True Hip Hop: Jeugdhuis’t Oog, Tevuren, Brussels, Belgium: 29 May 2004

Featuring... DJ’s: Dtekt (16years old), Headrush, Reck. Guest Appearances: Monk-A, Fat K(hosting), Dr Knubele, Defi J

It’s a little bit run down, but full of atmosphere and character is the only way to describe Jeugdhuis, the venue for the first True Hip Hop event, organised by DJ Reck, Headrush and Greg. A small-ish 100-150 capacity venue, split over two levels, with 1950’s record decks hanging on the wall, airplane seats and couches on the top level and sofas and chairs on the lower surrounding the dance floor. Close and intimate it all makes for a charged atmosphere when the evening’s proceedings finally get underway.

Since arriving in Belgium I’ve been astounded by how open and welcoming the Hip Hop scene here is. After the commercial Hip Hop take over of the London club scene over the last few years, it’s a god send to find myself at a jam where the emphasis is on good hip hop and positivety, instead of the latest Neptune’s club banger.

Taking it back to the glory years of the 90’s in music and atmosphere is the main aim of this event, and young D Tekt a 16 year old kid playing out for the first time certainly does just that. For a kid growing up in the 50 Cent-era he certainly knows and understands music far beyond his years. Grabbing his opportunity with both hands he has the early evening punters nodding their heads as they chill with a cold beer and check out the free DJ Reck mix CD they’ve been given on entry. Great track selection and good steady mixing makes an impressive first time set. Next on the ones and two’s is Headrush, playing everything you didn’t know you wanted to hear, it’s refreshing to say the least. He starts low and gradually builds the vibe as the crowd grows. Anyone who’s ever played a DJ set knows keeping both the heads nodding and the girls dancing is no mean feat but he manages this with some ease.

At this stage, Fat K arrives and steps into the hosting duties, working the crowd well but not over doing it, a phenomenon so common in a lot of MC’s, and before I know it it’s time for me and Dr.Knubele to step up and showcase.

Having never even met Dr.Knubele before today, I’m somewhat apprehensive of showcasing alongside him, and although it’s hard to hear sometimes, I needn’t have been worried. Dr Knubele is somewhat good at this scratching thing; I would go as far as to say he’s one of the best scratchers I’ve ever had the pleasure of cutting with. With an incredibly infectious positive attitude, we’re both grinning in a matter of seconds, which makes it easy for me to just sit back, relax and enjoy cutting alongside him. As the crowd gathers round we move through 3 or 4 programmed beats, before Reck steps up to change the tempo of the showcase up a gear.

Reck takes the ones and twos and proceeds to drop a fast succession of beats for myself and Dr Knubele to Q&A on, adding his own cuts to the Q&A on occasion. It’s one of those moments when no one talks, but everyone else knows what the other is doing. It’s probably my personal moment of the night.

After 15 minutes or so of this showcase it’s time for me to spin some tunes. I leave the good doctor ripping it up, and start to dig in my record bag. I decide to introduce Belgium to some UK hip hop, so I promptly drop, “Dedication” by Ghost, then start rolling back through my collection as the Dr steps in from time to time and adds cuts to the set when I drop instrumentals for him. Any apprehensions I may have had are quickly dispelled with Fat K, controlling the mic and the crowd. Holding the set together with just the right amount of MCing, adding to lyrics when the crowd need a bit of leading and pointing out to the crowd when a DJ is doing something other than playing a record. He adds just the right amount of personality whilst not making himself the highlight of the evening.

After me it’s Defi J’s turn on the ones & two’s, unfortunately I decide I need to grab some fresh air at this point, so head outside for a few minutes. Where, as I’ve just left a full room, I’m surprised to be greeted by about 50-60 people all taking a break from the heat of the club.

A few minutes of air and the chance to cool down with a beer over, I head back in to catch Defi J’s set. There is one word for this - superb. Defi J turns in a classic DJ set, keeping the pace going as it was but taking the crowd exactly where he wants them to go, from Shabbaz the Disciple to Medina Green, Defi J’s set has me grinning from ear to ear.

So it’s about 2.30 am when DJ Reck finally takes to the turntables, unselfishly taking what would normally be known in the UK as the graveyard shift. The last set of the evening as the crowd leaves; it’s good that he still has a busy room to play his set to. Unselfishly again, he lets a couple of kids step out of the crowd to showcase their cuts over his beats, he then gets the place ready for Fat K and Roncha to showcase their rhyming skills. Flipping from Flemish to English and back again, I’m completely blown away by their freestyles. Not understanding a word of Flemish it’s hard to tell if their flows are good or if it’s just the language barrier making it sound that way. So I’m pleased when they switch mid flow to English and then back again, and I can tell you they’re just as dope in English as they are in Flemish.

Finally the night wraps up at about 3.30-4am, all the DJ’s and organiser sit down outside to have a beer and reflect on the evening. A strong feeling of positivity abound, although tired there is an air of excitement at what we’ve all just been a part of, and everyone is already talking about and making plans for next time.

More info can be found on these websites:

True Hip Hop homepage is here.

Fat K: www.thelivest.be

Defi J: www.zulunation.be

Review by G.Forbes for Spin Science. Photos coutesy of Tru HipHop.