Online Review: ILUVLIVE @ Favela Chic
Artist:
DJ Ironik
ILUVLIVE has quite comfortably settled into it’s residency at Favela Chic, and despite following the UK’s finest live music night for homegrown urban music from it’s homes at Suga Suga and Market Place I shockingly still hadn’t made the short journey to it’s new Old Street abode.
And after witnessing the amazing talent on array I don’t know what kept me away for so long.
Proceedings were kicked off by battle rapper Row D who had triumphed in the previous show’s open mic session. Performing a track entitled Ugly, the micsman’s quality whet my appetite for that evening’s competition.
Producer Baby J who releases his latest album Baby Food next week made the journey south with a couple of his artists who showcased that the UK’s talent isn’t just exclusive to London. Soulful Wreh-Asha opened the set before Malik spat over an acoustic instrumental provided by guitarist David Gibb.
An early highlight of the evening came in the form of Duke; a beatbox/singing/guitar trio (yes really!) who impressed (and surprised) a lot of the crowd with an impressive medley that included oral and string renditions of The Prodigy’s Out Of Space, Shy FX and UK Apache’s Original Nuttah, Snow’s Informer and Kris Kross’ Jump before breaking down a drum and scratch medley which broke out into Busta Rhymes’ Pass The Courvosier.
With the bar being set very high, it would take a pretty brave performer to follow the popular trio, but host Twin B (Alec) cleaned Duke’s phlegm off of the mic for Hugo Boss Urban Rules winner Meleka to take to the Favela stage. Handpicked by a specialist panel that included chart topper Estelle, it’s easy to see what the judges saw in her as she belted out her soulful single Go. She raised the tempo for the next track which was dedicated to jealous ex-lovers and the funky house, Crazy Cousinz produced song had the revellers skanking in the crowd. Meleka then made way for the open mic hopefuls, but it was not be the last we saw of her, or the Crazy Cousinz for that matter.
The talent contest consisted of spitters, singers, poets and even a dude on the harmonica but it was 80’s power suit rocking dancehall act Lady Guess who worked the crowd and secured her place at the next ILUVLIVE which is a one-off special taking place at Cargo.
After a brief interlude during which DJ Wonder entertained the revellers with a fine mix of funky house, hip hop, R&B and grime, Universal/Island recording artist Leon Jean Marie strummed his guitar and sang his way through three tracks which included the anti-knife violence Bed Of Nails and a song about a man Leon met on his travels who was addicted to prostitutes entitled I Gots To Have It (see what he did there).
I said that we hadn’t seen the last of Meleka and the popular singer remerged during the Kissing Cousinz set to perform their remix of Go. This was sandwiched by I See You featuring vocalist Simona and the dancefloor anthem Bongo Jam. The latter came via the hilarious Bongo Man who joined the beautiful Calista to get the audience making shapes on the floor once more for the single which has them doing PA’s up and down the country.
After the madness of Crazy Cousinz, Ironik slowed down the tempo whilst bringing another enjoyable evening to a close. As well as performing the hit singles Stay With Me and I Wanna Be Your Man Ironik who released his album No Point In Wasting Tears also gave a rendition of his forthcoming track Tiny Dancer which features piano legend Elton John. Unfortunately Sir Elton couldn’t make it to Favela Chic on Monday night so X-Factor’s Daniel DeBourg did his best impression of the ex-Watford Chairman.
The next ILUVLIVE takes place at Cargo on Monday November 17 and will feature Ms Dynamite, Shystie, Wretch 32, Thecocknbullkid, Kenan Bell and Laura Izibor as well as a secret special guest who will be announced soon. See you there
MySpace.com/djironik
ILUVLIVE has quite comfortably settled into it’s residency at Favela Chic, and despite following the UK’s finest live music night for homegrown urban music from it’s homes at Suga Suga and Market Place I shockingly still hadn’t made the short journey to it’s new Old Street abode.
And after witnessing the amazing talent on array I don’t know what kept me away for so long.
Proceedings were kicked off by battle rapper Row D who had triumphed in the previous show’s open mic session. Performing a track entitled Ugly, the micsman’s quality whet my appetite for that evening’s competition.
Producer Baby J who releases his latest album Baby Food next week made the journey south with a couple of his artists who showcased that the UK’s talent isn’t just exclusive to London. Soulful Wreh-Asha opened the set before Malik spat over an acoustic instrumental provided by guitarist David Gibb.
An early highlight of the evening came in the form of Duke; a beatbox/singing/guitar trio (yes really!) who impressed (and surprised) a lot of the crowd with an impressive medley that included oral and string renditions of The Prodigy’s Out Of Space, Shy FX and UK Apache’s Original Nuttah, Snow’s Informer and Kris Kross’ Jump before breaking down a drum and scratch medley which broke out into Busta Rhymes’ Pass The Courvosier.
With the bar being set very high, it would take a pretty brave performer to follow the popular trio, but host Twin B (Alec) cleaned Duke’s phlegm off of the mic for Hugo Boss Urban Rules winner Meleka to take to the Favela stage. Handpicked by a specialist panel that included chart topper Estelle, it’s easy to see what the judges saw in her as she belted out her soulful single Go. She raised the tempo for the next track which was dedicated to jealous ex-lovers and the funky house, Crazy Cousinz produced song had the revellers skanking in the crowd. Meleka then made way for the open mic hopefuls, but it was not be the last we saw of her, or the Crazy Cousinz for that matter.
The talent contest consisted of spitters, singers, poets and even a dude on the harmonica but it was 80’s power suit rocking dancehall act Lady Guess who worked the crowd and secured her place at the next ILUVLIVE which is a one-off special taking place at Cargo.
After a brief interlude during which DJ Wonder entertained the revellers with a fine mix of funky house, hip hop, R&B and grime, Universal/Island recording artist Leon Jean Marie strummed his guitar and sang his way through three tracks which included the anti-knife violence Bed Of Nails and a song about a man Leon met on his travels who was addicted to prostitutes entitled I Gots To Have It (see what he did there).
I said that we hadn’t seen the last of Meleka and the popular singer remerged during the Kissing Cousinz set to perform their remix of Go. This was sandwiched by I See You featuring vocalist Simona and the dancefloor anthem Bongo Jam. The latter came via the hilarious Bongo Man who joined the beautiful Calista to get the audience making shapes on the floor once more for the single which has them doing PA’s up and down the country.
After the madness of Crazy Cousinz, Ironik slowed down the tempo whilst bringing another enjoyable evening to a close. As well as performing the hit singles Stay With Me and I Wanna Be Your Man Ironik who released his album No Point In Wasting Tears also gave a rendition of his forthcoming track Tiny Dancer which features piano legend Elton John. Unfortunately Sir Elton couldn’t make it to Favela Chic on Monday night so X-Factor’s Daniel DeBourg did his best impression of the ex-Watford Chairman.
The next ILUVLIVE takes place at Cargo on Monday November 17 and will feature Ms Dynamite, Shystie, Wretch 32, Thecocknbullkid, Kenan Bell and Laura Izibor as well as a secret special guest who will be announced soon. See you there
MySpace.com/djironik
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