THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406050072
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH: Medium
The traveling Salt-n-Pepa/R. Kelly hip-hop extravaganza played Hampton Coliseum Friday to screaming fans of all ages. But before the thundering revue ended at midnight, fans were filing out the doors. Many in the audience were just weary and numb after four hours of thumping beats, theatrical smoke, in-your-face lighting, street rhythms and high-energy dancing.
{REST} After two opening acts, the stage opened up to reveal ramps, singers, three scantily clad female dancers, a band and a box marked ``Horny, Not to be tampered with.''
Inside the crate was R. Kelly, a sort of Marvin Gaye for the '90s, bound like a sexual Frankenstein's monster. After his release by one of the lascivious dancers, the 24-year-old hit-maker drew squeals of delight with a long and libidinous set. He crooned and moaned songs like ``Sex Me,'' ``Your Body's Calling,'' ``12 Play'' and his chart-topping R&B ballad, ``Bump 'n' Grind.''
Finally, co-headliners Salt-n-Pepa, along with third member DJ Spinderella, arrived on a spartan stage with boy-toy dancers and nine singers.
The trio's dancing and rapping about reverse sexism, female sexuality, AIDS and street violence were energized but sometimes anti-climatic. Opening with ``Push It,'' the three - Cheryl ``Salt'' James, Sandi ``Pepa'' Denton and Dee Dee ``Spinderella'' Roper - managed to stir the crowd with such hits as ``Shoop'' and ``Whatta Man.'' A highlight was a DJ duel between Spinderella and opening act Kid Capri.
But Salt-n-Pepa's set ended abruptly to a rather stunned silence. It seemed the audience's enthusiasm was stolen by Kelly, and the concert's sound and sight assault wore the crowd down.
Kid Capri, the DJ from the ``HBO Def Comedy Jam'' specials, kicked the show into high gear with a 15-minute workout. He plopped platter after platter on his dual turntables, scratching and flipping 12-inch singles over his shoulder.
Atlanta female quartet Xscape sauntered onstage sporting ``Crooklyn'' baseball jerseys, tough-guy scowls and nice four-part harmonies. Backed by prerecorded tracks, the foursome presented a breezy and soulful set of modern R&B and dance music highlighted by LaTocha Scott's gospel shouts.
by CNB