“Sold Out” signs decorated the door of Mojo’s on Saturday March 27, the final stop on Horrorshow’s headlining national tour.  Since the release of their acclaimed sophomore album Inside Story, the talented Sydney duo have cemented their place as one of the most intelligent, thought-provoking acts in Australian hip hop.  Having previously supported fellow labelmates The Herd and Urthboy, it was time for the deceptively young MC Solo and DJ Adit to step up to the spotlight.

Paving the way was MC Rythm Infinit, the sweet-faced but sexy female MC I last saw supporting Astronomy Class back in September 2009.  Once again, she brought her glorious brand of melodic-hop to the stage, breezing through her opening track so charmingly one could even forgive the dubious choice of poo-catcher pants.  Opening her second track, she introduced a special guest – a fellow female MC, Soda.  A spunky addition to the stage, the duo immediately impressed with Soda taking the lead on vocals while Rythm beatboxed.  A terrific set ensued, drawing on musical references ranging from rock to country, with the girls bringing a fresh, sexy Killaqueenz-style vibe to the room.

The tension in the room went up a notch when Sydneysiders and longtime friends of the headliners Spit Syndicate took to the stage.  MCs Nick Lupi and Just Enuff may have only just scraped into their twenties, but their commanding stage presence would be the envy of many more experienced crews.  They bring an intense level of energy without encouraging the tension and violence that simmers under the surface of so many hip hop shows.  With a second album due for release this year, the set was divided roughly fifty-fifty between new and old tracks.  Crowd favourites included Pick It Up and the finale The Lost Boys, paying homage to the undeniable giants of Aussie hip hop, The Hilltop Hoods.  However, while premiering new material is always a bit tougher than giving the crowd the tracks they can sing along to, Spit Syndicate delivered the fresh tracks with such enthusiasm that the crowd was dancing with gusto.  A notable standout was the new song Kings Only, which is a good enough reason on its own to get excited about the next release from this quality act.

Following on from Spit Syndicate’s headliner-worthy performance seemed like a tough ask, but Horrorshow proved that they were more than ready for the challenge.  Adit and Solo bring such skill and talent to the stage that when they are performing, it’s almost impossible to believe they are barely out of their teens.  They kicked off proceedings with the title track from their latest release and weren’t afraid to show off their virtuosity early, rapping over an Obie Trice beat for their second song.  However, with the performance of In, Horrorshow proved beyond a doubt just why they are such an exciting addition to the Australian hip hop scene.  In a genre that has so often been criticized for glorifying drinking and violence, it’s truly spectacular to see a crowd held spellbound by Solo’s introspective, poetic rhymes.  Lyrics like “Cold like the streets of the Cross/ where underagers litter the pavement/ this ain’t paradise, it’s innocence lost” are so far from the “f&ckin’ b%tches” school of hip hop that it’s hard not to get excited about the future of the genre.

Horrorshow continued to astound throughout their set at every turn.  They revisited their debut album with tracks like Waiting for the 5.04 and No Rides Left.  Solo revealed his softer side, showing the audience that age and maturity don’t necessarily correlate when he played She and Walk You Home.  Incredibly, this very young MC is one of the few Australian hip hop artists who touch on the subject of love with any real depth or tenderness.  He even thanked the crowd for being receptive to the softer songs (at which point every female in the room was thinking, “No, Solo, thank you.”).  Responding to a request issued before the set started, Solo performed For What It’s Worth, his contribution to M-Phaze’s recent album Good Gracious.  Asking for some assistance from the audience to provide the backing music to Thoughtcrime elicited a reaction from the crowd that nearly blew the roof off the venue.  And when Spit Syndicate leapt up on the stage to perform a number of the collaborations between the two acts, every longtime fan in the audience died and went to heaven.

It was a fantastic night, in which all three acts signaled the future of Australian hip hop – a scene that will build upon talent, poetry and social commentary.  In particular, Horrorshow showcased their potential to become a leader in the music industry, fusing the raw energy and crowd euphoria that is the cornerstone of Australian hip hop with thoughtful, articulate lyrics and terrific beats.