Happening this Saturday the 16th January at The Evelyn Hotel is one of the most exciting and important local shows of the month, Hip Hop: A United Front, a charity event supporting mental health organisation Headspace. The line up boats an impressive bill of guests including the likes of lemonade-lover Dylan Joel and producer M-Phazes, local legends MZ Rizk, Birdz, Thaddeous Doe and Man Made Mountain just to name a couple.
Kicking off in the afternoon the event first sees an afternoon on the rooftop, with live graffiti (contributed by Duke Style) and Djs. Pieces and prints donated by Melbourne’s own Michelle Grace Hunder, the afternoon promises an art exhibition with a new direction of Hip Hop.
From 6pm the event will move downstairs to the band room where rappers, Djs, bands and Hip Hop enthusiasts alike will unite in a celebration of musical performance all in direction of course to support the charity Headspace Collingwood.
Headspace is a national health foundation dedicated to providing early intervention youth mental health services.
To celebrate and team up with the event’s message, MZ Rizk, Birdz, Thaddeous Doe, Man Made Mountain and Sensible Antixx have come together to create their ultimate ‘feel good’ mixtape for anyone who is having a tough time.
Lauryn Hill – ‘Everything is Everything’
L-Boogie’s anthem about the struggles young people face and to love oneself. A very honest and lyrically on point. (MZ Rizk)
A Tribe Called Quest Feat. Faith Evans – ‘Stressed Out’
An uplifting gem with a catchy chorus by Faith Evans. We all know how it feels to be stressed out but things do eventually work out… I can’t argue with Tribe here. A dope track to put on if you need some soothing from Faith. (MZ Rizk)
Mos Def- ‘Umi Says’
One of the best tracks from Mos/Yasiin in my opinion! Umi means Mother in Arabic so this is about his mum telling him to share his goodness with the world. This is catchy and is a real feel good track. (MZ Rizk)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth – ‘Carmel City’
because it’s so damn smooth. The bass line, the drums, it just feels like a nice time in a peaceful place. Mind traveling music. (Man Made Mountain)
Pharcyde – ‘Runnin”
It’s an inspirational song if you take it literally. Facing challenges can be the thing that makes you feel best in your life, even in failure, ’cause you faced it and that’s a victory itself. Also the guitar, the sample. Incredible. (Man Made Mountain)
Cassiano – ‘Onda’
This is a Brazilian jam we both love. Sounds like you’re in a beachside sanctuary surrounded by your favourite people and things. Sublime groove. (Man Made Mountain)
Poor Righteous Teachers – ‘Word Iz Life’
Hailing from New Jersey like Lords of the Underground. The New World Order was the last album from Poor Righteous Teachers in 1996 and the whole album just sounds really big! The instrumental on this track gets me really hyped up. (Thaddeous Doe)
Lords of the Underground – ‘What I’m After’
Lords of The Underground were one of my favourite groups from the classic era of mid nineties hip hop. It has this super laid back beat and lyrically focuses on the groups origins and them setting their expectations high. Their first two albums in my mind are classics. (Thaddeous Doe)
Jonwayne – ‘The Come Up feat. Scoop Deville’
Jonwayne came around in 2010 or 11 I think but I didn’t really get into him until the Cassette 3: Marion Morrison Mixtape in 2013 and that was shortly followed by Rap Album One which has The Come Up on it. The song features this sweet Dutch Robinson sample which creates the hook and the majority of the instrumental, the song also features Scoop Deville who produced The Recipe with Dr Dre on Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city which is one of my favourite tracks from that album. (Thaddeous Doe)
Joelistics – ‘Out of the Blue’
A beautiful story telling narrative from one of Australia’s prolific writers in hip hop. Finding positive from a negative, an excellent way to open communication about substance abuse. (Sensible Antixx)
Mac Miller – ‘Vienna’
A slower and woeful tone. Miller is able to speak soothing words promising a better place awaits, why wait? (Sensible Antixx)
Souls of Mischief – ’93 ’til Infinity’
Absolute timeless classic. Less of a battle rap and more about unrivelled confidence. A beautiful sound to hip hop artists still model their music on today… (Sensible Antixx)
Dr Dre feat. Anderson Paak – ‘All In A Days Work’
One of my favourite songs off the Compton album. I dig the message of working hard and focussing on being a better you, plus i just love the soul Paak brings and the production of course is next level – Dr Dre is God. (Birdz)
Rick Ross feat. CeeLo – ‘Smile, Mama, Smile’
Definitely one of the most played song’s in my headphones at the moment. Dope story, dope production and CeeLo kills the hook. Feel good music. Family is everything. (Birdz)
Briggs feat. Gurrumul & Dewayne Everettsmith – ‘The Children Came Back’
My brother Briggs delivers a dope remake of Uncle Archie Roach’s classic. Personally I feel like this is one of the biggest moments in Australian music to date – representing our strength and perseverance as proud peoples. We still here – Always. Vote to get it in the triple J hottest 100 now! (Birdz)
Hip Hop: A United Front
Dylan Joel
MzRizk (DJ)
Thaddeus Doe
Mistress
Verbal Tactics
Man Made Mountain
M-PHAZES
Saturday 16th January
Evelyn Hotel
Tickets $20
More info
