"I’ve seen rap concerts. I’ve seen punk concerts. I’ve seen folk concerts. I’ve seen piano concerts. I've seen jazz concerts. I’ve seen a lot of really good concerts. But what I saw that night was beyond the music. The unity and passion that poured from the claustrophobic corner of Nietzsche’s, where four rappers and a jazz trio played for two strong hours were incredible. I’d never seen anything like it before. World-renowned trumpet player, Brownman, brought Buffalo the GRUVASYLUM SYNDICATE (a larger cross-border version of his 4-man Gruvasylum group). This super-group features his jazz-hip-hop quartet teamed up with Mad Dukes, Dr. Ooo, A.L. Third and Shuteyez, four of New York’s most acclaimed underground emcees, all armed with top-shelf free-styling skills. These lyricists, all hailing from different backgrounds and crews, challenged the stereotype many people associate with hip-hop culture with their conscious banter. Ages, ethnicities, shapes, sizes and styles were all over the board this Gruvasylum train. No one spent time picking out his best outfit, or throwing on flashy jewelry, or running with some kind of gimmick. Everyone was on stage to do what he loves: perform music and deliver thoughtful conscious messages in the hip-hop vernacular. These guys weren’t up there flaunting that they were all “rap stars.” They really were rap stars. Each performer fed of the other’s energy, trading rhymes and rhythms, exchanging lyrics, laughing, and cheering for one another. All engineered and orchestrated by Brownman's undeniable genius. From the artists to the audience, the excitement nearly brought the house down. Seven very different people, most of whom have never performed together, sharing a tiny stage and leaving everything they had under the spotlights. The entire time, I thought, “This is Infringement. Right here. And this is awesome."