Leeds Hip Hop Scene

Roots to future Music is fast becoming a well established, and respected night in the Leeds hip hop calendar. Its roots (pardon the pun) were formed in the basement of the Atrium earlier this summer. The first night was a blend of DJ sets generously laced with conscious, funky, and overall indelible hip hop. This was followed up by an open mic, giving opportunities for some local mc’s to showcase their talents. Finally the audience were treated to some D’n'B to cap the opening night off. All in all it was from memory a great night only slightly being let down by the cramped feeling of the venue.

Last month’s roots to future music found itself in a new home, in the form of the Northern Light venue, near Leeds city centre. This venue reflects the evolution of the roots to future music night, boasting a bigger area (2 rooms) and a much-improved sound system (props for last months towers of bass quivering power).

The jewel in the crown for RTFM has been getting headline act Foreign Beggars to perform this past week. The gig was supported by an array of local talent, the first to hit the stage were local mc’s The Watchmen, consisting of Matter, No*Mad, and Undisclosed. After a shaky start due to mic problems they quickly warmed up the crowd with an assortment of syllable splitting verses over some well chosen RZA and J-Dilla beats. A definite highpoint was hearing Undisclosed and Matter spitting their track “Too Much To Ask” over a beat produced by the renowned Ghosttown. As well as No*Mad and Matters breath diminishing acapella’s echoing out clear expressions of social discontent.

Next up were resident mc’s Chief Wiggum and hype master and host I.N.C. supported by DJ Medison. I’ve been a fan these guys for a while now and they never disappoint with their skintight rhymes and magnanimous ability to draw in the crowd. “Don’t Believe You” produced by the mighty Eliphino, proved a popular anthem with it’s titled chorus being called out from the crowd. Live and Learn, produced by Dashiel, and Rainy Days, produced by Medison, also went down very well.

The back room provided the balanced need for a quick skank. DJ’s seemed to keep a solid audience throughout the night. Though I didn’t spend much time in there, what heard was solid mix of slightly abstract D&B, Jungle and Dub Step. Also big up to the toilet soldiers freestyling in the mens room.

Back to the main Room and the anticipation was built by resident dj’s dropping classics cuts such as, “murda” and “witness the fitness” to name a few. Following this, the crowd rushed to the front, as the Foreign Beggars stormed the stage. Notably without the presence of Shlomo, but that was soon remedied by an awesome display of microphone rupturing mouth percussion, by “Northern Beatbox Champion 2006″ Foz. The dynamism was then continued with Foreign Beggars dropping tracks from both “Asylum Speakers” and “Let Go”.

Prominent highlights were “Cryin Shame” taken from recent release “Let Go”, and Orifice Vulgatron’s astounding multi-syllabic flow, which never failed to impress. The show was drawn to a close with a surprising twist in the form of the final track being “Killing In The Name” by American pioneers Rage Against The Machine. Which was instantly consumed by the crowd, and brought a newfound energy to the night.

We here at LHHS have really enjoyed our last few months out with Roots to Future Music and see it having a very bright future (again pardon the pun) here in Leeds.

Ed