Last month’s Annie Who fashion show featured the human beat box Butterscotch as the night’s entertainment. A quick definition of a human beat box is someone who uses their mouth as a musical instrument. Beat boxes emerged during the early days of Hip Hop music and have remained something of a novelty.

Skilled beat boxers often wow crowds by making unbelievable sounds and can recreate entire songs using just their mouth. The best can convincingly mimic instruments and sing vocals at the same time!

Butterscotch gained mainstream notoriety a few years ago after performing on the TV show “America’s Got Talent.” I happened to be in a good spot during her recent Hong Kong appearance and captured it. But while watching the performance, something about her routine seemed oddly familiar.

In its first decade, Hip Hop music was all about creativity. People strove to invent new routines and the music was exciting as it constantly evolved. Originality was key in differentiating yourself and being successful.

Being unique was so highly prized in those days that people who copied an individual’s style were looked down upon and called ‘biters’. No one would dare do the same routine as another artist.

During Butterscotch’s performance, she launched into a routine that included a rendition of Donna Summer’s hit “Love to Love You Baby”. This immediately struck me as strange since on a previous occasion years ago, beat box Killa Kela also performed the same song in Hong Kong.

Beatbox Killa Kela in a show from 2006

There are so few beat boxers out there who achieve mainstream success (and large public performances,) that it’s bizarre to have them performing the same song. They must know of each others routines through competitions, DVDs and Youtube.

Having two famous beat boxers perform the same song isn’t the same thing as two d.j.s playing the same song. In a performance, a beat box will only do a handful of choice cuts. Out of all the music out there, why should two beat boxers perform the same exact song?

Human beat boxers are still a novelty for most people, and it’s bad show business that two of the more visible ones would go over the same material. Hearing the same song repeated by two different artists detracts from the wow factor of the performance. It comes across as unoriginal. Perhaps it was just a coincidence and they both developed a routine around Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You Baby,” but there are endless songs out there and one of them should have the smarts and versatility to perform something new.

In what promises to be an exciting show as well as a good look at contemporary Chinese Hip Hop, the Fringe Club hosts ‘Beat In Vision Vol.3′ on Saturday, May 22nd.

Organized by top street wear clothing store Loading, and local Hip Hop crew the Justice League, the night features Dumdue, one of the most talented Hip Hop groups to emerge from China.

Though I haven’t heard any of their newer music, just hearing Dumdue’s beats from five years ago is enough to make me want to check them out. During that period, their music was composed of catchy-yet-complex multi-layered beats. It’s a kind of sophisticated, jazzy Hip Hop, that’s far more advanced than anything I’ve heard in Hong Kong.

Fans of Hip Hop before the Bling era will feel right at home. Check out their video below, (and keep in mind that this track is around six years old!)

In addition to Dumdue, also performing on Saturday are the local duo, the Justice League. Made up of group members Mastamic and Big Sammy, we’ve mentioned them before here, when talking about promising new Hip Hop talent.

This is the third event in a series of events organized by Loading to help promote the local Hip Hop scene.

Recommended!

Loading… & Justice League present: Beat In Vision Vol.3 featuring Dumdue
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Fringe Club
2 Lower Albert Road (just above Lan Kwai Fong, near Wyndham Street.)
Central, Hong Kong
From 9.00pm- 12.00am
Ticket price: HK$100 (advance) / HK$125 (on the day,) both include one standard drink!
Tickets available direct from the Fringe Club.

Six years and many tattoos later, L.M.F. are back! Since the group disbanded in 2003, there hasn’t been another band to shake up the Cantopop machine in quite the same way.

LMF, with their street slang and uncut language, offered a sharp rebuke to the squeaky-clean, manufactured idol scene where singers are chosen more for their looks rather than their musical ability. With their debut in 1998, LMF by contrast, were raw, unpolished and an immediate sensation.

The group started out as more of a side project for musical talents of different tastes and ended up striking a chord with music fans. The band members hailed from other groups whose backgrounds included Rock, Metal and Hip Hop. Together, united in their marginalized status within the music industry, they formed a unique, hype-worthy group.

Though many people regard them as a Hip Hop group, to me they were always a Rock/Hip Hop hybrid. Their instrumentals were always on the alternative Rock side, while the lyrical delivery owed more to Hip Hop. Either way, they were an exciting group, especially live.

I caught them in concert once in the Hong Kong Exhibition Center in Wanchai. It was an amazing show!

Luckily, after all these years the group has reunited and is performing a special concert in Hong Kong on January 2nd. (They just performed in Singapore on December 6th.)

The Hong Kong concert is bound to be a classic with many special appearances. For more info on LMF, have a look at the documentary film (with English subtitles) titled “Dare Ya”.

Also check out their brand new song “Liberty”!

To this day I’m angry because someone swiped my copy of LMF’s first CD from my office many many years ago. It featured artwork by Michael Lau – another Hong Kong classic!

Recommended!

LMF – The Wild Lazy Tour 2, Hong Kong
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
8:30pm
3/F, Hi-Tec ‘Star Hall’, 1 Trademart Drive
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon

Tickets are going for $480 and $280HKD.

For more information go to the LMF website.

The upcoming “Beat in Vision” show at The Fringe Club on Saturday night promises a little something for everyone. At the top of the bill is Critical, an accomplished M.C. from Sweden who is active in the European Hip Hop scene. Second in line is The Justice League comprised of MastaMic and Big Sammy, two promising talents in Hong Kong’s Hip Hop underground. D.J. Tinho, the 2007 Hong Kong DMC champion will also be lending his support.

As if that wasn’t enough, the flier also mentions the inclusion of Ninemo, an indie Electro-Rock band, and Feel of All, a Hong Kong Punk band. That’s an awful lot of music for a $100 HKD cover charge that includes one beer!

The event kicks off at The Fringe club, a Hong Kong institution for art and music shows. The building itself is an attraction as one of the few older colonial structures left standing. It also features a classic rooftop bar.

The fact that it’s a relatively small venue means that this could be a fun, interactive show. At the very least, with so many different genres of music, it should make for good people watching!

MastaMic of the Justice League was a person of interest in our story about Hong Kong Hip Hop a few months ago. His skills appear to be top notch. I like how these guys have used the Internet to promote their upcoming show. Check out the short promo video they’ve made below:

Beat In Vision (featuring Critical, The Justice League (MastaMic and Big Sammy,) DJ Tinho, Ninemo, and Feel of All)
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
10pm to 1:30am
The Fringe Club
2 Lower Albert Road (just above Lan Kwai Fong, near Wyndham Street)
Central, Hong Kong

$100 HKD (advance-sale) from the Fringe Club, $125 at the door includes one beer

Three Hong Kong Hip Hop crews: SangFan, 85UP2, and Rhyme Flow Army will be performing at a launch for new-school headphone brand Aerial 7 this Sunday. The event is free and takes place at Loading, one of the city’s better street-wear stores, located in Tsim Sha Tsui.

For those who were curious after reading our recent Hong Kong Hip Hop History post, now’s your chance to check out what’s happening in local Hip Hop live!

Loading recently relocated to 45 Granville Road, which is in the middle of the block, on the opposite side of the street from Gi Mall. The event goes from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Check out the first event we covered at Loading featuring live painting by artist Anna Fredriksson.

Aerial 7 launch featuring: SangFan, 85UP2, and Rhyme Flow Army
Sunday, September 6, 2009
6:30-8:30 pm
Loading
1/F, 45 Granville Road (across the street from the Gi Mall)
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Free!

An email a few months back got me thinking about the local Hip Hop scene. To this day, people are still curious what Hong Kong Hip Hop is like.

For a dense urban landscape similar to New York, you’d think that Hip Hop would be a natural fit. However, with some exceptions included below, Hong Kong seems to have a grasp of the swagger, but not the soul of the music.

Thirty years ago, Hip Hop emerged from the cracked sidewalks of New York City in an urban renaissance that continues to shape contemporary music, art, dance and fashion.

As it spread around the world, Hip Hop music was adapted and localized in different countries. Hong Kong was no exception. Local kids began honing their skills on the turntables, while others began rapping in Cantonese.

The very nature of Hong Kong, a transient city where people are constantly in flux means that it must have been exposed to Hip Hop music early on. In addition to a large expatriate community, Hong Kong has a massive number of international Chinese who frequently travel to major cities around the world. Under these circumstances it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact date when the music first surfaced in the city.

As something of a Hip Hop purist myself, what I look for when I think of a legitimate Hip Hop scene is whether there’s an organic group of people making music that reflects their thoughts. I’m not talking about carpet-baggers that spend part of their time in the U.S. and then come over to Asia and imitate rap-stars, I’m talking about people who have often never left, but have the hunger, passion and determination to try to understand the music, and create something true to the art form. You can find this sort of honest movement in places like France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and China.

Has Hong Kong ever truly understood Hip Hop?

Nowadays what most people refer to as “Hip Hop,” is actually Pop music or commercial R&B. While there is a small underground scene in Hong Kong, it continues to limp forward without making much progress.

For anyone interested in more information, I’ve put together a collection of videos that cover part of the history of Hip Hop music in Hong Kong. This isn’t a complete list of everyone in town, but it does cover an assortment. Please feel free to leave links in the comments if you have other people to include.

BFD

The most interesting video to me is a documentary about BFD, a (now defunct) skateshop in Tsim Sha Tsui. For a time, this shop seems to have formed the nucleus of urban street culture in the city. Watching the video you can see it was a real muti-cultural lot of local kids who helped launch skateboarding (in addition to street wear trends,) in Hong Kong.

This same shop, opened in 1991, by Tabo Kagaya and Warren Stuart, went on to have a major influence not only on sport and fashion, but also on music and entertainment. Some of the names you’ll hear about include Sam Lee, Jan Lamb, Eric Kot, D.J. Tommy and Daryll Griggs. It’s very well done and does a good job of chronicling a forgotten part of H.K.’s history. Worth a watch even without English subtitles.

Check it out here!

D.J. Tommy

Hong Kong’s first blip on the international Hip Hop radar came in 1996 courtesy of D.J. Tommy. Tommy competed in the DMC DJ championships and eventually placed number 2 in the world! Have a look at the stiff competition he faced and catch a glimpse of his routine below. (This is worth watching just to see just how creative turntablists can get.)

L.M.F.

In Hong Kong, if you ask the average person on the street what Hip Hop is, they’ll invariably (and mistakenly,) mention one of the following: Hip Hop dance; foul language; ostentatious bling jewelry; or baggy clothes.

The foul language aspect arises from the success of local fusion group L.M.F.! A combination of band members from various Punk groups, along with D.J. Tommy, and M.C. Yan, the city’s first prominent rapper, L.M.F. contained real street language that was unorthodox in local music at the time. The group had charisma and personality, as you can see from the following film “Dare Ya”, which documents their rise. (I saw this one in the cinema when it was released!) Has English subs!

FAMA

FAMA with Edison in the middle

Much more recently we have Fama. D.J. Tommy incubated Fama and helped them gain a commercial direction. Fama have had success in the mold of the creative, but clownish brand of Hip Hop. The duo have recently been gaining wider public exposure and you can spot them in advertisements, such as this one in the MTR, Hong Kong’s subway system.

Here’s a video of FAMA rocking the CLOT Levis event a few years ago.

24 HERBS

24 Herbs are another oddity. They are sort of party rappers, with a Beastie Boys kind of attitude. They are one of the few multi-lingual groups with songs in English and Cantonese. They also contain several former members of L.M.F.

Here you can check them out playing before a large crowd in Bangkok.

Jin da M.C.

Over the last two years, Hong Kong has also been graced with the presence of a genuine Hip Hop legend. Jin da M.C., a noted American-born-Chinese rapping champion has set up shop in the city and has been gaining notoriety. The charismatic and quick-tongued rapper has taken to rhyming in Cantonese, and has been well received around town. Currently he’s featured all over the city in a iced-lemon-tea commercial.

Here’s a clip of Jin and M.C. Goldmountain freestyle rhyming at Racks MDB. The wordplay is hilarious, and features an excellent job by both rappers!

Mastamic

I stumbled across the name Mastamic a few times while researching this post. I haven’t heard him live, but he’s definitely got skills. Be sure to check out his fast-paced freestyle inside the Hip Hop CD store on Temple Street.

You can also have a look at the following short documentary that covers new group 85UP2.

My favorite WTF Hip Hop attraction in Hong Kong? The (now repainted) pillar on Magazine Gap Road leading up to the Peak, which for at least a decade featured the spray painted “Yo! MTV Raps!” logo.

This makes the fourth time that top beatboxer Killa Kela is set to perform in Hong Kong. If you haven’t yet caught one of his shows, Killa Kela produces elaborate, almost orchestral routines using only his mouth!

For his Summer 2009 tour, Kela teams up with Andy Knowles, an accomplished drummer who plays with the band Franz Ferdinand, as well as London based d.j. Skelektrik. Adding a drummer and a d.j. will likely increase the complexity of the show he can stage.

Want a sample of Killa Kela’s skills?

Killa Kela Summer 2009 Tour
August 1, 2009
Volar
Basement 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong
Central, Hong Kong
Free for members, non-members $280 HKD includes one drink

French artist L1ES ONE has been active in Hong Kong for several years now. His art is rooted in graffiti, but often ventures into other territory. On Wednesday, July 29th, he’ll be opening a show of new work titled “DR1PS & BUBBLES” at the private club M1NT in Sheung Wan.

L1ES ONE is particularly good at tailoring his art to different spaces. Curious what his previous exhibitions looked like?

At his last exhibition, “LE GRAFF1T1 C’EST CH1C,” I was impressed with his ability to transform the rather sleek M1NT interior into something that resembled a heavily bombed building. L1ES literally put his touch on everything, including the shark tank!

An even earlier show took place at the now defunct Six Keyz gallery in Chai Wan. Here he made use of the full interior, including the half-pipe for skateboarding.

The opening on the 29th features new art in addition to music by d.j.s Drafus and Doze. Guests can enjoy a free glass of Ruinart champagne along with the show. The event begins at 9pm and goes until 1am.

DR1PS & BUBBLES: new art by L1ES ONE
Wednesday, July 29th from 9pm to 1am
M1NT
108 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

D.J. Craze and D.J. Klever, two world renowned turntablists, hit Volar last Thursday night. Turntablists are sort of like musically gifted hackers. Instead of using a record player (called a turntable,) for what it was intended – to playback music, they use it more like an instrument.

The techniques they practice include scratching and beat juggling. The result is that they create music from music.

In their repertoire there’s even a famous scratch that was named after the Transformers. (It resembles the sound that occurs when they change from cars into robots!) The best turntablists can produce fantastic improvisation-filled performances.

However, I’m usually skeptical of turntablists as party d.j.s. Sometimes they get too used to crowds standing around and watching, and don’t understand the dynamics of a dance floor. At times they tend to get too technical and lose the non-d.j.s in the audience.

How did D.J. Klever and Craze hold up?

Klever started off the night with one of the best sets in recent memory. He played new Electronic dance music and used his d.j. skills to enhance the tracks with scratches and other manipulations.

Klever showed experience as a party rocker with a great selection of prime-time music. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the songs, each cut had a catchy hook that elevated the intensity and got the dance floor rocking early.

Craze took over after Klever’s excellent start. Both d.j.s engaged the crowd on the microphone and acted as cheerleader for the other when not playing.

D.J. Craze and D.J. Klever brought the vibe in the room up from their own enthusiasm on stage.

Craze went into a short Hip Hop segment that some in the audience had been waiting for. It’s interesting that most of the famous Hip Hop d.j.s don’t play Hip Hop music anymore. (More on this topic in an upcoming post!)

After the Hip Hop segment, the music drifted for a while before Klever took over again and started to raise the tempo.

Klever’s early set alone made the night worth attending. Top turntablist skills and great song selection make a deadly combination!

Here’s a video of D.J. Qbert demonstrating the Transformer scratch!

I ran into my friend M.C. Yan on Thursday night and he was excited to tell me about a new project he’s been working on called Radio Dada. Yan is one of the pioneers of Hip Hop in Hong Kong. He’s helped popularize the concepts behind the culture and is well known as a graffiti artist and rapper. Yan was also a member of the now defunct group, L.M.F.

Friday night I bumped into him again, and since we were right next door, he gave me a tour of the new station he’s just launched.

Hidden deep in the basement of Mongkok’s Langham Place shopping center is a small white shack.

This is the location of Radio Dada’s studio. It is here where d.j.s and special guests come to broadcast their message or music. Radio Dada is an open format, non-commercial Internet radio station. It seems modeled on community run stations like WBAI in New York. They offer numerous programs on a variety of niche subjects. Radio Dada also has special mix shows that normally wouldn’t have a home in Hong Kong’s dysfunctional radio spectrum.

Could that be the new Dusty X NSBQ polo shirt he’s wearing?

Yan is serving as the music director of the station. He told me about a few of the programs and they included everything from underground music to talk shows about U.F.O.s! Sounds cool to me!

You can learn more about Radio Dada, or simply tune in to give the station a listen by visiting their website here.