Eclectic rap duo Slum Village filled the Belgrave Music Hall with their memorable beats and melodies on the 12th of February.
It was evident that the audience were in for a special night when Leeds-own sixteen-piece jazz brass band Abstract Orchestra delivered their inspired, smooth melodies over hip-hop drum beats. The band have toured with world-class artists from the likes of Amy Winehouse to Jamiroquai and have created full length albums of instrumentals covering artists Madvillianally and former Slum Village member J Dilla. The result of their opening was a palpable energy within the room that set the stage for the main act perfectly.
After a brief interval filled by Slum Village’s own DJ playing well-known tracks, Young Rj and T3 sauntered on stage to vast cheers. The act originated in the 1990s, in which T3 formed a third of a rap trio, also consisting of (now passed away) rappers J Dilla and Baatin. The low-slung, 90s origins are still evident in the music that Slum Village produce today, and the tribute to J-Dilla on what would have been the week of his 45th birthday made this tour extra special.
Throughout the gig the pair bounced off each other masterfully. There was not a member of the audience that could resist moving to the beats that blared from the overhead speakers- whether it be head-nods of full body moves. There was no hand that was not in the air to the melodic ‘Fall in Love’, as the audience repeated the chorus back to the pair whenever they pointed their mics our way. It was above all a communal experience. The duo brought a vigour that is not always easy to come by in small-scale concerts, and they succeeded in making it feel like the night was part of something culturally much bigger.
Perhaps the most satisfying moment of the evening was Abstract Orchestra gracing the stage with their presence once again to accompany Slum Village for the final two tracks. Abstract’s Anna Uluru provided the soulful vocals to accompany the brass band, and this coupled with Slum Village’s rap bars produced a powerful end to the gig- and an evening that will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Kate Wassell