Last night Knowledge Music hosted internationally respected Alix Depauw aka Alix Perez. Blessing the decks at shape along side some of Perths best drum and bass DJ’s; Deflo, Vitriol and Muller.
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PERTHQUAKE
Ice Cube @ Metro City
White picket-fenced Australia, consider yourself warned. Legendary West Coast rapper Ice Cube is touring the country this October, and we are predicting a lyrical riot.
You do not need much knowledge of rap music history to know that the name Ice Cube is synonymous with controversy. From his early days with N.W.A. to his subsequent solo career, Cube’s music has been blamed for a lot of bad stuff: inciting violence, racism, homophobia and sexism to name some. There is no denying that on the surface his lyrics are often irreverent and vulgar, but listen a little more closely and you will also hear the prophetic voice of a misplaced urban mass in turmoil. Out of Cube’s mouth, the profane becomes the prolific and the rap becomes the voice of revolution.
Today, Ice Cube is recognised around the world as one of the most influential and important figures in rap history. He has recorded eight studio albums, which together have sold in excess of 10 million units. His debut solo EP Kill At Will was the first hip-hop EP to reach both gold and platinum record sales in the U.S, and his 1992 album The Predator debuted at number one on both the pop and R&B charts; the first album in history to do so.
In 2008 Ice Cube brought his ‘Straight Outta Compton’ show to Australia, playing to rave reviews around the country. The tour included two consecutive sold-out nights at Sydney’s iconic Enmore Theatre, and left punters desperate for his return. Now, the wait is over…..
Don’t miss your chance to catch the explosive return of Ice Cube.
Ramadanman @ Shape
David ‘RAMADANMAN’ Kennedy has been DJing since the age of 14, beginning with deep house and hip hop and progressing to jungle as he grew older before focusing his attention on DUBSTEP. Since then he has racked up a number of critically acclaimed releases on a diverse selection of labels including Soul Jazz, Tempa, Aus, Critical Music and Hessle Audio – the label he co-runs with Pangaea and Ben UFO. RAMADANMAN has also remixed a variety of artists including the Ragga Twins, Scuba, Beat Pharmacy, Howie B, SpectraSoul and the Bulgarian group Wickeda.
He has enjoyed DJ support from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Skream, Mr Scruff, Craig Richards, Francois K, Kode9, Mala, Distance, Mary Anne Hobbs, Rob da Bank, Gilles Peterson, Will Saul and many more. He is also heavily involved in organizing the Leeds night RUFFAGE as well as co-hosting the now infamous Ruffage Sessions weekly internet radio show on Sub FM. Ramadanman DJs often both nationally and internationally including regular dates at the dubstep institution, FWD in London!
Add to that with a special exclusive SHOCKONE DUBSTEP SET, plus local dubstep heavyweights REKAB and YLEM we’re in for one hell of a rinseout!
Kool Keith @ Shape
Presenting…. Original member of New York’s new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MCs, solo rapper of many alias and all round psychiatric lyrical master KOOL KEITH!!
Best know for his signature style, a stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow and complex vocals, skills that have earnt him a perennial nod from the underground hip-hop community. The average Kool Keith album is peppered with bizarre, disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, as well as major record labels!
His early career and lyrics with the Ultramagnetic MCs often referenced his time as a patient of Bellevue, a psychiatric hospital, where he was treated for depression. Keith later claimed that having been a mental patient in Bellevue was only a joke which he perpetrated on a far too gullible media… (Claims of Keith Matthew Thornton being committed to Bellevue have been authenticated.) With Ultramagnetic, his abstract style developed, maturing in songs like “Poppa Large.” He was also probably the first rapper to create multiple aliases for himself!!
Working with Industry veterans Kutmasta Kurt and Dan “the Automator” Nakamura, these two helped produce tracks featuring Keith’s new alias, Dr Octagon releasing Dr. Octagonecologyst, which was released by the English trip hop label Mo’ Wax. DJ Qbert was also a major contributor to the album’s sound, employing scratch techniques previously unheard on a rap album. The album received critical acclaim, including from media sources outside the mainstream hip-hop community. The critical success of the album helped to open the accessibility of the underground hip hop scene to an appreciative audience. The album is considered a landmark in the acid rap genre! In the following 10 years we have seen the character ‘Dr Octagon’ be killed off by another new alias ‘ Dr Dooom’, then ‘Black Elvis’ was born – yet another alias, an unsolicited ‘Return of Dr Octagon’ album produced by someone else and another couple of alias in the way of ‘Project Polaroid’ and ‘Mr. Nagatco’ monikers!
Regarded as a true veteran of the underground scene and style, KOOL KEITH drops into Perth for what is sure to be a crazy night of original flows!
Knowledge First Birthday feat. Dj Marky @ Villa
After a solid year of bringing you the best of the best in underground Hip-Hop, Drum n Bass and Dubstep, Knowledge Music celebrates the only way they know how with a fu#k-off celebration with the one and only DJ MARKY!!
An original player, DJ MARKY has been in the game for over twenty years, a true international professional, he has taken the level of artistry involved in DJing and music production to a whole new level. The mild mannered Brazilian with a background in Hip Hop, Funk and Techno with a legendary club residency in home town Sao Paulo got caught up in the Jungle movement of the mid 90’s that soon was to become a true and unrelenting passion.
His rise to stardom came in the form of a UK chart topping single ‘LK’ and what has been to referred to as one of the greatest compilation of all time – ‘The Brazilian Job’ showing off his prowess for combining tracks and scratching techniques in faultless fashion, an element sorely missing from the Drum n Bass scene.
After years of consistent touring, Marky is one of the most revered and coverted DJ’s in the world, with almost 100 releases in various formats, mediums and genres, including some very high profile remixes for the likes of Everythig but the Girl, Calude Von Stroke, Fatboy Slim and Deadmau5, DJ marky is still at the top of the game and shows no signs of slowing!
Come celebrate in true Perth fashion and support the people who do the hard yards to bring you the music you want to hear! Knowledge Music turns ONE be part of the movement, the Brazilain Movement featuring DJ MARKY!!
Instra:Mental @ The Bird
No other artists have had such an immediate impact in recent years as INSTRA:MENTAL – the highly acclaimed duo of AL BLEEK and KID DRAMA. Since their very early releases, the pair have been steadily building momentum with a number of influential singles. With a style unrestricted by tempo, their productions cross the artificial boundaries between contemporary genres such as DUBSTEP and DRUMnBASS and reach out to a wide range of listeners. Their tracks build tension through careful arrangements, capturing interest by revealing layers and subtly engineered sounds without resorting to tired clichés.
From their early material alongside Source Direct to their more recent collaborations with Skream and Burial, Instra:mental have consistently attracted artists of the highest calibre to work alongside. Their south London studio “The Zoo” has hosted luminaries and like-minds such as Jonny L, No-U-Turn legend Nico and dBridge. The strength of these partnerships continues to grow, with two further and very different joint works by Instra:mental and dBridge appearing on the ‘Sepia Tones EP’ for DARKESTRAL and more joint works in store, including a number of three-way efforts alongside SKREAM.
In 2009, they launched the monthly AUTOMONIC podcast series to showcase fresh sounds alongside timeless music that continues to inspire them. Sharing diverse influences including experimental electronica, soul and funk, the Autonomic sessions have already gained a cult following and inspired a residency at London’s superclub, FABRIC plus a regular show on RINSE FM. The latest podcast reached over 50,000 downloads; a sure sign that their appeal is not restricted to drum & bass fans only. With a mix CD for the prestigious Fabriclive series already having come out this year, 2010 has seen a world domination already come into effect.
Also launching their own label, NonPlus+, in 2009 there is already a string of highly acclaimed releases to its name and the highly‐anticipated debut album from Instra:mental is to follow later in this year.
In the short time that they’ve been available for DJ bookings, Instra:mental have already appeared at both DMZ in Brixton and Berlin’s infamous Berghain club; testament to their impact within the dubstep and techno communities. Festival appearances have also seen visits to Sun & Bass in Sardinia and Exodus Festival in Croatia, further showing the strength and diversity of their sound. Whether performing solo or alongside dBridge and their host of choice SP:MC, you can be certain to hear fresh music from Instra:mental with quality, integrity and lasting appeal.
Nero @ Shape
NERO has become a big name in both the Drum and Bass and Dubstep scenes, often fusing both styles of music in their DJ sets. Starting there career of in Drum n Bass on DJ SS’s prestigious Formation Records Label in 2004. Since then Dan and Joe’s tracks have caused quite a stir, gaining huge momentum from support from DJs like Andy C, Grooverider and Friction, as well as consistent radio airplay on all the big shows in the UK scene.
In June 2006 Nero released their acclaimed EP, “Requiem EP” on Formation Records. Consisting of four top tracks, it was received with a huge response with High Contrast even included the track ‘Bitch I’m Gone’ in his mix for the legendary Fabric Live series!
2009 saw Nero’s first release on iconic label Breakbeat Kaos. The killer track ‘Act Like You Know’, backed with Sound in Motion and a dubstep edit of the title track, has been hitting dancefloors across the world for the last year and was picked up by Fresh and Adam F.
Onto Dubstep…. Nero’s debut dubstep release, ‘This Way’, became one of the biggest dubstep tunes of 2008 and is still selling big units across the world. Since then, Nero’s consistent releases have made them one of the most talked about acts in dubstep. Their remix of the Streets’ tune ‘Blinded by the Lights’ was a massive radio hit as well as a dancefloor smasher played by DJ’s from Chase and Status and Skream to Tiesto and Diplo. More recently Nero have remixed La Roux and Deadmau5 to devastating effect.
The boy’s DJing career has also taken off, with an impressive back catalogue which includes supporting Deadmau5, Chase & Status and Zane Lowe on their UK tours.
Nero have recently signed exclusively to Chase & Status’ label MTA and are currently working on their debut album… watch this space!
Dj Premier @ Shape
Knowledge Music proudly presents DJ PREMIER – Infinitely prominent American hip hop producer and DJ, Premier is the instrumental half of duo GANG STARR together with MC GURU bringing up the lyrical side. Originally from Houston, he has lived in Brooklyn, New York virtually his entire professional career. Many fans and hip hop purists consider him to be the greatest hip hop producer ever. He is hailed as an architect of “Hardcore East Coast hip-hop known by its heavy drums and sparse loops.”
THE SOURCE magazine named DJ Premier one of the 5 greatest producers in hip-hop history, while editors from About.com ranked him as #1 in their “Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers” list.
Introduced to DJing while attending school at Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, Texas. DJ Premier’s original stage name was Waxmaster C, although he had already changed it to DJ Premier after he had relocated to Brooklyn and joined Gang Starr. He chose the name Premier because his mom gave it to him. She said he is always trying to be the first at everything so it should be “Premier”.
In an interview with XXL Magazine, DJ Premier was asked how his sound evolved, to which he replied, “Marley Marl is my number one inspiration. Jam Master Jay, Mixmaster Ice and UTFO. Grandmaster D and Whodini. DJ Cheese, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa. Jazzy Jay, even Cut Creator. Seeing them do what they do. It’s black music, it’s black culture, it comes from the ghetto. How can you not relate to ghetto people when that’s the rawest form of blackness? Even though it’s not a good place in regards to the economy and how bad people have it in the neighborhood, the realism’s there, and that’s what we were born out of. So I very much pay respect by doing the same type of music in return.”
Having worked with more people than most dedicated rap fans know about, Premier is responsible for the production of Jeru the Damaja’s first two albums, has done tracks with M.O.P., KRS-One, Group Home, NAS as well as JAY-Z.
DJ Lord @ Shape
Knowledge Music proudly presents LORD ASWORD – Internationally known as DJ LORD, originally hailed from Savannah, Ga., now calling Atlanta home. DJ LORD has been acknowledged for years in the competition circuit as one of the best turnablists in the United States. His role models in the industry include Grand Master Flash, Jam Master Jay, Mix Master Ice, & Jazzy Jeff. Recognizing their skill, LORD spent years honing his craft to raise his caliber amongst these renowned greats.
After demonstrating his turntable expertise to Hip Hop’s immortal pioneers, DJ LORD stepped up to fill the shoes of the legendary TERMINATOR X for the group PUBLIC ENEMY. In 1999, DJ LORD joined PUBLIC ENEMY on their World Tour. Soon after, LORD was granted his own performance segment within the live show. It is with these performances that DJ LORD gained worldwide recognition and acceptance amongst an elite group of turntablists and soon became a highly sought after commodity.
While DJ battles and Hip Hop have been at the foundation of his career, LORD is also widely recognized in the DRUM & BASS arena, captivating audiences with his mesmerizing fusion of Drum & Bass with Hip Hop breaks and beats. A firsthand look into the world of DJ LORD and the art of turntablism is documented in the DVD, ‘DJ LORD – The Turntable Chronicles’, released in 2003. In addition to Public Enemy, DJ LORD is currently touring with FLAVOR FLAV in his solo effort, and the House of Hip Hop Concert Series with Red Reign Entertainment!
Phace @ Shape
Over the past 7 years German Drum n Bass producers PHACE have proven there place at the forefront of the scene with a plethora of outstanding releases on the scenes biggest labels – Renegade Hardware, Subtitles Music, Virus Recordings, Vision, Lifted, Cyanide etc. etc., but also with their incredible, impulsive and precise DJ performances. From very early on they invented a fresh, deep, energetic and individual sound, new to the scene. Setting the path for many of the newskool producers to follow.
The debut Album ‘PSYCHO’ released in 2007 was steadily supported by all the international top acts like Andy C, Pendulum, Friction, Goldie, Ed Rush & Optical, Chase & Status, Noisia, Spor as well as Media representation in the form of UKs Mixmag Magazine Album of the Month and many other rave reviews.
Touting themselves as not only seasoned producers, as DJs they have successfully stormed almost every corner of the globe, playing in all of the major DnB clubs, festivals and beyond.
Handled as one of the freshest and technically most gifted German and international Drum & Bass producers of the current and last years, in 2008 they joined forces with fellow producer and countryman MISANTHROP and finally launched their own and long awaited Label NEOSIGNAL .
Along with putting on Neosignal Label Nights across many cities, just finishing a massive remix for UK‘s indie band Hadouken! and having already four successful single releases in the Neosignal catalogue, their second Album in collaboration with Misanthrop ‘ FROM DEEP SPACE’ was just released in February 2010.
