What’s good peoples? Rap’s good. Rap’s been good, rap still is good. So let’s get to it.

Sydney rap is riding a wave of dope parties, dope acts and dope releases at the moment so if you haven’t got familiar the time is ripe to get ya kicks wet. Let’s start with some live shit. Reverse Polarities’ launch at the Annandale a coupla months ago was exactly how Hip Hop shows should be, packed to the rafters with thirsty kids, good sound and acts feeding off the crowd support. Additional props must go to RP for their relentless promo hustle which saw flyers stuffed in hands at countless different venues round the city in the months leading up to the gig.

I stumbled into the Spit Syndicate album launch a couple of weeks ago at the Oxford Arts Factory and was blown away by the energy in the room that night. Perhaps it was the severity of the all-night binge I was embracing but they seemed to have matured into the real deal, the boy’s stage presence was commanding, the crowd was frenzied and their material was strong. Rumpunch also had their launch a short time ago and though I didn’t catch it first hand, my mail is the turnout was excellent and the band defied the often crappy sound at the Gaelic and brought the house down. WOOP WOOP.

In the last few months, release wise, I can’t go past Chasm’s Beyond The Beat Tape. Shit is bangin son. Horrorshow’s The Grey Space is out on Elefant Traks and has been creating a massive buzz on the internet with plenty claiming it’s on some next shit. I haven’t copped it yet, but from the little I have heard AdiT’s beats are heated and Solo comes correct on the mic. In terms of upcoming releases, I urge you all to watch out for D-Trix’s full length solo LP dropping soon which is bound to be on some other shit for real, the kid got raps! Sleeping Monk, that ubiquitous denizen of the Broadway Struggle, has FINALLY completed his solo and is pushing it hand to hand until mid-September when it’ll be in stores and available online, Basic Equipment reprezent! On top of that, Obese’s latest signing Thundamentals got a joint on the way too so don’t snooze, we’ll have more details as they come to light.

Some people might take the position that my affiliation with the LookUP juggernaut compromises my ability to talk of our recent successes and contributions to the local scene without bias. Some people ain’t shit. For those that have been hibernating, the LookUP crew has been busy as hell this past year putting on a string of parties and gigs. We’ve brought to Sydney artists from interstate such as The Optimen, Mantra, A-Love, Ivens, Axe Aklins, Rainman, Tommy Illfigga and Purpose, and D’Opus and Roshambo. We’ve hosted local favourites 13th Son, Brass, Chasm, HerbRock, and Two Toes. LookUP has also orchestrated the heavily anticipated return of the MC Battle with the ‘Feeding Time’ nights as well as created a first for Sydney Hip Hop with the ‘Beatfighter’ events, which have given up-and-coming producers an avenue to show-off their beats on a soundsystem outside of their bedroom as well as giving renowned masters such as Sereck and DanielSan a night to flex skills without a limelight-hogging rapper in sight. You know what else? We’ve done all this for free! Why? Coz its all about the love!

The LookUP team ain’t just nice with the parties we’re nice with the raps. Fact. And we’ve just completed a compilation to prove this entitled LookUpInTheSky (mixed by DJ Mathmatics) which is launching at the UTS Loft Bar on Friday August 29th. You can expect to see some minds get blown as the LookUP roster of Bingethinkers, Scott Burns and That’s Them combine for the first time in one show to knock you all out of your respective boxes with high drama, superhuman space-rap and arse-shattering beats. YA HEARD?!? A copy of the compilation is free upon entry and is better than 99% of the shit out there so get on down. Do I have to even let you know that entry is free? It is.

On other fronts, Sydney’s Hip Hop superstore Soul Clap has reopened across the road from the Gaelic Club on Devonshire St and the talented artists from IM crew have an exhibition entitled ‘Don’t Sleep’ at the Somedays Gallery in Surry Hills. That and I’ll be attending the Toe-To-Toe Vs Def Wish Cast hardcore punk / rap mash-up gig of the century this weekend before this edition goes to print. So if you’re reading this in the future (which is a mathematical certainty)…you’re already too late. Suckaaas.