Redtape Renegades 'Sound the Horns' Tour @ Revovler, Melbourne (15/03/08)
Arriving at Revolver in time for Purpose and Motive, who were holding it down with their ‘Radelaide’ accents, they demonstrated themselves to be a talented pair of lads. Purpose is a seasoned battle rapper who’s coming through with some tough and tight insightful rhymes, and after catching them both before I’m suitably impressed with the consistency and synchronicity through which these guys hold it together. While I kind of get the feeling there’s a little more they have to offer, and they need to push the limit just a little more to stand out from the crowd, with time I expect big things.
Optimen and Pure Product are two most very excellent Brisbane crews. I would have liked to have seen more people out there supporting the acts that make such a long trek to play such insanely dope, but what can you do. There was still a large enough crowd, and everyone was having a good time with killer sets all round. It’s hard to talk Brisbane hip hop without making a special mention of DJ Butcher, because he’s most definitely a quiet force to be reckoned with (although not really that quiet because he brings the loud large beats with the killer bass to the table). Butcher is the kind of DJ who makes it all look effortless, like it’s second nature for him, and he’s also an exceptional producer, providing beats for a range of outfits.
In fact, I’ve seen so much high quality hip hop come out of Brisbane, it really brings the goods, and also doesn’t talk it up, just straight brings it. I think Melbourne can get a little complacent at times: it’s almost like an over saturation of hip hop goodness every weekend, where as gigs are a little more few and far between. And speaking of quality Brisbane hip hop, it was certainly nice to catch Balboa playing live together with Anonymouz, who both weaved an intense set with the beats dropping just right along with a heavy dose of astute and absorbing rhymes. The kind of hip hop these guys have to offer is already world class: Balboa is truly a gifted kid with a quick wit who seems like he has a lot going on in his head, with a tendency to rip microphones to shreds. It’s good to see MCs that push the limit and can switch it up with ease, from bangin’ crowd pleasing rhymes to poetry-style soliloquies.
Balboa also got an air of reluctance at being thrust into the lime light, coming across as an over thinker with an affinity for pad and pen. It makes you want to tell him that it’s OK, just do what you do. Some people are just born to do certain things, and Balboa was born to make great hip hop. On the other hand, Anonymouz is the more animated of the two when they’re onstage together, but they have an amazing connection, with the timing being precise and just right every single time.
In regards to the actual Redtape Renegades as an act, I must confess, it becomes a little confusing as to which MCs are involved, as it seems the stage gets filled with basically all the acts on the bill! So Redtape Renegades seems to me to be a family of sorts, a crew of crews of some of Brisbane’s finest. It’s a group, a label, it’s an entertainment business: and I for one was certainly more than entertained.
