Critically acclaimed producer, TEEBS, who has released two major albums containing lush, sophisticated instrumentals, is making his debut in Hong Kong on Friday, January 20th. The contemporary, almost experimental music borders on Trip Hop, without any of the cliches.

The tools of choice for today’s musicians and composers are often samplers and sequencers found on a laptop computer. With the equipment to make music now more accessible than ever before, artists have become more free to experiment and develop unique sounds. The rigid categories that were once strictly enforced in music, have fallen away, leading to genre defying experimentation. The Brainfeeder label, home to TEEBS, as well as Flying Lotus and Samiyam, is a bastion of this sort of boundary pushing sound.

TEEBS has produced two well received albums, Ardour and Collections, both of which are musically rich, loaded with ambient sounds and containing downtempo, somewhat abstract instrumentals.

For a quick taste, have a listen to the song “Why Like This” off of his debut album Ardour.

On Friday night, expect to hear live remixes of songs from TEEBS previous albums, as well as some new, unreleased tracks from him and his Brainfeeder label mates. Also on the menu are sets from notable Hong Kong based DJs: Yao, K-Melo, Kid Fresh and Enso.

Recommended!

TEEBS
January 20th, 2012
plus DJs Yao, K-Melo, Kid Fresh, Enso and Casey
212 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan (at far edge near Sai Ying Pun)
XXX (remember, XXX is bring your own beer!)
$150 HKD

Doors open at 10:30pm

As Dubstep continues to gain traction on international dancefloors (and even begins to influence Pop music,) Skream and Benga, two pioneers who helped shape the genre, will be playing at FLY on Saturday, January 14th.

Only in their mid-twenties, both Skream and Benga have been active producer / artist / DJs, for over ten years. Skream is particularly in demand as a remixer, and his touch can be heard on numerous indie and underground dance hits.

The duo have put out a large body of music, both collaborating with each other and on their own.

Here’s Skream’s remix of Cassius – I Love You So. (It’s got a certain 90′s ‘Bizarre Inc. – Playing with Knives’ quality to it!)

Preferring the term U.K. Bass, rather than Dubstep, Skream and Benga are guaranteed to provide an education in the genre on Saturday night. For this style of music there aren’t two more influential djs you could hope to hear.

Highly recommended!

Skream and Benga
Saturday, January 14th, 2012
FLY
G/F, 24-30 Ice House Street
Central, Hong Kong

$150 HKD before 11:30, includes one standard drink
$200 HKD after 11:30, includes one standard drink

If you want to celebrate the new year and escape from the masses gathered in Lan Kwai Fong, Times Square, and Tsim Sha Tsui, head to XXX. The special New Year’s Eve party is a four-DJ Dancehall Reggae extravaganza.

Located in an obscure basement in Sheung Wan, XXX is far away from Hong Kong’s commercial nightlife, both physically and mentally.

Descend the steps and enter a world of underground music. There’s no table service, no Top 40, and no police barricades. Instead you’ll find experienced d.j.s and a crowd of friendly, open minded people grooving to music they’ve often never heard before.

Plus, XXX is B.Y.O.B., which means bring your own beer (or bottle of alcohol!) It’s almost like having a house party without having to clean up!

Recommended!

Future Dancehall feat. DJs Mafio, Enso, Blooddunza, and Yao
Saturday, December 31st, 2011
XXX
212 Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

$150 HKD cover charge
* Bring your own drinks! *

Experience a little bit of Jamaica this Christmas Eve, as True Skool, organizers of the popular rooftop Reggae parties, celebrate their second anniversary. As a special Christmas present to Hong Kong, they are featuring not one, but two major selectors – DJ Shabaga from Switzerland’s T.I. Sound, and DJ Man Logik from Lion Scratch in France.

Once again, on December 24th, they will taking over Central’s Pier 7 (above Star Ferry,) for a night of soulful Hip Hop and Reggae sounds. You can expect a fun, holiday vibe with the two international Reggae soundsystems keeping things hot!

(The DJ booth will be set up inside, though guests will have access to the rooftop throughout the night.)

Recommended!

True Skool Hong Kong 2nd Anniversary
Saturday, December 24th, 2011
Featuring DJ Shabaga, DJ Man Logik, supported by DJ Steffun, DJ NYC, DJ Blood Dunza
Rooftop, Pier 7 (Star Ferry)
Central, Hong Kong
from 10pm til late
$150HKD includes one drink, $250HKD after midnight

December at Cubic is packed with big names in popular Hip Hop and R&B. Macau’s high-end nightspot has transcended being the city’s top club and has become a regional powerhouse as a music venue.

In less than a year, Cubic has hosted acts that shape dancefloors worldwide including: Flo Rida, Lil’ Jon, Nelly, Ying Yang Twins, T-Pain, and Three 6 Mafia, to name just a few.

In December they will feature Chingy on the 7th, Fat Joe on the 10th, and Fabolous on the 17th.

Check out Cubic’s website for more details.

Read more about Cubic’s opening here.

Recommended!

Cubic
Level 2, The Boulevard
City of Dreams
Estrada do Istmo
Cotai, Macau
(Next to the Hard Rock Hotel)

Chingy


Fat Joe

Fabolous

It was technically Thursday morning when Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre took the stage at Dragon-i. The two Hip Hop legends had never before performed in Hong Kong, and judging from the turnout, an appearance was long overdue.

Dragon-i on Wednesday night was not a good place for claustrophobics. Despite the $1200 HKD cover charge, the club was packed literally body-to-body, with people leaning up against strangers. Those who had contemplated dancing, quickly gave up, as there was barely enough room to wiggle.

Most of the people jammed into the club had waited for over two hours for the stars to come on. The smart ones didn’t move for fear of losing their position. At a certain point in the night it was impossible to move in or out, and the wait staff risked injury just trying to make their way to tables.

After numerous false starts, Snoop finally appeared with his signature sneer and Southern California drawl.

Wielding a blinged-out ‘Snoop Dogg’ microphone, the veteran performer went through several songs, aided by two members of the Dogg Pound. Dr. Dre soon joined Snoop on stage and Dragon-i erupted.

The duo went into a long set that included several classics as well as popular newer songs. It’s impressive to count just how many hits they’ve been part of.

Half the club seemed to have their phones in the air taking photos and video during the performance. Hong Kong Hustle joined them!

Here’s Snoop and a member of the Dogg Pound…

The show was yet another memorable night in the long history of Dragon-i. Over the years, the club has consistently raised the standards of Hong Kong nightlife and brought big names to the city for the very first time. Happy Anniversary Dragon-i!

For years Hong Kong’s high-end nightlife has been clustered together in Central, with very few destinations outside the neighborhood able to attract a similar clientele. Later this month however, The Tonno, a massive new entertainment complex occupying 35,000 square feet, will be opening in Wanchai. Is the city’s nightlife about to change?

In many circles, Wanchai has a stigma of being somewhat down-market, mainly due to the large number of go-go bars popular with visiting foreigners and expats. Aside from the go-go bars, the majority of establishments in Wanchai are pubs, sports bars, and cover-band venues. Although there are a few exceptions, Wanchai is not a destination known for sophisticated Chinese nightlife.

The Tonno is looking to change that perception and bring a local and international Chinese crowd to Wanchai. The complex is designed with an interesting mixture of Wanchai standards (for example the casual bar and live music venue,) as well as special features tailored to attract a new, mixed, cosmopolitan crowd.

The two big questions are whether The Tonno can lure spenders to Wanchai from Central’s more affluent, Chinese scene, and whether a something-for-everyone approach will work.

Advantages of The Tonno

One advantage The Tonno has is being new. Partygoers in Hong Kong often seek to go to the newest place in town – at least at first. A second positive factor is that The Tonno offers multiple draws for a night out. Partygoers can jump from the casual bar to the restaurant, and then proceed to the live music room, club, or karaoke afterwords. Exploring a club-within-a-club allows people to circulate and check out multiple attractions all within the same venue. (Think Zouk.)

The inclusion of a state-of-the art, high-end karaoke, as well as a late night Shanghainese restaurant, are two ingredients that could help attract a Hong Kong Chinese following. A splashy new karaoke with thirty-one rooms is itself a sizable attraction, and may be enough to draw an up-market crowd away from CEO karaoke in nearby Causeway Bay.

Fitting the local nightlife culture

Up-market partying in Hong Kong is often a progression that entails moving from one place to another during the night. Starting out with casual drinks at a restaurant or bar, moving on to multiple clubs, and then on to a late night snack or karaoke, is the norm. The Tonno is the only place in town that can offer this entire experience all under one roof.

A project of this scale would not stand a chance of success without extensive ties to Hong Kong’s social scene. Director of the project is nightlife veteran Jackson Ng, who was a co-founder of G-Spot Productions along with Gilbert Yeung and Gordon Lam. Jackson has decades of local connections and a know-how that will be essential in getting a project like this off the ground.

Opening soon!

The Tonno
5 Tonnochy Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
(At the intersection of Jaffe Road and Tonnochy Road)

Putting on the final touches!

For the second time, local promoters True Skool and Heavy unite to bring you DJ Man Logik, a top Reggae DJ from France. Don’t miss the opportunity to party outdoors to old school Hip Hop and Reggae Dancehall with an amazing view of Central’s skyline.

True Skool parties have a fun, friendly vibe with great music and discounted drinks!

Recommended!

DJ ManLogik of Lion Scratch Sound System
Supported by DJ NYC and DJ Bloodunza
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Pier 7 Bar and Cafe
Rooftop of Pier 7 (Above Star Ferry, and Watermark restaurant.)

From 10pm til late!
$120 HKD includes one drink (before midnight)
$150 HKD includes one drink (after midnight)

Take the elevator and hit ‘R’ for rooftop!

Cubic, Macau’s super-club, continues its series of high-profile concerts this Saturday, bringing R&B star Nelly, along with rapper Paul Wall. Nelly is famous for hit songs such as “Hot in Herre” and “Ride With Me, ” among others.

Those of you who have attended a show at Cubic know that it’s one of the best concert venues in the region, with a large stage that provides partygoers close proximity to the performers. Unlike other venues, at Cubic, the stars often jump deep into the crowd to perform.

Have a look at Hong Kong Hustle’s photos from Cubic’s opening night featuring Flo Rida, to see just how close you can get!

Cubic has featured some of the biggest names in contemporary Hip-Pop and R&B including Lil’ Jon, Flo Rida, and the Ying Yang Twins, to name a few. If you haven’t been to Cubic before, it’s a sprawling, multi-floor, multi-room club located on the second level of the City of Dreams complex. In terms of size and layout, nothing in Hong Kong can compare. Check out the website of Cubic for more information.

Here are two of Nelly’s biggest hits:

Nelly – “Ride Wit Me”

Nelly – “Hot In Herre”

Nelly in concert, feat. Paul Wall, and DJ Derrick Anthony
Saturday, October 29th, 2011
Cubic
Level 2, The Boulevard, City of Dreams
Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau

Entrance fee: $600 HKD / MOP

For tickets and details call: +853 6638-4999 or +853 8868-3333

I was out of town the first time Boys Noize performed in Hong Kong. To this very day people are still talking about his set… and that was three years ago!

Well, Boys Noize is finally back on Saturday, October 22nd at Volar. The superstar electronic music producer and DJ is known for his high-energy sets that feature live remixes of his many dancefloor hits. This isn’t going to be a boring show.

For more info, check out Boys Noize official site, or our previous post about him.

Highly recommended!

Boys Noize
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011
Volar
34-38 D’Aguilar Street (Lan Kwai Fong)
Central, Hong Kong

$400 HKD includes two drinks, free for Volar members