Fat Tony

On Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 6pm the Clocktower Gallery is pleased to present underground hip-hop phenomenon, Fat Tony in another free edition of the Clocktower's Above the Law performance and installation series. Known for his engaging lyrics, energetic performances, and original beats, Fat Tony has released numerous mix-tapes and compilations. His first full length LP, RABDARGAB met with immediate critical acclaim.

For his Above the Law performance, Fat Tony will begin with a DJ set of his artistic influences and continue with a reinterpretation of his pioneering album RABDARGAB with freestyle lyrics and theatrical interludes.

Organized by the Clocktower's Curator of Performance and Installation Joe Ahearn, Above The Law is a performance and installation series highlighting young and emerging artists and musicians. Titled in reference to the various legal offices and agencies that occupy the floors in the Clocktower’s City-owned building, Above The Law challenges preconceived notions about pop and avant garde art and music by featuring artists, bands, and performers that draw from both traditions.

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The Clocktower Gallery is located in a City-owned building at 108 Leonard Street between Broadway and Lafayette, so please, remember to bring you ID for security. Enter through the grey door under the scaffolding and take the elevator to the 12th Floor. Take a left, enter through the red staircase B door, and walk up to the 13th Floor. The AIR offices and studios are down the corridor.

Above the Law: Fat Tony

It's not often that the Clocktower sees rap artists (even the underground type.) But on July 26th, 2011—as part of the Above the Law series—Anthony Obi aka Fat Tony performed to an engaged perhaps slightly bewildered crowd. The conglomerate performance of personal narrative, record releases, and snippets of the artist's own inspirations, revealed a style of rap performance that highlighted the genre as a truly poetic art form. Don't let his forward language on sex and drugs deceive you, Fat Tony is a perspicacious and playful lyricist, who obviously takes time with his work. His words quill together, forming pun after pun with an incisive hold on poetic devices. He's lots of fun and definitely different from the Clocktower's norm, but I guess that's what we're all about.

Fat Tony won the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Houston Press Music Awards' Best Underground Hip Hop award. He is well recognized in the underground hip-hop scene and has been included in URB's Next 1000. Check out ArtonAir.org's event page for Fat Tony here.