King Amongst Many

Review: Horrorshow "King Amongst Many" album

Released: 2 August 2013                
Elefant Traks


I have to admit right now, on my first listen, I didn't "get it".  Although I enjoyed Horrorshow's first two albums immensely, I have since moved on.  The first couple listens I skipped through the majority of the songs thinking Horrorshow had disappointed me by only providing more of the same, emotional and soft hip hop that doesn't push any boundaries or take a stance on anything too controversial.  But at a second glance I realised that I was looking at it the wrong way.

It wasn't until a very late night walk with the dog down near Blackwattle Bay with the air thick, damp and heavy as it is before the rain, my quiet and reflective mood finally latched onto the music and the words. What was revealed to me was something beautiful, dense and meaningful.  The meaning behind the words finally stood out to me as though I was stepping out of the fog, and the music provided the perfect backdrop for them to whirl around within.  So what I'm saying is don't set this album aside if at first you're not in the mood to embrace it, cause it definitely has the potential to come back and surprise you.

This is not a lighthearted album.  This is a deeply pensive, listen alone in your room with the lights off type album.  Not that there aren't tracks would work in a concert setting, but it's not dancing music. This is sway on your feet with your lighters in the air music.  This is the type of music that will make us take a collective breath and just listen, which I think holds much more power than the type that we want to cheers beers to. This isn't The Party Life, in fact there's not one party track here.  This is exactly the type of music that works for Horrorshow. This is In My Haze type music.

While leaving the party songs and more festival orientated songs alone, you would think that the JJJ crowd might not take to it as readily, but the doesn't seem to be the case at all as Horrorshow fans and new fans alike have seen the album debut at #2 on the ARIA charts. Like it or hate it, it's refreshing to see that this album didn't have to  follow the well defined formula in order to achieve success.  In fact, from the first album right on through to this one, Horrorshow duo never seem to be making music for anyone else at all, simply combining beats that sounds pleasing to them with lyrics that allow the emcee to express to us the inner workings of his mind.

That being said, is it on par with the best beat makers in the world? Not by a long shot. Are the lyrics revolutionary and showing us a brand new perspective? Not for the most part.  But these two are definitely growing as artists and their music has a place in the Australian music scene and in worldwide hip hop. Though it's not everyone's cup of tea, in terms of emotional content this album is ace.

The first listen we had of this new material was during the Hilltop Hoods "Speaking in Tongues" tour.  Dead Star Shine was a chilling anthem that made us all stop dead, so to speak.  This was a year before the album came out and it had a great response.  However the chorus on the finished version leaves much to be desired.  I think the effect over Solo's voice lessens the emotion, to where it sounds boring and dull.  And that carries on through most of the chorus' on the album.  I think as a rule, Solo could work on the expressiveness of his voice, both in singing and in rapping.  Though the evenness works one one level, it does make all the songs sound far too similar.  And though I love Adit's knack for picking samples, the beats could use more variety as well. Having a few songs with more of an edge to them and a harder hitting beat would surprise us and keep us interested.

The song that stood out to me first was Down The Line.  This is story telling at it's best.  So emotional it nearly made me cry although it's not a particularly sad.  Through a story about his ancestry, Solo tells us the importance of family, something that speaks to everyone universally.  This is the only track with a female singer as well, Sarah Corry, and possibly the only song that really has the chorus it deserves.  The recording of his grandmother at the end is beautiful.

I think the album overall has a few too many guest spots and Suffa could have been cut out for me.  I don't think he adds anything to the track he is on called On The One Hand and in fact I think he draws attention away from Grieves who is the first international guest that Horrorshow have welcomed to share in their art. They have chosen well here; Grieves and Solo have a similar hip hop style in that their songs are deeply personal and emotional.  I want to like this track the best because it's Grieves but in truth it bores me a little.  I was expecting more of a standout on this one, but whatever that sample is that comes in as the outro of this song, I love that better than the rest of the track.  A beat more like that would have excited me more.  Not to worry though, I think Grieves and Horrorshow could have a beautiful thing going and I definitely wouldn't mind seeing a further collab if this kid ever makes it out to Australia.  (If you want to know more about Grieves check my links at the bottom and stay tuned.)

Surprisingly out of the whole album the song that turned me off the most is the first single.  This is actually what kept me away from the album a long time.  I don't think it has the right effect, it doesn't catch you right away and it is not memorable.  A terrible choice in my opinion.  All it does is remind me that we're ready to see something different from these guys.

The absolute best and most important song on the album, and the one that makes the listening all worth while is Own Backyard which features newly signed Elefant Traks artist, Jimblah.  This track tells of a young white male's perspective of racism in Australia, how he goes from simply believing what he was taught in school to discovering the truth of Australia's bloody past for himself.  Then Jimblah comes forward to tell a tale which we never see in Australian hip hop.  A black perspective of continued racism in this country.   Stunningly poignant, the harrowing last line reminds us, "They tried to wipe us off of the face of the earth dude, need proof? Look around you."


 More than a lyricist who throws out catchy puns and one liners, Solo is a poet spinning a story that makes you feel you are in that moment with him if you listen closely enough, and that's something I hold  highly.  Honesty as well is a trait that is not optional for me, he's certainly not trying to represent anything that he is not, the downfall of many of the more popular hip hop artists.

Horrorshow is on tour! 
Their next few dates are:

TONIGHT
Thu 19 Sep
ANU Bar
Canberra

Fri 20 Sep *
Metro Theatre
Sydney

Sat 21 Sep *
Sprung Festival
Brisbane

Thu 26 Sep
Corner Hotel
Melbourne

*all ages
For a full list of tour dates and ticketing information click here

Link me up
Elefant Traks
Horrorshow official site / Facebook page
Jimblah official site / Facebook page
Grieves official site / Facebook page

The Ruckman Record

Review: 
The Ruckman Record
Re-released in JB Hi-Fi, Sanity, and on iTunes TODAY
10th August 2012

“So who's your favourite rapper's favourite rapper?”

It's a question that immediately commands our attention because we assume that those that we admire and look up to would have the knowledge and insight needed to play the tour guide and successfully lead us through this jungle that we call the rap game, making sure that we saw more than just the tourist sights. Our favourite rapper, we assume, would have such a vast knowledge of the music scene that as a tour guide he would be able bring us deep into the culture, showing us the intricacies of the local and international scene. It goes without saying that a lot of thought would have to go into the answering of such an important question. 

Well I'm not a famous rapper, but I reckon if I was I would have to have a clever answer ready for when someone put this question to me. Maybe even an unsuspected and surprising answer. It would have to be someone smooth, cunning, intelligent, underrated, underground, with wicked flows and smooth as silk voice. It would have to be someone who is just as comfortable spitting a clever diss at an opponent in a rap battle as they are busting rhymes over a chilled out beats in a song about loving life. And that rapper for me would have to be Kade MC. But hold up, wait a minute, ok let's just make this clear: I'm not actually saying Kade is my favourite rapper, I'm just saying that if I was a famous rapping heavyweight, I would be quick to mention Kade as one of my favourites in order to show that I was still hip to the Sydney underground rap scene. And that being said Kade MC is definitely a name that you should know, and if you don't know, it's time to get familiar.

Meet Kade & the Karneez

Kade has been secretly toiling away in the background, busy working at perfecting his craft over the last ten years, and still he is a youngster in the scene. How many people do you know that can say that they have been on the grind for more than a decade at 21 years of age? Having first stepped on stage at the almost unheard of age of 10, Kade has successful jumped through many of the hoops and hurdles that will hopefully lead him down the road to a successful music career. He has become known as a deadly emcee to battle, with his witty asides and quick flips leading him to victory over several prominent emcees, most notably The Tongue of Elefant Traks. (See below for several battle video links.) But although he is very talented at battling, Kade will never find it as fulfilling as making music and performing it to a live audience. Although most emcees perform with a live DJ, Kade prefers to travel with a live band, the Karneez.  The addition of a  live band provides a refreshingly different take on hip hop music. 

me bopping to Kade & the Karneez at the Annandale

The past few years, Kade has been strongly focused on delivering the best debut album that he possibly could. He has been polishing to a perfect shine, what could only be recognised as a gem, The Ruckman Record. The album has been available now since late 2011, but it's re-release into a more commercially successful platform this year was all but prophesied by Kade in the song Underrated where he says “I hear the world ends in 2012, which is when I plan to have my album on shelves...” It was a goal that he had often vocalised that he had to hoped to have an album out by the age of 21. And I think that goal, although not yet realised at the time that the album was in production, is a main theme of the album.

The album takes us on a deeply personal journey of discovery. It feels like a balance sheet weighing out the reasons to stay positive in life against the reasons to succumb to the darkness and doubt that overtakes everyone's mind at some point in life. It's a refreshingly open and honest look into this young man's psyche. As Kade explains himself in Lonely Lyricist, “bi-polar has me racing up and down like a staircase.” And even though, just as explained, the music bounces from a dark personal internal struggle type of track like that to the happy, positive, and carefree track, Pull it Together, the transition seems natural and organic. Through all the darkness which is enclosed in the human psyche that this album dredges up, I feel like the positive messages far outweigh any negative.

Kade has some profound messages in the album, but I think the clearest, and most obvious message is this: “You can achieve anything you set your sights to,” in the song Make It Happen: not only only spoken knowledge, but inarguably proven.

Notable tracks : Undderrated, Idiom Ideology, Headphones

Pick up the Ruckman Record today on iTunes, here, here, or at a live show (possibly for free if you're lucky.)


enough of me, listen to Kade himself talk about the album...

Catch a live show
Friday     17th August- Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor-  Supporting Limit Infinity with Deadbeat and Hazy
Saturday 18th August- Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst- Supporting L-Fresh the Lion with DJ Ology
Sunday   16th September- Valve Bar, Tempe- 1 outs Battle Event
Sunday   30th Septmeber- Lansdowne Hotel, Broadway - Headliner
Tuesday   4th October- Fbi Social, Kings Cross- Headline

Links
Triple J Unearthed - listen to download and rate some of Kade's songs
Oz Hip Hop Forum- The Ruckman Record- talk some crap about Kade's album
Kade MC Facebook page- up to date info by the artist himself


Music Videos
Kade & The Karneez performing "Huntsman & the Player" live at the Annandale Hotel, new music off the NEXT album, coming soon.

young and carefree...

the struggle...

serious determination.....

Battle shit

This is straight up lyrical murder.  Kade kills it in the first Sydney 1Outs Event.

straight talent on the streets of Newtown

Kade's legendary defeat of The Tongue

Even when he loses, he really wins.

Go cop this ish! I have literally already bought 5 copies so you can at least buy one!

Music isn't free. Support the artists who dedicate their lives to this.

KnoHow music is the crew.
Peace out homies, love life.
<3 <3 Jen  <3 <3 

On A Friday

Review

Sky'High

Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach, Sydney

13 July 2012

Maybe because it was Friday the 13^th and the third one for 2012, everyone decided to lay low and not risk some witchy, devilish shit happening at a gig. That must be why the only hip hop gig I could find on that night was Sky'High's second Sydney album launch. Every Friday that falls on the 13^th I claim as my own, especially in July. The day I was born, unlucky for some, was on a Friday, the 13^th day of the month of July. Now I've definitely tried to lie to some about the year, but if you really want to know just go read the book by George Orwell.

Permanent marker maybe?

I commemorated the day by getting it inked on my arm permanently, so now I'm a real life lucky charm. And if you know me, then you know that if I'm in your life you really are lucky.  That's because I live life the way I want it to be.  I seek out all the good things and I attract them to me.  So people could say that I'm living the dream. If you know how to dream than you know what I mean.

So I thought I'd give this Sky'High gig a try, after very mixed thoughts on her from several people that I have asked. Elefant Traks of course is right behind her, and when asked Adit spoke very enthusiastically about her, but most of my friends haven't been too impressed with lyrics, beats, or her attitude so far. I first heard of her on Triple J early this year which was my first taste of the “Hoodie and Nikes” song, which I really like.  Embarrassingly enough at first I thought she was a young boy by the way she sounded.  At first that really intrigued me because I thought "hold on, who is this 10 year old on triple J?"  But even better was finding out that it was a chick, because there aren't a lot of female rappers on the scene holding it down on their own. She did an interview with Hai on the Hip Hop show before she went on tour with 360, and talked about her new album coming up later in the year. I thought she seemed really sweet and shy, and that definitely got me interested, I wanted to know more.

a couple of cool kids I know

I saw her perform earlier this year opening for The Herd. Basically all of Elefant Traks was there to show their support.  There's a bit of controversy about why Elefant Traks would sign an artist so different to their normal aesthetic.  The answer is complex and maybe the benefits won't come to fruition straight away but rather incubated like an egg.  It's like they took this little newborn chick under their generous and protective wing and introduced her as part of the scene. But she's no baby chick, innocent and wide eyed. She's like a crazy owl: shifty eyed and alive at night time. Scoping out the scene and then swooping down to swiftly snatch her prey.    

Although it might seem like there's some arrogance rooted in her name, it's really just a clever play on her actual name, Skhai. You might be put off by the fact that she rocks sunnies inside at night, wears a frown, screams into the mike, and yells at the crowd. But at least she's herself, she's not afraid to be a little angry. And we shouldn't put her down because it's that type of raging that hip hop was founded on in the first place. And in stark contrast to all that aggressive and negative energy, if you're lucky enough for her to drop her sunnies and smile at you, you'll be all but stunned by the innocence displayed in her face. Which goes to show that, maybe it's not quite all an act, but but a carefully constructed tough outer mask that she has worked most of her life to maintain.

I spot a reoccurring theme

This genre of music, always came out of a desperate need to make sense of a world that doesn't make sense at all. The most notorious rappers came out of the darkest ghettos of New York and LA. Yet, it evolved to be something so much more that. The fact that Australian hip hop exists despite that overall absence of such harsh and dangerous living conditions, is testimony to the fact that you don't have to have had a really hard life to make good music. Everyone suffers in their own way, emotional pain can penetrate the psyche of someone even with the most seemingly carefree lifestyle. But someone who has actually seen hell comes back completely changed. Therefore I don't think we should write off Sky'High easily because it is known that her childhood consisted of being witness to some of the most unsavory neighbourhoods and activities that Sydney boasts. So even if she hasn't completely come into her musical groove yet, she's comfortable with herself and her point of view alone is so unique that everyone should take note.

Sky checking out my tat

As for the gig itself, it was a huge let down. The choice of venue (come on who goes to see hip hop all the way out in Bondi? Put her in Newtown for god's sake), the lack of promotion (I only saw it on Elefant Traks site), and the crowd (lack of, and lack of participation from those that were there) all contributed to a huge flop of a night. But it wasn't all bad. She has a stage presence like no other, she's definitely comfortable with who she is. She is unique and brings something completely different to the Australian hip hop scene. And I think because of this, and because of her record label backing she will come into her own and the country will start to see her as the star that she already believes that she is. If the event had been promoted better and the crowd was getting into it, I believe the show could have been a hit. But like I've said before, the crowd really makes the show. If the artist is up there giving their all and the crowd is giving nothing back, then the night will be a flop, just by default.

fuck the world

Bottom Line: She's an aggressive chick, with energy and edge, doing it on her own with her mate Emily Blake of course, an amazing singer, to back her up live. A new piece to this hip hop puzzle that we haven't seen yet. I think she will go far. Then we'll be saying, “yeah I was at this gig in Bondi ages ago, and there was no one there, it was crazy...”

"Look At Me Now" off the Your Highness EP

Latest Video: "Wake Up" featuring New Zealand rapper David Dallas

Links
Sky'High on facebook
Sky'High merchandise- elefant traks
"Your Highness" EP FREE DOWNLOAD

Buy Sky'High's first full length album Forever Sky'High through Elefant Traks now.

Tweet Me: @iamskyhigh



Want to know more about Skhai's life and background?
Watch this mini documentary series....
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Good night kiddies! Thanks for tuning in!

Catch you on the flip side, 

<3 <3 <3 Jen <3 <3 <3 

no rest for the wicked!

God Loves Ugly

Review
Atmosphere & Evidence & Horrorshow
Hi Fi Bar, Sydney
12th May 2012




"Hey what are you doing over there?"
"I'm just waiting for.... he might come out..."
"Who are you waiting for?"
"The guy from that show..."
"Who Slug?? You're waiting for fucking Slug?"
"No... I mean... well.. yeah..."
"Fucking Slug?!??"
"I love him."
"Oh my god, he is so fucking ugly!!"

When the show is over I can never go home right away.  It's like when the movie ends and I can't walk out of the theatre until the credits finish.  I just have to savour that moment as long as possible, because as soon as you step outside, the magic quickly fades away.  It's like that for a live show only 100x as strong.  Once a live show ends, the moment can never be exactly recreated.  Unlike a movie which is designed to be watched over and over again, the feeling, vibe, and atmosphere of a live show are literally lost the minute the music dies.  As soon as the lights come on, it's like we're stung with the harsh reality of the situation.  It's why sometimes I get nervous as each song passes, because I'm anticipating that ending.

I would go as far as to say that being at a show is like jumping off a cliff with a really long freefall and no parachute.  In the middle of it all you forget that you're plummeting and get lost in the panoramic view: the majesty of the mountains, the endlessness of the sea.  Nothing can stop you, you're in the moment you're free. You're not falling, you're flying.  And then the harsh reminder comes that this cannot last forever.  The band stops playing, the characters walk off stage, and the lights dim.  So you beg and you plead and you yell and you scream for more.  Just one more hit please. You can't leave us like this. And they do come back, they always come back.  But you're reminded now, that the ground is fast approaching.  Nothing can prepare you for that sharp impact, that fatal fall.  Terminal velocity.  Curtain call.  The next time, they don't come back again.  The band is no longer just hiding behind the curtains.  They're stomping off backstage, grabbing beers, and giving cheers to a night well spent. And here you are devastated, blinking in the too-bright lights as they play house music. And all that means is move along people, nothing to see here anymore. Out the door.  And so what do I do to soften this blow? 

Cath and I a little bit excited

Like waiting through the credits, to see if there will be a hidden scene, I hang around and wait, just hoping maybe there will be an Act 2 tonight. Maybe I can meet you.  Just say hello, share our very different perspectives on the evening before we depart.  Maybe I'll make an impression on you that you'll never forget.  Something you can file away under vague memories of tour dates, names, and faces. And I can get a photo that prompts me to tell the story again and again, remembering word for word what was said.  We’ll have a memory then, that won't fade away, something from that night that we can keep. 

Last month Australia was lucky enough to get a rare visit from the hip hop heavyweights, Rhymesayers themselves.   Not only do they have the best name going for a record label, but they are one of the largest independent hip hop record labels in the United States.  Although not necessarily in the spot light, the Rhymesayers family has grown since their beginnings in 1995 to include a stellar line up of artists that sell out shows across the country and around the world.  The label runs an online and physical store from their home city of Minneapolis as well as hosting their own summer hip hop festival each year since 2008.  So which artists did they send to rep Rhymesayers down under? Atmosphere of course, the group who’s been there since the beginning, whose members co-founded the label and Evidence, of Dilated Peoples fame, who recently signed onto the label for his solo projects.  Being American, this concert was very special to me, as I had not yet had the opportunity to see Atmosphere although they had performed around the area that I am from several times.  Atmosphere is an important group to me, laying the foundation for the love of hip hop that I have today, but I will get into that a bit more later.

Sluggle breaking it down

Of all the hip hop groups I’ve seen so far, the only group that even came close to how comfortable that Atmosphere felt on stage was the Herd. That obviously has to do with experience and musical maturity.  Both of those groups have been together for more than ten years. And Atmosphere has been performing for almost 20.  It’s like over the years Atmosphere has defined itself, not with a static style per say but with a fluidity and adaptability that has made the group more than just what is defined in the songs that have gone to press, but that each song takes on its own new life on stage. With Slug up there performing, it was as if he wasn’t even trying to put on a show.  It was like we knew each other for years we were just chilling out and knocking back drinks together, while he told his stories.  Sure, they were stories we had heard a thousand times before but just when we thought we knew what the punch line was he would suddenly change a word or a phrase that would change the meaning of the song entirely.  Slug is hip hop’s answer to comedic improv.  And like any non scripted performance he doesn’t always hit the mark but when he does its pure genius and anything he does is unique to the single experience that he has created on the night.  And so we’re all drawn into it because we feel like we’ve become part of something that isn’t pre-processed or manufactured, but something unique that will never be seen again except in this moment.  We’re creating the atmosphere just as much as the group on the stage is. In fact we are the atmosphere and there a lies the paradox. I’m sure there’s something really meaningful behind that statement, but pardon me I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink.

Minnesota Nice

The set started off with a long DJ intro from Ant.  The anticipation was rising and rising like the ocean reaching higher and higher up the beach when the tide is rolling in.  Just when we thought we couldn’t stand it anymore, Slug appeared and everyone shut right up when he did a haunting version of “Became.”  It was an intense way to start the set as it is a deeply metaphoric and chilling song about a friend that gets into the wrong crowd.  Slug wishes that he could save him, but he finally comes to realise that his friend has become what he was trying to save him from.  After that intensity, they lightened up the mood with a head nodding Guns and Cigarettes.  Other musical highlights included Modern Man's Hustle, Trying to Find a Balance, GodlovesUgly, Shoulda Known, and Sunshine. Throughout the whole of Atmosphere’s performance I never got scared of that ending. I was riding through, so lifted that my feet never thought about touching the ground.

an avid fan, throwing his hands in the air
like he just don't care

Say hell yeah! Hell Yeah! Say hell yeah! Hell Yeah! Say hell yeah! Hell Yeah!!! 
Why do we say hell yeah? What the fuck is up with that?

Slug made us almost cry, laugh, and feel close to each other.  A good example of his lyrics change up was during Sunshine where the line goes, "And every woman looks better in a sundress." On the night it became, "and every woman looks best when she's undressed."

"You guys don't even need me up here, you could just do some Atmosphere karaoke," Slug teased us, as he could see the crowd was screaming out every word.  The crowd can really make or break a performance.  Not only does the performer take energy from the crowd, but we all feel and absorb the energy in the room. With the help of the artist on stage we can really create something more than what is the sum of it's parts.  And that's why we all go to the show, because we just want to feel that thing, and be that thing, and live in that moment.  And that well and truly happened in the room that night.  We gave Slug what he needed and in turn he gave it back 10 fold.  The room certainly had a lot of diehard fans in it, a lot more than I was expecting there to be seeing as we are all the way on the other side of the globe.  

a fire and beers out of cans kind of night

"You’re too kind, you’re too kind. In fact you’re so kind it kinda makes me wonder what you’re trying to hustle?  But it’s not even like that right? Cause you’re my people you would never try and hustle me.  In fact I look around at your faces and I think, 'These people are just like me, they like to start fires and drink beers out of cans and shit.'"

And so after the show we did wait around.  Even in the bitter chill that reminded us of a fast approaching winter, with no jackets, we waited.  With the security guards eyeing us off, just wishing that we’d move along, with other hopeful groups of people after the crowds had thinned, we waited. I felt like I was completely on point after the show.  Everything was so clear and I remembered everything.  Not like the usual bleary, drunken, vague moments I remember from most shows.  This was different.  Now I felt like something really special was going on and I was ready to talk.  So it was lucky that right then Erik Anderson (who was on the keyboards for this performance) came out and walked straight for us.  

legend... wait for it.... dary.

After our casual conversation with Erik, Ant was doing the rounds.  Cath and I were sitting on the cold steps, basically freezing to death and still hoping Slug would come out so we could say hi before we made the trek to Canberra. (Yes that night we left Sydney at 1:30am to drive to Canberra for Groovin the Moo the next day.) Ant stopped at the group next to us and said hello.  One of the girls asked if the ever play a certain song and he said yes.  "In Australia?" she asked.  "Yeah I think so." He said. Which was a clue that they definitely vary their show night to night instead of just coming up with a playlist and repeating it at every show for the tour.  That flexibility and variety is something that I really respect.  It means they are creating a unique experience for each show.

Us & Tuka

I butted into the conversation to ask if they ever play, "Like Today."  Ant admitted that they do.  So I went on to explain that its my favourite track because it's what got me into Atmosphere, but not only that it changed my whole perspective of what hip hop could be back in 2002 when I first heard it. I explained that I had first seen the lyrics written down and I thought it was a poem.  Ant seemed really appreciative of what I was saying.  We also talked about me being an American now living in Australia and my half and half warped accent.


After some time it seemed that Slug was not coming out so we finally headed.  First we got a photo with Ant and Erik with a little help from MC Tuka who was there as just another giddy fan himself. 

More than just an opening act

Rhymesayers & One Dayers

Don’t think just because I wrote about Atmosphere first, like a little kid that just wants to eat dessert, that I forgot about the other two acts.  In reality from the very first beat that was played on stage that night it came from a place that was close to my heart and without the opening the whole night wouldn’t have had the same magic that it now holds. 

Horrorshow opening for Atmosphere came as a surprise announcement a couple of weeks before the show.  Knowing that Nick especially is a huge Rhymesayers fan I was so excited and happy for them.  The first time I met Nick and Adit, a year ago, we had a long conversation about Rhymesayers (Atmosphere and Grieves in particular) so what a great conclusion for me to see my favourite American hip hop group, Atmosphere, and one of my favourite Australian hip hop groups interacting and performing together.  It was a fantastic union of my two cultures. It’s like now I’ve come full circle and everything in my life is slowly becoming integrated.

Grieves & Horrorshow tattoos, thanks Joel

Nick and Adit got onstage after a DJ set from Joyride, which included a lot of Beastie Boys music as this was shortly following the death of MCA. Seeing them up there with the Atmosphere banner made me feel so proud of them.  They already are Rhymesayers family in my eyes, a group that could fit right into their culture and vibe.  In fact the first time we talked Nick and I discussed how he would love to do a collaboration with Grieves, another member of the Rhymesayers family and one of my favourite artists for the past couple of years.  I’m absolutely dying to see this happen, as I think a lot of us are.

Horrrorshow haven’t performed together in their hometown since Bliss n Eso’s Running On Air tour last year, and I think that combined with the fact that they were opening for one of their idols must have made them nervous.  They started off with a bit of a shaky version of their newest song, Public Consumption, a free track that they released last year.  Moving on to “Waiting for the 504” that nervousness stuck around.  It was during “Walk You Home” that the performance started to get more comfortable.  By the next track, “The Show” which is basically their anthem, they had finally completely relaxed and got into doing their thing.  Nick made a joke before the song started, “Some of you out there think you’re big Atmosphere fans.  Well I’m an even bigger fan, so I’ll see you in the parking lot.”  As soon as they had finally gotten really comfortable and smashed out a crazy version of “The Rain” to get everyone jumping, their set was over. 

Evidence doing his thing

The anticipation of Atmosphere coming out was a bit overwhelming.  Evidence made his appearance and the vibe certainly changed, from the softer hip hop styles of Horrorshow to a rougher, old school, gangster rap vibe.   The crowd started going a little crazy and a fight actually broke out right in front of us so one of the guys next to us had to jump in and save us from being shoved around.  Anyone who starts these kind of fights probably needs to rethink their life. This doesn’t have a part in this culture at all.  Apart from that though Evidence was pretty dope.  It was obvious that the crowd was there to see Atmosphere but Ev did shake hands with one guy up the front that had some lyrics tattooed on him.  I did lose myself in the music during a couple of the songs.  The song I was waiting for came almost at the end, it was “Late For the Sky” this has a great opening sequence with a sample of the Jackson Browne song of that name and it sucks me in every time.  Slug does a verse on this track so I was almost positive he would make an early appearance on stage for this song.  Unfortunately I was insanely disappointed when they cut the track short.  It actually kind of ticked me off.  Not that anything could have ruined that night...

You ain't got no Evidence...

One bit of advice that I have for you is to follow Evidence on Instagram (@MrEvidence).  Not only is he an amazing lyricist but he is an equally good photographer.  Not only that but he is an expert at editing photos on iphone.  If you don’t know the extent to which some people can edit iphone photos you need to check his out because they are masterpieces.  He uses several editing programs on each pic.  Check them all out here.   

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better night.  The venue was great, the sound was good. For the most part, people behaved themselves.  And I was finally able to see the group perform that got me into hip hop as I know it.  Atmosphere not only met but exceeded my expectations in so many ways.  Slug being so comfortable on stage made everyone comfortable.  The way he ad libbed and changed his songs as he went is certainly something that I admire.  It didn’t feel like he took himself seriously, and so the whole mood was very light and happy. The light show was fantastic, and the set was quite lengthy and extensive over their whole range of music. (Although I would have liked to hear a couple of tracks from You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having.) I am keen for them to come back again soon and not wait another 13 years!

This video may even have helped Horrorshow out with securing that opening gig.  Let's chat about Slug...

Tweet me@atmosphere @evidence @horrorshowcrew @grievesmusic @rhymesayers @fifthelementRSE

Links

Everything Rhymesayers
Fifth Element for all your rhymesayers crew music, movie, book, and apparel needs
Elefant Traks store– the goods from Horrorshow & family
My YouTube Page- for more great live hip hop videos

Peace, Love, and all that shit.

Be good to each other kittlings,

<3 <3 Game Cat <3 <3 

Inspiration in the form of a head bent over pen and paper

written on September 13^th, 2010

I know times are tough but
we are rich in Love.
And that’s something that no one can take away.
It can’t be erased,
like imaginary numbers on a bank balance in cyberspace
Your fake riches will never surpass us,
Because we’re deep in trust,
free as doves,
and full of Love.

And our army will be 100x stronger
with no weapons
just deepened perceptions
and richer connections
to each other
and this world.

We’ll find in time
that the human soul
can feel fulfilled
instead of always missing a beat.
Not feeling happy 

when we’re supposed to be happy,
or bursting at the seams.

Maybe there’s more to this world
than we ever imagined
a rich tapestry of fabrics
instead of just washed out faded jeans
old and worn out,
but so comfortable we can’t take them off.
What if this world is full of meaning
and information,

Connections we never even thought to imagine?

I hope you feel like you’re home again
but don’t get so comfortable that
you forget to imagine-
         another life,
            another world,
                another way to do things.
Don’t get tripped up over the same old
shoe strings.

I’m open in all the right ways.
There’s always something to chase
whether it’s a white rabbit,
or a Bible page

It’s really the same
just called by a different name
A means to an end.
It’s all in your head.
No really, the answers are all there.
There are many stories,
to help us achieve.
So we can finally realise,
and see the same things.
What is Enlightenment?
And how can it be that One Moment-
contains everything?

Step up and believe.        
with me
with all of us
we’re all in this moment
and we can make it
how we want it.
There’s no end in sight
just that fiery might
brute strength and ambition.
We can get all these kids to
lift that curtain
and then it won’t need to be
covered up again.

I’m finding my passion
and now I won’t let it go
It’s all about catching and riding
that flow.
And so if we teach
to never stop dreaming
because then you’ll never stop reaching.
And remember that each new end,
is really a beginning.
Can we get them to start listening?

There’s no time to waste with the negative
Fill yourself with positive thoughts
and more positive energy will be drawn to you
We can all direct our future
toward that bright light in the distance.

Positive energy will help you achieve it
And when you do reach it,
you’ll realise it was your own creation
made of bits of dreams you had
along the way.
Picked up like shells on a beach
If you look close enough, you’ll see
that even a single grain of sand radiates beauty.

And the deeper our brains go
the more stuff we can fit in
or we can imagine
what’s already hidden there
deep within the dragon’s lair
information and secrets
that hold the key to the Universe
Patterns deciphered .
Come on we’re all trying to find out.
Why is there order in confusion?
And what’s that mood you just got me in?

Pray at church
or at home, when there’s bud in a bowl
its just the same.
There’s that connection,
and we felt it.
We all come from the same thing
And mankind is the children.

We’re all fragments of One Being
step back and see the tapestry
that we are all just threads in.
Connected by destiny.
Yet it doesn’t make sense unless you
step back and see
the whole thing.

Whether you feel it kneeling
to God
Or just reeling,
 through mushroom clouds.
Whatever book you’ve been reading
any song you’ve been singing
It’s all pointing to the
One Thing.
If we look within each other
We’ll see part of ourselves
And if we realise that we’re all brothers
then maybe we could learn the lessons
that every religion in the world has been trying to tell us.

Be Good To Each Other.

And it’s as simple as that really
if we could be free and
open to our real human emotion
Instead of blaming all this hate
on some notion
that humans are inherently evil.
It’s just an excuse.

If we give love, we get it in return
something every person in this world
knows or could learn.
But our monetary society
instead dictates our common need.
And love is too easily
manipulated by greed.
And culture is in our ear
at all times,
singing us to sleep.

But don’t you weep
for someone who has nothing
if they’ve still got their dreams.