News

Mix Master Mike Hits Chibuku

• 17th Nov 2010

Silly season is in full swing at Chibuku Towers with the line-ups continuing to deliver eye-popping reactions across clubland. This show has a slight leaning towards technically proficient deck assassins, a recurring turntablist theme throughout the rooms with DJs who bring technical swagger to their crowd rocking etiquette. None more so than headliner, original Beastie Boy and scratch legend Mixmaster Mike.

There are so many ways of measuring Mike’s impact. The most glaringly obvious is to point at his stint as DJ for the Beastie Boys, at a time when that role was an integral part of any hip-hop group. Or you could look at his pioneering work within the turntablist field, how he advanced the art form resolutely alongside Peers such as Rob Swift, Q-Bert and Babu in the nineties. But above all this, beyond the fact that he made music worthy of the hip-hop hall of fame or elevated the status of DJ and turntable to musician and instrument, dude knows how to rock a party. Still on the money musically (expect to hear dubstep and drum n bass alongside old school breakbeats and nasal rap jams), his debut in the Annexe for the Chibuku Tenth Birthday back in March was a block rocking extravaganza which was arguably the set of the year. And now he’s taking centre stage in the Theatre. Hold on tight.

He’s supported by dubstep doyen Rusko. The gruff dancefloor destroyer is part of the music’s elite, his tongue in cheek titled album ‘O.M.G.’ ripping up clubs and festivals across the summer. Featuring vocal talents from Ben Westbeech, Gucci Mane and Amanda Koffman, it’s a sumptuous blend of heavy bass and a cheerier outlook than the dark strains he made his name with.

Released on Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint, it defines Rusko’s ability to look beyond the insular darkness of the music, in turn leading to production work with MIA and an ever increasing stateside profile. As dubstep continues to break more ground unsettling the mainstream, (the year’s festival smash artists Magnetic Man being a case in point), Rusko’s sonic template continues to be highly relevant. Liverpool’s premier hip hop block party rockers No Fakin’ get the funk dripping from the off.

Up in the Loft the music swings from shuddering bass workouts to rump shaking synth destroyers. Ed Banger lynchpin Busy P is in tow, a man who also laid claim to a legendary stint at the decade defining birthday alongside the rest of the French House aristocracy as part of Club 75. This time he’s going for dolo and bringing his scattershot funk with him. Expect big French sonic boom.

Joining him will be hotter than hot duo Jack Beats. The project of former DMC champions Mr Thing and Beni G (of DJ teams the Scratch Perverts and Mixologists); Jack Beats represents the pair’s love of dancefloor focused electronic music outside of the hip-hop realm. Rather than cutting up rare funk and old school hip-hop, Jack Beats focuses on rough and ready electro and techno, with the pair making productions that combine the technical prowess of turntablism with the immediacy of heart beating dance music.

Ink hosts drum and bass star Metrik. The London-based Viper Recordings artist has already made sound waves with seminal tracks including Moving On/Stranger and True Believer with ongoing support from London Elektricity, High Contrast, The Utah Saints and the Brookes Brothers, and is one of the new stars of the scene. Chibuku’s own rebel raver, Rich Furness, supports.

The Full Line-up

Chibuku
Saturday November 20th
@ The Masque, 90 Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BH
Theatre
Mixmaster Mike (Beastie Boys)
Rusko
No Fakin
Loft
Busy P (Ed Banger)
Jack Beats
James Rand
Ink
Metrik
Rich Furness
£11 NUS / £13 advance
Info – 0151 706 8045
www.chibuku.com
Tickets:
www.chibuku.com/shop
www.datatransmission.co.uk/chibuku
www.skiddle.com
TicketWeb: 08444 771 000
Ticketline: 0161 832 1111
3Beat: 0151 7093355