Updated July 29, 2014
It’s 1 A.M. on Artscape Saturday, long after the arts festival has packed up and gone home, but the Windup Space keeps the party going. The bass coming from the venue’s speakers is too loud, as it should be for electro-clubber King Tutt. Behind him, a host of familiar dudes: Unruly Records co-founder Scottie B, Artscape curator and DJ Chris Brooks, savvy local remixer Steve Lemz, visiting producer C Double, and a grip of other promoters, DJs, and friends who wander up to chat with the DJs.
Tedra Wilson, better known as TT The Artist, is the only female on the stage. She obviously stands apart from the blurry huddle. Though she’s the smallest by a large margin, she presents herself on stage as much taller than her a-little-over-5-feet-tall frame would suggest.
Tonight’s show is TT’s fourth performance in two days. Her nails and lipstick are on point, but then so are her sport tee and fitted cap, and she’s fierce on the stage, channeling one of her idols, Missy Elliott, on the springy, stunting, Diplo-produced ‘Dat a Freak.’ Her plea of a chant, “Are you gonna love a freak like me,” rallies the weirdos and demands booty-bounce battles, which she is all too happy to referee.