Top Billin' returned for yet hip hop show that keeps it very much real. This time the legend
Genesis Elijah travelled down to bless the mic, and didn't disappoint!
But lets put this in context. Your author has just returned from Outlook festival, Croatia, where audiences were graced with 1st class hip-hop, both classic and US, from new to UK. So it came as a pleasant surprise to see the standard remain high on my return to the PL city.
After a nice warm up from the residents and mingling at the bar, an intimate but bussling crowd were treated to some live beat production from Exeters
Chronic Youth. Bigs shouts to them and the posse they brought with. With Scribes and all round Plymouth hiphop stalwart
Lacey hosting and mc'ing the set, it was genuine hip-hop, rough round the edges but with real head nod bop. Technicals gave way to some tight beatbox skits, and shouts to 'Stark', the random Polish beatboxer who made it a battle. And some brief bars from
Sleaze shows the Top Billin' don still got the swagger and more.
Next up were
Synchromystics, and this was a real treat. I have seen members of this new Plymouth group build up they skills and find direction over the years, and it is great to see the work put in manifest into a polished set. The beats are dark and snappy, the lyrical content deep and intelligent and the mc's delivery topped only by energy the 4 guys put out. You can see how hyped they are at each others lyrics as they pace the stage waiting for turn to spit. A great 'cypher' feel, but with a distinct impression that these guys now know what they want to achieve. Accapella performances from
RIZ and
Obadiah amongst others show the confidence of holding down stages. In the same vein as acts such as M9 and Cyrus Malichi, Synchromystics are worth keeping an eye on. Watch out for
MasterStatus on cuts duty on the new album soon!
On to the headline act -
Gen! With the crowd a little thinner than you would hope for a UK heavyweight, but enough to create the right atmosphere, upon hitting the stage you know your dealing with a pro. The command on the mic was noticeable, and as soon as the first bars drop, its like 'oh yea, its Gen, he's doooope!'. Tunes were head-nod hop to start, moving to a grime/double time section that got the small crowd hyped up. The boundary of White Rabbits high stage proved a barrier, so Gen did the final half of his set in the crowd at ground level.This was a touch, and made for a more imitate and personal performance. The accapella to round off the set was sick, look out for the
vid of that on the Top Billin' channel soon.
A chance to show-and-prove in typical Top Billin' fashion was there in the final open-mic section of the night.
So a very successful Top Billin' show, especially for summer time in this student city. A great start to a fresh season of HipHop at your one stop shop - remember, keep it Top Billin' and spread the word!
