Hip Hop Kemp 2007
It was my second time out to deepest darkest Ceska Republika, to the quiet town of Hradlec Kralove to witness the incredible festival of all things Hip-Hop that is Kemp. Combining it with my man DJ Snuff’s stag weekend was probably a big mistake in terms or personal health, but in all other terms it was a great success. After carefully negotiating the delights that Prague had to offer the day before, we finally made it to our hostel. Pretty basic Eastern Bloc styles were the order of the day, but at £25 for three nights, I wasn’t gonna complain…
The festival itself is incredible. Three days of non-stop Hip-Hop, with zero attitude, a good dose of top American and UK acts, as well as those crews from the continent whose work you may or may not be so familiar with. With a line up including Heltah Skeltah, Redman, Dilated Peoples, M.O.P, Cunninglynguists, Dr Syntax & Jehst and a lot more, the congregated heads were in for a treat.
Top Ten Highlights (In no particular order)
1./ Redman’s stage dives from half way up the columns of the main stage
2./ M.O.P. performing Downtown Swinga Internattttttionnnnnallllllll!
3./ Snuff passing out live on camera in the hostel
4./ Performing Pack Mentality with Dr Syntax on the main stage
5./ 60p beers… Gambrinus could be the way forward
6./ Freestyle session with Gunshot legend Mercury
7./ 20 000 people moshing to M.O.P’s Ante Up
8./ EMC absolutely killing it on the Friday night
9./ Repping the mighty Brighton & Hove Albion on the main stage
10./ The fuck off massive sound system… the best in the business
To all those who have never made it out to Hip Hop Kemp: Get your asses out there next year. It just gets bigger and bigger. Book flights early, and you won’t be out of pocket… See you there in the ‘08!
