Cockpit, Leeds
01/11/2012
In recent years, hip hop has become one of the most popular music genres in the world. Like any popular music, many new artists have watered down the genre to a point where the music produced is a shadow of its former self: tired, weak, and lacking the powerful message which was so important to a lot of hip hop artists that developed through the 80s and 90s. The same can be said about the hip hop and grime scene in the UK. The community has been developing underground in the UK for years and has produced many talented young individuals who are all now enjoying mainstream success. Dizzee Rascal, Professor Green, Example and Tinie Tempah are just a few examples, and unfortunately all of these acts are guilty of creating over-produced, unoriginal rubbish nowadays that delivers a message that teaches, well, nothing. But there is hope: hip hop is changing again and people are paying attention. Underground hip hop has shape-shifted into a much smarter model. Acts such as Jay Electronica (who recently signed to Jay Z’s label Rockafella records), who has been making his mark on the scene with his poetic spoken word tracks and music that oozes soul.
Here in the UK, Scroobius Pip is such a man who does not follow the typical trends of modern hip hop. His genre of music is almost impossible to label at times and he is set for big things with the release of his debut solo album Distraction Pieces. His live shows are renowned for their energy and tonight at Leeds Cockpit is no exception. The Cockpit is packed and when Pip takes to the stage the atmosphere seems a little unsure as the first few notes of ‘Introdiction’ surround the crowd. This instantly changes as the opener kicks into an infectious groove which instigates mass head nodding throughout.
What is most impressive about Pip’s live show is how he manages to adapt his music for the stage. The songs sound massive with a live band supporting him as opposed to a backing track, which is typical of live hip hop acts. Using a backing band for live shows really shows off the rock element to Pip’s influences, which is even more obvious as the band break into ‘Let ‘Em Come’. With Pip feeding off the energy of the band, skipping and jumping around the stage, the crowd respond whole-heartedly. This descends into chaos as the band finish by looping the intro to Rage against the Machine’s ‘Bulls On Parade’. This frantic atmosphere is consistent throughout the gig, with the help of artists from previous collaborations, who join Pip on stage for a much faster, almost heavier version of ‘One Breath Left’. The original version of the track by B Dolan, featuring Scroobius Pip, is a highlight of the night and receives the mass sing-along that the chorus begs for. Dolan stays on stage for a pummeling version of ’Soulja Boy (Kill ‘Em)’ and certainly makes his mark on the punters crammed into the tiny venue – definitely one to look out for.
It looks like the Cockpit needs a breather at this point. Pip has a comedic way with the audience and keeps the crowd laughing contently as the band tune up for the next onslaught. He shows off his talent for transcending tracks to the live show as he introduces a new version of fan favorite ’1000 words’. He explains that the spoken word track has not gone down too well with audiences in the past due to it dragging out too long and losing a lot of the energy built up in his shows. But the track is a welcome respite and Pip’s poignant poetry flows well with the atmospheric rhythm and dopey beat, which lulls the crowd into a sense of calm and reflection. The set finished with ‘Broken Promises’, another spoken word track which receives mass appreciation from his adoring fans, screaming every word back like their lives depend on it.
Huge applause follows Pip and the band as they leave the stage, only for what seems a second as the group jump back on for an encore which was is all too obvious. Pip’s energy is back with a vengeance as the intro to the much anticipated new single ‘The Struggle’ rises from the front. This causes the biggest sing-along the Cockpit has ever experienced, and by far the most surreal as the music stops and 300 people collectively scream “My name’s Johnny Depp and I kill people”. Although Pip has now moved on from his many collaborations in previous years to a more focused solo career, he still plays tracks from his dan le sac days for his older devoted fans. The band kick into ‘Astronaut’ to finish the night with the energy with which the gig began, including a pretty successful stage dive which takes Pip on a voyage over the sea of people who has flooded the venue.
Tonight’s performance really shows the musical talents of Scroobius Pip and how far he has come with his diverse take on the hip hop genre. The many different influences fused together on his debut album create something for everyone and his live shows add a lot more. Big things are set for Scroobius Pip for next year; catch him at a venue like this while you still can.
Joshua Lodge
Image: Craig Thomas, used with permission
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