Pharoahe Monche // NAC - 24.02.14
Norwich, get the fuck up
The Arts Centre have been blessing us with some pretty wicked hip hop acts over the years, and now they add international rap superstar Pharoahe Monch to their list. The place is sold out and packed out, as it always is for hip hop, and there's a very excited atmosphere.
Ill Inspired and Crome, ex of Norwich hip hop crew Deftex, along with DJ Plus One, entertain the quickly growing crowd by playing not only some great hip hop classics but also doing some live MCing. It just shows the average age of the audience when it's revealed they haven't had much time to practice as Crome has had a baby recently… we're all getting on a bit! They are the only MCs I know who can include the words John Peel and Ultramagnetic MCs in the same sentence, and with a great deal of speed, aplomb and style. They really seem to be getting tighter and tighter and a comeback is definitely on the cards.
Pharoahe appears on stage with a truly magnificent beard and army jacket, looking fly. He's definitely on the ball, and has a lot of energy despite this being the last night on their current tour. The DJ is spectacularly good, scratching and mixing in the Proper Old Skool Way; I haven't seen anyone beat match or even mix right for many many years now and it is duly appreciated by the crowd.
Monch is a rapper who has a lot in his heart, and a desire to create equality, peace and freedom, but he doesn't come across as schmultzy or insincere. He just seems like an intelligent and nice guy. He seems to have had some trouble with his record labels in the past so has now recorded a new album by himself… it's called 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder'. He bounds about onstage for over an hour, mesmerising the crowd, many of whom seem to know the lyrics to every track. He really involves the crowd, talking to them between every song and there's a bit of call and response. He plays tracks from all through his career, including his latest song 'Bad Motherfucker', as well as from his most recent album 'War'.
As a finale we hear the rousing first few trumpet blasts of 'Simon Says', his most famous track, and the place goes crazy. We are much excited. To his credit he doesn't appear very bored to be doing this song for the millionth time! There are a couple of stage invasions during this last song, and a security guard (a kind and lovely looking middle-aged lady) is dispatched to the stage. The DJ slow dances with her, which she and the audience love! I guess they have different looking security guards in New York...
Monch informs us the party will continue in Kartel, but we have work in the morning so forndly bid him farewell. He really is a proper rap superstar.
