KRS-One @ Enmore Theatre

Posted on April 6, 2012 by ChuckTaylor

Have mercy Mr. Percy! It finally happened. At age 46, KRS-One made it to Australia and last night was Sydney’s turn to witness something special. It was Sydney’s turn to hear what the Teacha had to say.

Half an hour before the show was meant to start, the Enmore was half empty. We were only coming for one reason. We were only here to see KRS-One. By game time, 9:50pm, it was a bumper crowd and at 9:51 the Teacha’s booming voice thundered out of the speakers and out he comes. The crowd absolutely lost it. There were two grown ass men next to me jumping around like they had just won the lotto and a thick stench of weed engulfed the Enmore like smoking was going out of style.

Without even wasting a minute KRS started tearing through countless classics like South Bronx, You Must Learn, Outta Here, The Bridge Is Over, Love’s Gonna Get’cha and many more. With more than 20 albums of material to choose from it was an embarrassment of riches but he still managed to throw in a couple covers like Tupac’s Ride or Die, Above the Clouds and the ever sick Dead Prez tune “Hip-Hop”.

The highlight of the show for me was always going to be Sound of da Police. Even if you don’t know KRS, you know Sound of da Police. That’s the only song on this planet that you will hear at EVERY hip-hop show you go to. If you’re a DJ warming the crowd up at a concert and you don’t play this track, you’ve failed. After bumping to the recorded version the last 10 years it was time to hear the real whoop-whoop and it was everything I thought it would be.

There was a bit of talk, some sick freestyle, a few lessons taught, there was even a bit of technology-bashing that ended with “Hip-hop is human. I don’t plug in” but the show just had a real party atmosphere. The Teacha invited all the b-boys on stage for a little breakdance-off while the DJ kicked the ultimate break song – Step into a world. Yes yes y’all! You don’t stop!

I was a little nervous that I’d set my expectations so high for this show that it’d be a let down. I didn’t know what to expect but in the end I never should have doubted KRS-One. The man is a legend and he showed that last night.

Peace, love, unity and having fun. That’s what KRS-One is about. That’s what last night night was about. That’s what hip-hop should be.

Next friday I’m getting my ass into my car for a Canberra road trip to do this all again with KRS at the Southern Cross Club. You should too.

(KRS-One pics below courtesy of L&G)