Large Professor // NAC - 12.12.13

Large Professor is a hugely influencial rapper and hip hop producer, responsible for discovering Nas and working with Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip amongst many other massive names in hip hop. He also was a part of Main Source, a rap crew big back in the 80s; their biggest album was 'Breaking Atoms', which is still a mightily respected classic of its genre.

He's come to lil' ole Norwich to celebrate the 9th anniversary and it's in conjunction with... wait for it... Main Source, the sneaker store in Norwich. Genius. We're in the small club room at OPEN, a great space, and first are treated to a couple hours of great DJing by members of Norwich's pretty much only-ever hip hop crew Deftex. We also have a rare bit of live rapping, by a young long haired chap called Charlie Stacks who's actually pretty good. I can't remember the last time I saw a live rapper from local parts, and his style is confident, but without actually copying any other rapper; good work.

We have to wait quite some time for Large to appear. There are what appear to be technical difficulties with his DJ's equipment. After half an hour or so the big man takes to the stage, looking rather like Geoffrey from the Fresh Prince with his glasses and long sleeved white polo shirt. He's on excellent form, trying to rouse the crowd as only rappers can, and encouraging those at the front who seemed to know every word of every track. He runs through many, many tracks, often just doing one or two verses, whether that's because he can't be arsed, or whether he wants to fits loads in, we just don't know.

He covers most of the tracks from 'Breaking Atoms' as well as lots of his stuff he did during the acid jazz era, and he shows off his beautifully natural smooth rapping style to great effect. At one point, when the DJ equipment starts to break down again, there is an unexpected joint acapella rap between Large and several members of the audience.

As usual for Norwich, he seems a bit disappointed by what he considers to be a lacklustre response; but we are all having a brilliant time. He doesn't seem to have had any water or towels provided for him, and that's a real pity as he really gives his performance his all. After an hour of non-stop, great old school hip hop, he leaves us, signing records on his way. Another good night of hip hop for Norwich.