Cage @ CMW 2006

Hometown: Middletown, NY

Background/Composition: Former juvenile delinquent turned gritty NYC rapper delivers a mix of profundity and party jams.

Grade: 78

Comment: Although Cage's cocky, grinning exterior betrays nary a vestige of his former life as a serious drug addict and minor criminal, the MC's history is written in his steely voice. Even as he mocks drunks and winks at girls, there's an underlying sobriety beneath it all that suggests that the little boy is all grown up.

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G
Pronounciation: E
Stage Presence: E
Stage Banter: G
Image: E
Appearance: E
Use Of Stage: E
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: Cage's clean cut face, tidy hair and buttoned polo shirt were bizarrely Adam Brody-esque: not that anyone seemed to mind, particularly the ladies. Cage, along with his hip-hop cohort Camu Tao, won major brownie points by crowd surfing and initiating the use of lighters during a slow number. At this point, their set officially became the most rock 'n' roll rap show I have ever experienced.

Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: E
Problem Solving: E
Teamwork: E
Work Habits: G
Organization: G
Audience Participation: E
Sound: G
Composition: G
Songs: G
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: Although Cage embodied the controlled aggression that typified all the evening's performers, he lacked a fundamental sense of style. He growled, he screamed, he worked the crowd fine, and he's a perfectly competent MC, but there was an artless nature to his set that left me less than engaged. Fortunately, his partner, Camu Tao, made up for that by being a complete and utter fucking psychopath.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: S
Problem Solving: E
Teamwork: E
Sexiness: E
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: E
Nods To Disposible Fashion: E
Cool Equipment: S
Level Of Inebriation: E
Actual Ability: G
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: Cage will no doubt continue to do well in the Def Jux family, and he has the talent to become truly influential. He's had enough life experience to give his performances interesting potential. He just needs to find a schtick that'll stick — and no doubt he'll do it while looking pretty.