By MICHAEL ANDERSON

Better than: Reading philosophy without a backing track or live drums.

“2 Chainzzzzzzzz” – cried a member of the audience.

He had directed this comment at Tendai Maraire of Shabazz Palaces, who, much like the pop star, wears shades and dreadlocks — although that's where their similarities end.

Frontman Ishmael Butler — formerly of the seminal 1990s jazz-rap outfit Digable Planets — would return the barb later. He playfully called out the audience for being “charading hip-hoppers,” who dress up like and perform the “maneuvers” of the real deal. This audience was predominately male and mostly white, about half wore a beanie or a flat-brim hat, and many danced with their legs fixed in place, ceaselessly nodding their head with eyes shut.