Pharoahe Monche: Live Review

PHAROAHE MONCH, @PEACE, NTSC
Oxford Art Factory
Saturday April 13

Walking into the Oxford Art Factory to hear Ann Peebles’ ‘Somebody’s On Your Case’ played next to Bobby Womack’s ‘The Bravest Man In The Universe’ gave me the feeling that it was going to be a good night. It was. New York MC Pharoahe Monch held nothing back as he delivered a high-energy set that had the whole venue offering a middle finger salute to the police.

VJ duo NTSC warmed up first and provided a good selection of hip hop with entertaining videos such as the blaxploitation parody of DJ Nu-Mark’s ‘Dumpin Em All’ and ended their slot by inviting Sydney-based artist P Smurf to rhyme over his own video. New Zealand crew @Peace certainly won some new fans with their jazzy second-billed slot. The spirit of Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock filled the room as the two MCs rapped about weed, love and improving the world. Standard topics, tackled with style – the band deserved their encore.

“How many motherfuckers like lyrics?!” We all do, Monch, and we could hear them all as he ran through ‘Assassins’, the LL Cool J-sampling ‘Damage’ and ‘What It Is’, delivering every intense syllable as clear as day. Many of his rhymes deplore violence and spit in the face of authority so I found it an irony that his white v-neck T was adorned with military-style epaulettes and that a dog-tag hung around his neck. DJ Boogie Blind of The X-Ecutioners provided an interlude of double-copy brilliance and dropped crowd-pleasing excerpts of ‘Sound Of Da Police’ and ‘Fuck Tha Police’ as Monch urged police brutality to stop and asked us to clap to ‘Clap (One Day)’ in protest. I’m not sure many present had experienced questionable run-ins with the law but with Monch orchestrating passionately it was powerful nonetheless.

Hip hop’s ubiquitous bomb drop welcomed crossover hit ‘Oh No!’ with an excited crowd taking on Nate Dogg’s chorus duties, before a near riot ensued with the opening Godzilla sample of monster ‘Simon Says’. The last verse of encore song ‘The Light’ was delivered over Michael Jackson’s ‘Butterflies’ as lighters were held aloft. It was the classic rap show, overseen by one of the masters.

Article published in The Brag, 22nd April 2013
Photo by Jeffrey Lowy