Leeds Hip Hop Scene

Here we are again the first Monday of the month and we go down underground into the Mixing Tin, its a very quiet night tonight - I guess everyone must still be recovering from Off the Hook last night or saving their pennies for the festive period. A quick trip to the bar to score some 2 for 1 beers and we settle in to listen to resident DJ Prolific spin the wheels of steel as a few more bodies arrive. The first act on stage is G Double from DIY; a few of his tracks have been doing their rounds recently so we knew he wouldn’t disappoint - dirty, grimey and some hardcore double time rhymes roll off his tongue with the support of his fellow DIY veteran Kockee K. Although grime isn’t particularly my thing I really enjoyed this opening set - and as he kept reminding us that we need to check the myspace - www.myspace.com/leedsfinest.

As the show rolls on 2 more emcees take to the stage in the guise of Rap Conscious, made up of MC’s Speedo and Illa (originally from the Bronx), these guys have been going for 20 years and open up the set. Both MC’s have great delivery and technical ability and alot of the young kids coming through could learn alot from these two. Speedo brings us in with a song about Ethiopian children dying of starvation - this a though provoking song about politics, war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the plight of Britain today - with Illa providing back up with support and the hooks. The next two tracks allowed Speedo to showcases his other ability - his singing, he has a great voice and can hold a tune, as Illa (aka Dulla) takes over the rapping duties. By far one of my favourite songs they wrote is ”Live my life” as it rings through the sound system - the beat is old school and the hook is catchy - if you like East Coast and UK  hip hop these guys will surely interest you.

Norty takes us into the next chapter of the evening with support from J.Bravo Invizible Circle) and Illa (Rap Conscious)  for a little guy he has a big stage presence and a tight flow - we are opened with a couple of grimey  tracks and then bring things back with a couple of thought provoking tracks about his family and growing up that really draw you in. After Norty the projector comes out and the lights go down, we are treated to a showcase of some of the acts latest videos, once Menza stops trying to mess with the focus - first up is Marqus Romelle - the latest Leeds RnB sensation with his song “Now U Know” - with a cameo from Mr. Kockee K… The next video we are played is Kockee’s - ”K.O.C.K.E.E” also starring the Slickhanded boys Lanre and Tom, dressed as Vikings… you have to see it to believe it. Finally we are played the new Yorkshire Terrierz vid - “Whats ya life like?” which have had up on our myspace page for the last few days. Its a very well produced video - and we’re treated to a guest appearance in the video by guess who - Kockee - who else!!!!

373 (Mr Slinks & Gem-Boi)  take to the stage with Dogge from YT, they play some dirty beats and what should be a hit by now “Dirty Down South”.  The stage is cleared and Yorkshire Terrierz take over, they are made up of MC’s Low Key & Dogge, singer Rachel and the simple yet effective production skills of Menza.  Rachel blows the roof of the place with, “Tell Me”, her haunting voice and excellent vocal range. Terrierz rap about the grim and sometimes harsh realities on growing up and living in an inner city community yet dreaming of what could be.

The last act of the night is our host and man about town, Kockee K, he calls all the MC’s from the crowd on to the stage and they are at least a dozen strong, we have Kockee, LP and G Double (DIY), Leady, Filthy Rich, Malaki (Dr Knox), Speedo, Illa and NoMad to name but a few. The mic is passed by the MC’s one by one as we get down and dirty, however the highlight of this session had to be the powerful and decisive delivery of Filthy Rich as he tore up the stage and decimated the mic. Kockee played out the rest of his set with his fellow DIY MC’s as they ripped it up with the dirty and heavy bassline “FK wth Me”, the guy is an entertainer and you can’t help but be pulled in and be part of the set.The night is officially closed down and we all head outside - Leady had been hustling everyone for a cypher after the gig so everyone is hanging around in the cold and rain waiting for him to show, the cameras and phones come out as people film this little outdoor showcase, I’m gonna try get hold of the footage and get it on the site sometime in the next few days as Filthy Rich blew everyone out of the water. Be sure to get yourselves down to the next Urban Mondays in February as they have a break for Xmas and New Year - you can’t fail but to have a good time.

Ed

More info: www.myspace.com/urbanmondays