RADICAL BEATS PRESENTS

THE BATTLE OF THE MC'S CLUB TOUR AT ZEST- IPSWICH
FRIDAY 25TH. AUGUST, 2006.  REVIEW BY DJ STEVO.

After much anticipation, Friday 25th.
August had arrived, the Battle Of The MC's allnighter at Zest, Ipswich. 
I arrived at about 9.50pm in the pouring rain
with Little Lindsey and MC Dizbelief
and was pleased to see a large queue forming
even before the club had opened
this was a very good sign of things ahead.

I quickly got a drink and then it was time for the first set
myself, DJ Stevo, back to back with Wintle alongside MC's Banton,
Dizbelief, Little Rusty and Jaycee. 
I'm not just saying this but this set was madness!
a perfect warm up for the night ahead
within minutes Ipswich legend Banton was busting his party lyrics and
passing the mike back and forth between Global's Dizbelief and
Planetdnb's Jaycee and Rusty ,all of which were on top form. 
Me and Wintle worked well together dropping tunes like Generation Dub's
Gangster, old favourite Dubplate by Whats My Code
and other new Jump Up killers. 
The set went really well and the place was filling up
nicely and the four MC's were hyping the crowd well and before we
knew it the hour was over.

Up next on the wheels of steel was the man like Shodan from Easy
Recordings, as you can imagine this guy turned up with a bag of
dubs, alot of which he had co-produced with Phantasy.  The MC's we
had for this set was Shadow, Tonik, Omen and Sensi and again right
from the offset these boys were smashing it on the mike backed up by
Shodan's brand new beats and basslines.  Shodan played his and
Phantasy's new anthem England Story featuring YT and this instantly
got the rewind.  It was only about 11.30pm now but already the place
was pretty packed and it was off the hook and the tunes had been
firing ever since the place opened.

Up next was Planetdnb's very own double dropping bad man Mr. Unix
accompanied by MC's Eksman, Fatman D and MRD. 
What can I say, this set was a killer as you would expect
and Eksman in the building certainly got the crowd going nuts.

Unix played some wicked tunes, fresh promo's and dubs
and New Breeds Eksman and Fatman D did a blinding job
on the mike backed up by the talented MRD
and ofcourse Unix's mixing was faultless

At this point I popped in the second room for a bit and was
impressed by the dark beats getting played in this MC free zone. 
I continued to check out this room for most of the night but I must admit I
was drawn to the Main Room more but a special big up must go
to the artists that played in this room, Deception, Perfection,
Gusta, Subliminal, Shuffle, Hayze, Jocky, Feel-X, MW, Avtex, Fatcat and Darkus.

Back in the Main Room up next on the 1210's was old skool legend
Funky Flirt backed up by Eksman and MRD again also sparring with
Petite, Motormouth and Ipswich's MC EQ.  Alot of MC's but then again
this was Battle Of The MC's and that's what it's alll about and
Funky smashed it in his own unique style and all the lyricists
performed well hyping the crowd hanging over the railings.  I've got
to say, the place was now rammed and the atmosphere was electric
with no bad vibes inside at all
this was the top night we were hoping for.

Time flies when you're having fun and it was now the turn of Kool
FM's Pappa G to take to the decks along with the legend that is
Bassman up against Junglist and Curse.  I really thought The Teacher
Bassman was on top form tonight and Pappa G rinsed some wicked beats
that the crowd, all Planet crew and the Planet dancers lapped up.  
Bassman's dark lyrics were sending the ravers crazy and the night
was now at boiling point and in in full flow.

It was now 3am and Planetdnb's longest serving DJ, Mr. Dilemma took
to the controls to do his thing and mike duties were in the hands of
Bounce residents Force and Messy along with Score.  This was a good
set but at this point in the night I was pretty mashed and my legs
were aching from dancing and it was all becoming a bit of a blur.  
From sitting in the DJ box I could see Dilemma was really getting
into his set, bouncing up and down and then in stepped Hazard
representing the Tru Playaz camp.

Hazard took to the decks for the final set and shortly after New
Breeds Shortston arrived with guest Kasha and immediately
got on the mike and started to kill the remaining hardcore ravers with bad lyrics. 
Hazard rinsed his trademark style of bouncy Jump Up and
before I knew it the night had come to an end, gutted.

Well, what a night, a massive success, a wicked atmosphere, a very
good turn out and all of the quality line up performed very well.  
Big shout must go out to Unix and Katie and also Shotgun for putting
on such a good night for Ipswich.  Respect to everyone that played,
all the DJ's and MC's in both rooms, the Planetdnb dancers and all
the ravers that made it down from far and near.  Check out the next
Radical Beats event at Zest on Friday 29th. September featuring
Mickey Finn, Unix, Fearless, Five-O and the Planetdnb residents,
it's gonna be off the hook as per usual, be there.

Peace.  DJ Stevo.

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