Concert Review: Cartel Madras KICK ASS At Bowery
Cartel Madras are like kick-boxing version of the Spice Girls; where instead of mass producing lollipops and Barbies in their likeness, these sisters, Priya “Contra” Ramesh and Bhagya “Eboshi” Ramesh, have decided to produce golden crowns and brass-knuckles as feminine products. What a world I would like to live in where a woman defending her queendom is glorified and placed over a baseline that would make her want to enter rooms just to see men bow. At Bowery Ballroom, Cartel Madras were a testament that power is showing up and showing OUT!
“You were not born to fit in. You were born to stand out!” I kept on thinking of this RuPaul Masterclass quote as Cartel Madras breezed through their set. From their songs to their dynamic between each other and the crowd, they feel like they are kicking you out of yourself so you can see yourself and realize that playing down your strength, swag, and overall shine is TEXTBOOK STUPID! This is such an important note, especially as women and women of color. Cartel Madras didn’t have to SAY ANYTHING about women empowerment to make me feel empowered by their womanhood.
Cartel Madras – Goonda Gold
The simple fact that they feel confident, witty, and spit fire better than a Targaryen Dragon made me want to burn my bra. (lol!)
If you read my my last few concert reviews, you will notice that I talk about the effect of coronavirus on NYC’s most recent shows. It HAS CHANGED the atmosphere. People are not getting as close or even showing up, but they are also more thoughtful and aware of each other. It is as if fear has made us……kind. Thus, the welcome of Cartel Madras performance was that they showed fear is the barrier you jump to get to fun, particularly “the fun” that is you.
Goonda Freestyle – Cartel Madras
Contra and Eboshi feel like If M.I.A was split in half and fused with the super-powers of the Powerpuff Girls. Their verbosity is fast, rambunctious, and unafraid to connect verses with a splash of strange, wild flashiness. I LOVE IT! (lol!) Moreover, the harder they went in their delivery the more you felt like they would easily fit into Hip Hop history for understanding this genre, ultimately, is about forced entry; pushing yourself into a society that refuses to accept your existence, let alone, how you make your presence. Thus, while you are in quarantine I highly suggest you listen to their newest record, Age of The Goonda and Click Here For More Information.
