Have you ever seen night at the museum?That's kind of what this will be like. Except hopefully the exhibitswon't actually come to life, just the stage. Your hip hop for theevening will include the smooth lyrical stylings of Canadian artistState Advanced (one third of Broken Thought Theory) backed byfunk band Sloppy Joe and Chance Waters, a local artist who ison my list to check out. Anyone who lists Atmosphere and JeffBuckley as influences is ok in my book.
This event is packed with heaps ofother fun activities and performances including (and I'm not kidding) circus acts, live reptiles, a ping pong tournament, a silent disco,vintage video gaming room, stand up comedy, art talks and workshops,body painting, the special exhibit Deep Oceans,, plus more, and allfor $14!
Don't miss out on this night of funrunning from 530pm-1030pm.
October 4th: Kade andthe Karneez headline an event at FBi Social set to be thebiggest Thursday night you have ever seen in the cross. Supportsinclude Five Coffees, Big Dumb Kid, and Mass Effect. Do yourself afavour and check out these local underground artists.
October 6th : If you want tosee what the female Sydney emcees are up to but you need something abit softer than that Sky'High chick, Madame Wu is your girl. She's got a gentle flow with poetic, hard hitting lyrics touching ona wide variety of topics and the beautiful singing of Elise Grahambacking her up. With Dj Prolifik on the decks, thislaunch of her debut album at Raval in Surry Hills is sure tobe of epic proportions.
October 11th: In case youmissed the first round Kade and the Karneez are at it again atthe Newtown classic venue, the Sandringham Hotel (Lovinglyreferred to as The Sando) It's a good idea to head here to supportthis struggling venue. Check info on links below.
Facebook event- coming soon!
October 13th : Hip HopOdyseeys III Spaceport One,Marrickville
Ifyou attend nothing else this month, this is the gig to go to. It isthe best venue, with the friendliest people, the most relaxedatmosphere, and always an excellent night of showcasing local artistswhich breaks down into a crazy every man for themselves all out wildfreestyle session at the end. Not to be missed. Ever. This is amonthly event and can only get better, bring the whole crew along foran all night party. Up this month is Beat Theory, Prospecta, MilitantPretext, Kodda, and Deejay J Neri.
Facebookevent- coming soon!
October19th:Seth Sentry atOxford Arts Factory-An artist that grew JJJ famous off from one hit, “The WaitressSong” back in 2009 has finally released his first album three yearsin the making, ThisWas Tomorrow. If you're headed to the show bring a rain jacket or be prepared tobe super soaker soaked as Seth revealed via Instagram his stock pileof water guns which he plans to use at the show.
ANDOctober 19th:
Ifunder some horrible circumstances you were forced to miss the Sydneyshow at the Oxford Arts Factory a couple weeks ago, or even if youdidn't and you just want to party with all your friends again, you'rein luck! The last stop on for the BigVillageBIG party bus is at Yours & Owls in Wollongong. Please don'tmiss this opportunity to see the whole label out in full party mode. That's 16 emcees in all kinds of wild pairings and positions. It'slike the kama sutra of hip hop. More fun than a circus big top. Just watch these clowns try to fit all 16 emcees on an itty bittystage for the last song!
October25thSpit Syndicate kickoff their “Beauty in the Bricks” tour promoting their new singleat the Transit Barin Canberra– set in intimate venues, this tour gives the SS boys a chance toshowcase their new music to small groups of loyal fans.
Thundamentals at UC Bar in Canberra
October27th: Thundamentalsmake a stop in Katoomba,their home in the Blue Mountains on their “Get Busy” Tour whichmakes it's stop in Sydney in November. Backed by a live hornsection, this group is very high energy and never one to disappoint. Plus the energy in their home town crowd would be incredible,possible worth the trip out to the mountains to witness this.
Alsoon that date back at home is the SurryHills Festivalat Prince Albert Park which includes sets by hip hop acts TheTongueand True Vibenationalongside groups from many genres of music and several DJ sets, goodfood, drinks, markets stalls, and art on display. It's set to be anincredible day with all proceeds going to the Surry HillsNeighbourhood Centre.
It'salso rumoured that local lyrical legend SkaseAkwill be dropping his new album for free release sometime at the endof this month. More information as it comes available. If you seethis album up for download cop it as quick as you can, cause it couldchange the way you think forever.
SoMany Links
JurrasicLounge- check out all the upcoming events, every Tuesday night thissummer
StateAdvanced- listen to and review tracks from this artist on JJJ Unearthed
Review: Hilltop Hoods “Speaking in Tongues Tour” 2012
Groovin the Moo, CanberraMay 13th
Hordern Pavillion, SydneyAugust 4th
University of Canberra August 12th
Introduction:
I feel like I'm obligated to be super impressed with Hilltop Hoods show because they are one of the groups that founded Australian hip hop, and because of everything that they have done to get hip hop in this country to the level that it is today. Certainly they are the group that turned many people onto this genre of music, and I have a lot of respect for what they have done. I contemplated whether I should express my real opinion about the shows that I attended on their recent tour because I don't want to immediately alienate people, by taking a stance on something that is in such stark contrast to the almost universally accepted reality of the situation. But having different opinions is what makes life interesting, so I hope you will find that I have touched on some good points, and opened the path for a discussion, even if you completely disagree with what I have to say.
The background story:
Surf Beach, New South Wales south coast
Alright, before we get too far into it, first let me tell you a little story about what Hilltop Hoods mean to me. It started in the summer of 2006. I had been into Rhymesayers music for quite some time, especially Atmosphere. I was also bumping a lot of Sublime and Mystic Roots at the time. This was my second trip to Australia, my first being a year long stay as an exchange student in 2002. A friend and I, both from Upstate New York, were living in a little beach town near Batemans Bay on the south coast of NSW and starting to get a bit bored. One day a neighbour came over and while I played hip hop off my laptop he asked, “Have you heard any Australian hip hop?” And right then a new obsession was born. I didn't know Australian hip hop existed. I think like a lot of Australians, I was partial to anything Australian just because it was Australian. It had that accent, that attitude, it was something different. It came from here, it came from us not them. And so it was automatically special to us, it was better. (I had always felt since I first came to Australia that I was more at home than I was in the United States, that's why I referred to Australia as “us,” even then.)
me in our Surf Beach apartment 2007
The Hard Road and The Calling where my introduction to Australian hip hop. I may have fallen for the catchy chorus of “The Nosebleed Section” like everybody else, but it was the songs that went a bit deeper like “Testimonial Year” and “1979” that made it stick. That's when I saw that they had something different to say, something personal. The Hard Road was a strong album, and at the time, it was something that I associated with. But it wasn't long before I moved on in my listening to other Australian emcees and admittedly my attention to what the Hilltop Hoods were doing began to wane after that. I hate to sound like someone who says, “I only like their old shit,” because that's not true either, I actually think their new album is much, much better than any of their others. I like most of the songs, they are catchy and easy to listen to. I think the lyrics in the song “Speaking in Tongues” come across with a good message about unity, that I can identify with. I was extremely hyped to see what a tour promoting this album would include. Many years now into my Australian hip hop obsession, and many many performances under my belt, I had yet to see “the mighty Hilltops” perform. I expected them to put on a performance that said “we are the top of hip hop in this country” loud and clear. I expected them to pull out every stop possible.
My honest opinion:
Having seen Hilltop Hood perform three times this year, I have to say that each time I was underwhelmed. I guess that's because I was expecting something more. They have this reputation for being the greatest thing that ever happened to Australian hip hop, so I had extremely high expectations. Maybe I had unreasonably high expectations, and that's why they fell short. But I think that once you get everyone's attention the way that they have, you better hope like hell that you have a message for them. Hopefully the message is something that will make people think, and that their lives will be enriched by the experience of sharing your music with you. Making a great party song, may get you a lot of attention, but it doesn't make you a great artist. It's the songs with a real message about life that people will actually take something away from and appreciate more in the end.
I'm not saying that the shows were terrible at all, they were good concerts. The audience was involved and activated. There was great energy between performers and audience. That by itself can make for a good and unifying experience. I'm sure for a lot of newcomers, first time concert goers, and those that attend only a few concerts a year, it may have been the best thing they have ever seen. That is fantastic, I know almost every person there did feel something great. But if I look at all the concerts that I have attended just in the last six months, the Hilltop Hoods performances, for me, fell short of what I thought they were capable of achieving. We went to the edge but not over it. It was missing that something extra, that a group, with their knowledge, skill, experience, and especially with their monetary backing, could have brought to the game. I was looking for them to step it up another notch from anything we have seen so far before, but it was like somehow we missed a step up and the playing field just began to level out.
In comparison:
I think maybe a lot of it comes down to the fact that I'm a huge Bliss n Eso fan. Honestly, the show they put on for their “Running on Air” tour is still the best hip hop show I have seen from this country. Of course they connected with the audience, and yes there was a lot of audience participation and feed back. (Standard.) They played games with us that we may have seen before already at a Bliss n Eso show in the past (they have their traditions), but WOW did they really surprise us. And yes, I think they did step it up and push their performance to the next level.
Let me just briefly recount the things that made “Running On Air” a standout performance. First of all, you can't go past what is in your face from the very beginning. A running video montage accompanies each and every one of their songs. It's not just a large TV showing their performance on a big screen so that those in the back can see better, which is what most artists do. (And that's a good thing as well, no doubt.) But what they do is actually create a unique film clip that goes with each performance as an accompaniment to compliment the lyrics of each song and drive their point home. Like they have a DJ mixing, bringing in elements from so many different musical genres into one, they also have a VJ mixing clips in the same way. Already this is a different sort of performance, but let's look at what else they did. The song “Fire it Up” was actually accompanied by real flames on stage. Their interludes between songs included actual skits, like pretend fishing before “Down by the River.” And the most amazing part of the whole night, visually and sonically, was when unveiled that a grand piano had been moved onto the stage for their performance of “At Midnight,” my favourite song of theirs. All of these points were driven home when we went back and watched the DVD of this performance after seeing the Canberra Hilltop Hoods show. I don't expect to see these types of things in every oz hip hop performance obviously because doing these types of things on stage requires a lot of money to pull off. However I was put off by the lack of these types of surprises in the Hilltop Hoods show considering they most likely have even more in the way of monetary backing than Bliss n Eso does.
Don't get me wrong, it's not only big production and big displays of waving money around that gets me excited about a hip hop show. I would be more than happy to watch just an emcee and a DJ on stage doing nothing special, if what they had to say was real and meaningful. I may even actually prefer it because the theatrics of it all can distract from the message. I think what is most important in hip hop and everyone would have to agree, is the lyrics. Everything else is just done in support of what is being said. And I was listening, really listening hard at the Hilltop Hoods show, like I do at every show, and lyrically they just weren't doing it for me.
Research:
Last night, I spent hours pouring over Hilltop Hoods lyrics to see if maybe I was just missing something. What I found out is some of their rhymes are pretty tight and intricate. But what really gets to me is that so many of their songs seem to be about the same thing, how great of lyricists and emcees they are, how much better their crew is than anyone else's . We know they can tell a good story, with songs like “The Sentinel,” “Audience with the Devil,” and “Stopping All Stations,” but those are pretty rare. We all know they can make a great banging party song like, “What A Great Night” and “Blue Blooded All Stars.” But do they represent something more than that? What I'm looking for is a simple message, what point are they actually trying to get out there? Yet line after line reads like this “My lyrics range from better than yours to way better than yours,” while at the same time lacking substance in their words.
Cultural Resistance:
I think a big problem is how do you keep pushing yourself after you've already “made it”? I think no matter what the Hilltop Hoods put out now they will still get love from the masses. I think it would be hard when you get to that point to keep from being lazy. Especially since laziness in Australia is almost a praised characteristic.
It's part of Australian culture to be lazy, you can't help it really. Australia has such a laid back and easy lifestyle. It comes with the whole no worries philosophy: Don't worry, don't plan, everything just works out fine on it's own, no stress. The thing is sometimes stress is the only way that anything gets done, it's a motivating factor. As I see it, it's hard at every level for an Australian emcee (or any artist in Australia for that matter). It's hard to get started in the first place, because life is just too easy for most people to be bothered to put any extra effort into anything. It's hard to start to establish and make a name for yourself because of the way society tends to look down on those “overachievers.” And it's even hard once you've “made it” to find the motivation to keep pushing yourself.
Having lived in the US where stress rules the land, and you are judged purely on what you have achieved rather than who you are, and in Australia where “no worries” is a lifelong philosophy, I can see both sides of the coin. Now before you get all high and mighty on me, realise that I chose to live here so obviously I think the Australian lifestyle is a much better choice. But there are positives and negatives to every situation. Australia has something embedded in the society that the United States does not, and it's commonly referred to as “Tall Poppy Syndrome.” As far as I see it, this means that anyone that tries to grow too big or reach too far toward the stars gets immediately knocked down. Whether it's verbally, physically, or just perceptually, the group will tend to look down on or beat down on the one who stands out until they feel bad about themselves and withdraw to the same level as their peers.
Tall poppy syndrome can stifle creativity because anyone who tries too hard at anything will be knocked down and hated on. That's why laziness is so treasured in Australia. This is why mediocrity tends to rule. If you stand out too much, you're a try-hard, putting in too much effort. It's like when we were in school and the people who were good at it and always did their homework got made fun of, except extended into a whole life philosophy. It's just the opposite in the United States. With so much competition for every little aspect of life, standing out from the crowd is the only way to survive, so being extremely ambitious is a valued and desirable character trait.This isn't to say that all (or even most) the stuff that comes out of the US is excellent or that everything that comes out of Australia is mediocre. It just helps us to understand the cultural mindset that the artist comes up against in this country.
There are so many artists in this country I don't think are striving to reach their greatest potential, simply because they don't even know what their greatest potential could be. Perhaps they are aiming too low, purposely melding themselves to fit in with their peers because unconsciously, that is what they are culturally programed to do. I'm not going to name any more names or make this entry into one of hate or placing blame, because that's not what I'm all about. I'm simply stating that what comes from the top trickles down. I think in this culture we can all get along together, but that everyone should be focusing much harder on each forming their own unique point of view and going for that as hard as they can. It takes many different pieces to make the whole picture, if all the pieces are too similar the picture will only turn out to be a fuzzy blur when what we need is clear cut edges and defined brush strokes. We should try and show our best face to the world, and that's not going to happen if we keep trying to cut each other down and conform around a set standard.
The opening act:
Horrorshow in Canberra
Well enough of that tangent and back to the actual shows. I won't go on about all the little things that I found annoying, overall I did enjoy myself. However there was one thing that I couldn't get over which is worth mentioning. I think they missed a golden opportunity in not bringing Solo out on stage with them to perform “The Underground.” It is one of the best tracks on their new album and was in the running to become the second single, beaten out by “Shredding the Balloon,” only just. They brought Horrorshow on tour with them because obviously they respect and want to showcase this younger group, so why not bring Solo on stage to perform his track with them? I think it would have made for a very memorable moment in the show.
It's actually Horrorshow's Sydney performance that sticks out the most in my mind from these shows. The tour had just returned from Europe days before the Sydney gig. Horrorshow stepped out on stage to their home crowd, a year after performing this same venue with Bliss n Eso, with a new confidence and a very strong presence that I hadn't yet seen from them. There was no uncertainty at all. I think going overseas can give you such a refreshed perspective on life. And coming back to perform to a sold out home crowd, at the very venue that they themselves saw their very first concert, I can imagine they just threw everything that they had into it, and that confidence shone through in the best way. “We got this one,” was the note to self backstage.
Both of their performances I remember so differently, even though they played the same songs both times. Each performance carried a completely different vibe. The Sydney show was all about far away blue lights, slow songs, and haunting lyrics. Their new song “Dead Star Shine” stood out as pretty much the highlight of my night. Even though it was a brand new song and no one knew it yet, you could tell it went over very well, and I think he even got us all singing along to the chorus in the end. At the Canberra show of course we were able to get much closer. I remember the lighting as being more energetic, orange and yellow and greens with “Thoughtcrime” being the most stand-out song of the night.
Sally with Adit and Solo
There's certainly room in this scene and in the world scene for music like Horrorshow's hip hop style. They come from a much softer, very heartfelt place that I think a lot of artists are afraid to show. Their respect for the greats of this genre is evident in Solo's lyrics as well as the samples that Adit chooses. And yet they have managed to come out with something completely different. Solo wears his heart on his sleeve, and that's very refreshing coming from a genre that has a reputation for being about how hard you are, or pulling off a gangster persona.
In closing:
Again, I don't want this to come off the wrong way. Of course I don't hate the Hilltop Hoods, I have nothing but respect for them and what they have accomplished and continue to accomplish. I more have the attitude of that overbearing father or older brother in that because I love them, I'm harder on them because I want them to push themselves even more to reach their very best potential.
I invite anyone reading this, please change my mind about them. I'm open to listening again and being proven wrong. I actually would love to be. So send me lyrics and songs to listen to that really displays their point of view cause I would love it if I was just missing something.
Here is Hilltop Hoods new video clip. It's a big love fest, it's all about unity among the hip hop community. Do you think that message comes across?
I'll leave you now with these thoughts. I was recently speaking to an Australian emcee about how I was looking for more, I wanted to hear something profound coming from the artist on stage in order to really enjoy the show. And his response disappointed me more than anything. What he said was, “Well we're only rappers you can't expect too much from us.” But I expect more from an emcee than an average person. I expect the whole world to be explained, and the whole world to be brought together as one just through one song. Because that is hip hop.
Links
rattlingthekeys.com - information about Hilltop Hoods new single and video as well as links to their charity auction items
Horrorshow- artist info, merchandise, upcoming gigs
Flying Colours - Bliss n Eso's merchandise site where you can purchase the Running On Air DVD
Finding Spaceport One can be somewhat
challenging. If you're looking for a neon sign or some sort of
spaceship landing site to point you toward the entrance then you'll
be sadly disappointed. When my friend, Rochelle, and I tried to find
it last time, we typed the address into the trusty old iPhone GPS as
usual, but when it said we had reached our destination we could find
nothing. Well nothing that looked like it could be a concert venue
anyway. We had come down a quiet seemingly deserted street with
nothing but a bunch of warehouses staring back at us through the car
windows with black and lifeless eyes. This can't be it, we told each
other, maybe they put the wrong address up on the facebook event. So
we dutifully drove up and down the streets of Marrickville hoping to
stumble upon a more suitable looking place that showed signs of life
and music, to no avail. We drove back down the correct street with
the windows down hoping maybe we could hear the music. But it wasn't
until Rochelle finally got in touch with her sister Verity who came
outside to meet us that we finally believed we were at the right
place. A stream of smokers came out then as well and we knew hip hop
was in the building. And the right building we noticed, only had a
small “12” over the entrance signifying the correct doorway.
Skase Ak, Ear-Relevant, & Cass at the first hip hop night
It may be a bit of an adventure to
find, but once you have made it there, Spaceport One will feel like
more than a venue, it will feel like you've made it home. There is a
very friendly atmosphere as soon as you enter the room. You will
feel welcome like you've just entered a friend's very large, very
loud lounge room. There are ample cosy couches and comfortable
chairs, scattered along the walls, a well stocked bar with the house
speciality shots “Spaceport Pussy,” a well placed stage with good
lighting and sound, and just a very fun
have-a-great-time-and-everybody-get-along vibe. It makes the artists
themselves feel very comfortable, as if they are performing just for
friends, which by the end of the night everyone will be anyway.
Coming in your face (for entertainment
purposes only) this month will be Ettoman beatbox joined by Beatrayal as hosts
for the night. It is a special treat to see what this one does with
just a mic so coming out just for that is fine. Throughout the night
we will be privileged to witness DJ Mk-1 on the decks, Hometeam,
Rizby, Beatrayal, Barnzy & Ear-Relevant (!), and Verbal Mechanics
in action.
Ettoman beatbox amazing us all
Come early or come late, the night will
invariably end in an indoor and outdoor cipher, plus an open mic with many instruments available to try, so
even if you have other obligations, know that the festivities will
continue late into the night and it's never too late to join in.
Spaceport One is a privately owned performance/ warehouse space that accommodates to a wide range of musical tastes and is a multi-purpose space available to be used for a many far-flung endeavours. It's main purpose is to cultivate the arts and bring like minded people together. Feel free to contact the crew here with any suggestions or queries.
As I've said before, this is your new favourite venue, come chill with us at the second hip hop night, Hip Hop Odysseys II and on the second Saturday of every month.
Performance by Broken Thought Theory at Hip Hop Odysseys Part 1:
I know I've been majorly lagging in the updates department lately. Where are all the gig reviews?? I thought you loved hip hop Jen?! Well the thing is this month has been absolutely crazy for me. Not only in relation to six months ago when I was just a small town Townsville girl, but compare this schedule to anyone you know and you'll see that hip hop has become my full time job. Not only that but all this is juggled in between working at my actual full time job. I originally meant to update this blog every Wednesday and I would like to go back to that, but lately it's like Friday, Saturday, sometimes Sunday is a gig, Sunday is a totally written off hungover day, Monday I'm too tired to think, Tuesday I need to catch up on some much needed sleep, Wednesday and Thursday I have some time to write, if I don't have other things going on, and then before I know it it's Friday and time to do it all over again.
So here's a quick overview of the gigs that I attended in the last month, some definitely deserve longer entries and I am working on it, patience people. Please stay with me.
27th July - Daily Meds & Rainman @ Fbi Social -
My first gig in King's Cross and it certainly could have been sleazier, it was definitely lacking on the sleeze factor. But it was made up for by actually being a classy venue with a good hip hop vibe to it. My girl and I had a few too many drinks at home and we were delayed from showing up on time due to a shaken Coke bottle incident in the kitchen. We went for the Daily Meds but stayed to see the incredible Rainman. From what we got to see the Daily Meds were hard hitting as usual, everyone in the place was up and dancing when we burst through the door. I'm so glad we got introduced to Rainman this night, he blew me away. He has been described as "Queensland's best kept secret" if so he won't be a secret for long. His song "The Valley" just won in the Urban category in Queensland's music awards. I just got his album two days before this show and I was already hooked by the time I saw his performance. His lyrics are direct and honest. His voice is soulful. He sounds destinctly Australian without the bogan factor. He has fun easy songs mixed with deep and thought provoking songs. He's got that something extra. He's basically everything I look for in Australian hip hop at the moment, I can't believe I have only just heard of him. He has quickly become a new favourite of mine for sure. My especially favourite song of his is called "Darling" and it's a tribute to his relationship with hip hop. Check out my video below, really quality footage.
28th July -Kade & The Karneez @ The Annandale Hotel -
Kade was gearing up for his official album release by throwing a big party at the Annandale with free beer. Even after an epic hangover there was no way I was missing this one. It turned out to be a bit quiet though, for a night which included the promise of free beer. Kade wasn't a disappointment, just the crowd. A normal part of the act is when an emcee from the crowd will jump onstage for a freestyle battle with him, but no one was feeling it that night. Good thing Kade has plenty more gigs to come, including a headline show at FBi social on the 4th October and the Sando in Newton on the 11th of October.
3rd AugustTrue Vibenation & Jackie Onassis & Skryptcha @ The Standard
There was a lot of competition on for gigs this night. It was a big night for Australian hip hop for sure. That I settled for Skryptcha was a last minute decision, although I wasn't disappointed. What I missed out on was Def Wish Cast at the Annandale (absolute dopeness when I saw them with Funkoars earlier this year) and Mantra with Mphazes at the casino. It's funny cause I normally would have chosen one of the others, but it turns out that I met a couple of new friends here so it was meant to be.
me & Rochelle, new gig buddies
Honestly, the group I most remember was True Vibenation. They had a funky, reggae hip hop vibe that I was really feeling. From what I remember Jackie Onassis was good too. The whole night was a bit of blur though. I had a conversation with Kai where I told him that my blog was really in depth and I don't do one or two sentence reviews. And here I am doing just that, damn hypocrites. Luckily I get to see them perform again when they open for Illy so can give them a bit more time and attention for that one. Skryptcha honestly let me down a little bit. The only thing that really stands out in my memory was that he sounded a bit too much like 360 for my liking. But again he is opening for Illy as well so I'm willing to give him a closer listen. The stand out song of the night was when he got the Spit Sydnicate boys on stage. Nick was rocking the gold chain bling, and Jimmy seemed a bit sketchy, hanging out around the shadows on the side of the stage except for his verse. Strange things from those two..
It was a good night over all, good atmosphere in the room, a lot of familiar faces, a lot of love for hip hop. But the music that night seemed to take a backseat for me, to the company I was with.
4th August -Briggs &Horrorshow & Hilltop Hoods @ The Hordern Pavillion
I will be writing an extended article about both of the Hilltop shows that I went to this tour. Just briefly, Horrorshow really ruled the night for me, they burst onto stage like they owned it, feeling very comfortable with their hometown after just returning from a brief stint in Europe. These boys have much improved in the last year that I have been following them. I can't wait to share this new video with you. Their new song "Dead Star Shine" is hauntingly beautiful and right in tune with their style. You can tell people where getting into it, just on this first listen. Check it out for real...
10th August -Thundamentals & Mantra & Dialectrix @ Canberra University-
Mantra, rapper and comedian
I think never has a more talented group been brought together. Thundamentals are top of the list for me in Oz hip hop right now (Bliss n Eso excluded). Mantra is certainly a good story teller and a tight rhymer. And Dialectrix I haven't heard much from but what I have is top quality, especially the song "Inner Heart Beat" off the album Audio Projectile. He has quick rapping and good lyrics. This gig was more like a private sesh with friends than an actual concert. We thought at first it really would be a private concert as there was only about 12 people there when we got there. More people trickled in during the night, but no where near the crowds that these groups are used to playing to, which was good for us. But despite it's small size, Canberra has a decent sized group of hip hop fanatics, it's a shame that this city gets missed out on on most tours. Actually, wait when did I start praising Canberra? This is not like me at all. So what do I remember most about this concert? That maybe I get to drunk to remember most concerts. But if you haven't done it yet get in to see a live Thundamentals show cause these guys know how to bring a room to life with just a DJ and two mics, no gimmicks. But they usually bring a live horn section with them, so it's definitely worth a trip out. I think their facial expressions bring a lot of emotion into the songs as well and they are very energetic, not just bobbing around, but dancing and doing hand gestures that coincide with the rhymes. They draw you in right away and you can't help but feel a connection with them when they're on the stage.
11th August -Hip Hop Odyseys @ Spaceport One, Marrickville-
Broken Thought Theory
I'm just letting you know right now, this is your new favourite venue. Hands down, no argument. Whether it's hip hop, rock, punk, or an all out rave this is the place to do it. Amazing warehouse used as a creative space for a variety of art forms. I attended the first ever hip hop night here, and despite not having a huge turn out, I think it was a raging success. Everyone there was very respectful and relaxed. The artists all felt very comfortable, like they were just performing for friends. Great performers. Saw what I reckon is the best beatboxing I've ever seen that night by, Ettoman. (Check out his youtube page, this guy does insane things with his mouth and lips.) This is going to be a monthly event so I'd love to see a few more people head on down next time. Awesome people, awesome place. Beyond amazing music and atmosphere.
I thought this would end up being a very different show to the last one, considering the much smaller venue. But hip hop acts these days don't seem to change their set list much (if at all) night to night which is a disappointment as I think it would be fun to play around with song arrangement and make a unique show every night. But that's a rant for another day. The main difference here was that we got a lot closer to the stage for Horrorshow, but then got out and to the back again for Hilltop. We must have got stuck in the middle of some parent chaperon group during Hilltop's set because all the people around us were older and they didn't seem to know any of the songs. What a disappointment. My main problem with Hilltops though is that for the level that they are at, and the money that they have coming in, I think they could do a lot more with their show. I have a lot of respect for what they have done for Australian hip hop, but I don't think they are utilizing their fame to the extent that they could be, to get a real message out there. I can't help but compare them to Bliss n Eso who have risen to about their level of popularity and influence, and they have brought so much more to the table, lyrically and for entertainment value at their shows. It's like Hilltop waved their arms around and got everyone's attention, but then as soon as we thought they were going to say something profound, they just made a fart joke instead. (I'm probably going to get crap for this.)
17th August -Rapaport "Patterns" mix tape launch @ Good God Smallclub, Sydney
Killer beats, mad rapping, dope freestyle, and too many patterns..... grimy as fuck.
Raport is comfortable on stage, always on point, has a sick flow with a unique voice and is the head of an amazingly talented crew- he couldn't be happier. Look out for Big Village cause they are doing BiG Things. If you haven't already (and I don't see why you wouldn't have) check out the album Big Things Vol. 2 which is a collaborative effort by the whole label. A whole lot of talented people banding together to do what they love and get it to us by the simplest means possible. Tour coming soon, can't wait to see the whole crew on stage.
19th August -Broken Thought Theory (and friends) @ Brighton Up Bar - I went to a charity event at Brighton Up Bar on a Sunday. I basically went to see Broken Thought Theory but had the treat of seeing Madam Wu and Elise Graham perform before them and I was inspired. It's pretty rare to see all girl hip hop acts. Broken Thought Theory put on an excellent show as usual. This was only my second time seeing them perform but there is something very comfortable about their performance for me. When I hear the songs, I feel like I already know them, even when I haven't heard them before. And not because they sound like everyone else, but more like a sense of déjà vu, remembering something that hasn't happened yet. Which is probably how you'll feel when you hear these emcees: State Advanced, Ear-Relevant, and Skase Ak. They are three of the dopest emcees you haven't heard of yet. And they are so happy and look like they are having so much fun on the stage together, it makes me literally want to join them.
Now I'd like to take you back in time a bit further to....
7th July -Last Kinection & Daily Meds @ The Annandale Hotel
Kathy and I: rockin' the spot..
I have to go back and mention the Daily Meds and Last Kinection gig on the 7th of July- This one sticks out in my mind above all the others lately. And not just because someone was giving away free money, although the irony was not lost on band members and crowd members alike when Mikoen sang the lyrics, "hey you in the suit and tie acting like you're the man/ we're not impressed by your money sonny/ none of us care/ so put your wallet back in your pocket..." from the song "Hey You" just as a random that had jumped on stage pulled out his wallet and showered the front row with a cloud of fifties, twenties, and ten dollar notes. Mik stumbled his lyrics and crowd members started at red, yellow, and blue pieces of paper for a moment not sure if they were real. The timing, if planned was dead strange. If unplanned, turns out it was just as strange. A lot of people simply missed it as they were so caught up in the music, which is right where you want to be anyway. And that alone says a lot about how great the Daily Meds performance is, if it can distract people from cash being waved around in front of them.
This was the first time I got the pleasure of experiencing either of these groups lives. They are respectful enough of each other to call the show a "double headliner." They both brought mass amounts of energy to the stage and the crowd was right there animated and pumped up to the max. This gig was everything a hip hop show should be. There was a lot of love in the crowd, both for the music, and for the other fans. Everyone just knew, if you were here, you know what's up, and you definitely know what good music is. Last Kinection are unique and soulful. Their lyrics are powerfully political and something that every one of us needs to listen up to. We need more indiginous Australians a part of this culture. They are a piece to the puzzle that we could all learn from. Daily Meds just burst onto the stage with insane amounts of energy, commanding your attention . Their quality beats make it almost impossible not to dance, and their lyrics are ones that command your attention, no soft pop songs here.
And this weekend is Illy with support from Jackie Onassis, Skryptcha, and my good buddy Elemont. Check him out below, kid's got killer flow.
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.
Ifunder some horrible circumstances you were forced to miss the Sydneyshow at the Oxford Arts Factory a couple weeks ago, or even if youdidn't and you just want to party with all your friends again, you'rein luck! The last stop on for the BigVillageBIG party bus is at Yours & Owls in Wollongong. Please don'tmiss this opportunity to see the whole label out in full party mode. That's 16 emcees in all kinds of wild pairings and positions. It'slike the kama sutra of hip hop. More fun than a circus big top. Just watch these clowns try to fit all 16 emcees on an itty bittystage for the last song! 
