DJ FORMAT Nice‘n‘Sleazy. Glasgow. Sun 6 Feb
Armed with killer funk cuts and smart rhymes DJ Format has, as the likes of Chuck D might say, been taking it back - furthering hip hop‘s pre-industry, halcyon days.
Format‘s brand of warm, amiable hip hop has seen nodding heads in the 005 but would be just as at home in early 905 LA. His debut album Music for the Mature 8- Boy came correct with comic cuts and real rhymes, and cosyed up nicely between Mr Scruff and Jurassic 5 (whose mighty Chali2Na & Akil made a memorable contribution). His latest work promises a little more edge, but no less nous.
‘l'm catering for everyone that enjoyed the last album, but at the same time stimulating myself, you know - raising the bar a little,‘ claims the Brighton funkster and mature B-Boy. His second album If You Can’t Join ‘em. . . Beat ‘em affirms the sentiment that he is still doing his own thing regardless of what is receiving the plaudits in medialand and promises further chunky beats and feel- good vibes to take to the party.
‘l‘m not really into a lot of the music that other people
f» _ .- ' .'
Keith Tlppett
4%
are making these days and | feel I‘m still doing my own thing; so it summed up my attitude in a tongue in cheek way rather than a cocky way — I hope.‘
Glasgow‘s Nice‘n‘Sleazy is hosting the first of only three low key dates (the others being UK hip hop hubs Manchester and London) ahead of the crew‘s wider tour in April. The live incarnation represents ‘proper hip hop, just the way that we like to do it', namely Format on the turntables with Abdominal & D-Sisive on the mic.
‘We did toy with the idea of going down the live band route, but I just kind of felt I‘d make myself unemployed if we did that,’ concedes Format. ‘Plus that was the great thing about the shows I did with Abdominal; we just tried to create a party atmosphere - and now we‘ve brought another rapper in to expand the show.‘
D-Sisive is an old friend of Format‘s regular Torontonian collaborator and makes an appearance on Abdominal and DJ Fase‘s Flowtation Device. “I'm lucky that I’ve got someone like Abdominal, and now also D- Sisive, to represent me at the front of the stage because they are incredible live. He and Abdominal work together so well. They've got the energy of the Beastie Boys but with better lyrics.‘ (Mark Edmundson)
soonisu NATIONAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA Queen‘s Hall. Edinburgh, Fri 11 Feb; RSAMD. Glasgow. Sat 12 Feb
Vic Galloway tries to predict the future but drops his crystal ball on his foot.
I‘m a lucky man ber‘ause I'm generally sorrreorre who r-rrloyg hrs day to day work. lle\'.’e\.rer, at this time of year l always get a brt flustered. as t'ertarn (ruestrons (:ome fl‘,rrrg rn that l :arrnot possrbh answer ‘\.=Vhat's the next brg ttrrrrg';", "What are your predretrons for the year'” ete Although I'm rrr a pr'rr.»rleg.jed posrtrorr to hear rrrusrr: upfront. I'm no soothsayer and have absolutely no rdea who or what rrray eapture the rmagrnatron of the rratron. or rrrdeed the world. over the next 1;)months. l rrrean. who'd have rmagrned four lads from Glasgow narrred after an Austro—l-lungarran Archduke would straddle the globe? It's ltl(2(} to thrrrk everyone knew rt would happen but. let's be honest: rt's been a pleasant shock to us all. not least the band themselves.
As ever. rt's a guestrorr of gettrrrg out and about on the lrve (:rr(;url, seeing what goes down well rn (:Iubs. Irstenrng to good radro. talkrng to musrr: lovers and devourrrrg piles of new releases and derrros. It's fantastrr; when sorrrethrng you (;lrrrmpr0n becorrres popular brrt I'm not really one for fads. ‘ashrons and flavours of the month. I prefer to stand by what I lrke and get laughed at —— usually what happens. to be honest. If I hear a good band. rn wl'ratever style. and people say they're passe ~ well. rt serrnds good to me! That was the way of the ‘Peel' and he. of course. was the man.
So here rt rs — 2005 erl he "Year of the Freak' W. when oddballs of all shapes and srzes will emerge from the :‘wamps and reclarnr their rrghtful. Off-krlter thrones. Whether rt be the Arcade Fire. the Fence Collective, Mystery Jets. the (So! Team or Uncle John 8 Whrtelock. strange rs the new normal! Roystorr Vasey rs the new Beverly Hills!
Vic Galloway presents BBC Rad/o Scotland's Arr. Mon 8. ()5- 700m and BBC Rad/O 7. Thu 7. 30—9.00pm.
'r-z, THE LIST 67