Leeds Hip Hop Scene

It was the last Wednesday of the month and we were back at the Elbow Room for more delights from the UK hip hop scene.

After ironing out some small problems and when the ‘really important footie match finished we were straight into RAINBOW TROUT. For those of you not fortunate enough to have caught this amazing trio I can honestly say that I feel sad for you. Not only do they kick the ass of any dribble you hear on commercial radio they play the meanest 40-minute set of original breaks and non stop may I add, they just love what they do and with that it’s an effortless live jam that has to be witnessed, you should have seen the faces of the onlookers when they started banging out the KNIGHT RIDER theme. In all honesty, they are a band that I would travel from the tip to the toe of the country to see, they are very nice people and they are the most humble musicians I have ever met.

They are gonna be rockin’ my wedding this August too, life just gets better and better every day I am alive.

Next in the mix was DJ A-UP. Due to the fact that we were up against it with the England game cuttin’ into our artists time, this man showed that with a good track selection and some tidy scratches he can rock a party, he must come back and do a longer set.

Now onto the main attraction, NO FAKIN’ DJ’s’;

It started with a purchase of their highly regarded ‘GIVE AN EXAMPLE’ mix CD, a rip the shit up party mix that I must put in a very safe protected place, after last night learning that it is no longer available. When I found out that the March edition of DIFF’RENT STROKES fell sweetly on my birthday, it was time to save a place on the back of the new DIFF’RENT STROKES t-shirts (see site shop to buy one of these limited edition pieces of fashionable apparel) for the ‘NO FAKIN’ DJ’S’. You see, I’ve played that mix CD over fifty times and not once got bored of listenin’ to it, so I thought let’s bring the best to Leeds. Their performance was that of three dj’s (FRED, ILLSON & KWINZOLA) who love playin’ their favourite music to those people willing to listen, no matter how many. From their new intro to their signature play out tune, they knocked the dust off every persons ear hair and gained so much respect for creating a big party atmosphere, we were dancing, high fivin’ and top rock jivin’ to the carefully selected music that they use as their craft. I’ve also got to give them the highest praise for dropping ‘BE EASY’ by GHOSTFACE, one of my all time favourites, as well as CHALI 2NA’s ‘COMIN’ THRU’. Well, I could go on and on naming everything they played because that’s how good they are at what they do, I could also go on and on with more reasons why you shouldn’t miss seeing them the next time they’re about town, or, if you can be arsed getting’ off your backside you could get to a show closer to their homelands, they’re frequently playing Liverpool and Manchester and they’re normally on the roster of the FAT CITY ‘FRIENDS & FAMILY’ gigs, don’t sleep on NO FAKIN’ because if you do, you’re missin’ something special, and I’m out.

Thankyou to all who played and all who stayed, it was a night to remember, and yes NO FAKIN’, we want you to play our wedding. Happy Birthday D:BO and belated to DJ ANALOGUE. A massive apology to BLESSED HOUSE who have played DIFF’RENT STROKES twice for nicksy, and due to the thousand and one things I have going on in my head at the moment have not got their mention on the new STROKES t-shirts, the next batch will have your name on there and the same goes to CRACKHOUSE RECORDINGS, peace, unity, love and having fun….

esS’