Tossing off quick quips in response to everyone from his fellow rappers to audience members the group brought onstage for a rap-my-lyrics contest, he charmed the entire crowd. Or at least one person in the crowd ahem.

BLACK STAR

Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, or they were for the closing act of Paid Dues. Formed in the wake of the deaths of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., they played a part in shaping underground hip hop though they both have succeeded more as solo artists than as a duo.

Their set was the best of the day: Sound quality was impeccable, they slipped back into their old groove easily, and Mos Def danced like Michael Jackson. A mist of rain began to fall, and the crowd began to disperse, but as Mos called, “Laaaaaaaaaaawdy mercy,” the opening strain of “Definition,” everybody danced, not walked, to their cars.