Apples & Snakes, England’s leading poetry organisation established in 1982 commemorate the evolution of poetry to lyricism and RAP by celebrating hip-hop as a cross strand of performance poetry in its own right. Apples & Snakes’ provide a platform for poetry that is popular, relevant, cross-cultural and accessible and stretch the boundaries of poetry in education and performance.
Apples and Snakes provide assistance and support to emerging artists and have worked with performers including TY, Baby Blue, John Berkavitch, Ross Sutherland, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Benjamin Zephaniah, Francesca Beard, Patience Agbabi, Zena Edwards, Malika Booker and Roger Robinson. On June 2nd Apples & Snakes pay homage to the art form with a line up of London’s finest MCs in what is their first pure hip-hop night featuring artists who have taken rhythm and poetry in a whole new direction.
The Mic Check 1, 2 event will combine Rap, song, lyric and rhyme with powerhouse beats all taking place at The Albany, SE London. Performing on the night will be:
MALARCHI, a steadfast member of the hip-hop scene, returns with his new double a/side Wine Dine. Best known for top notch singles No Question, U4Days and Da Shock featuring Canibus. “Malarchi is a worthy addition to the world of Hip Hop….blazing!” Tim Westwood
LYRICL, as one of UK Hip-Hop’s leading female MC’s, LyricL propelled into the Broken Beat circuit with Loose Lips with Seiji from Bugz In The Attic. To date LyricL has featured on M.J. Cole’s album Cut To The Chase; Giles Peterson’s WorldWide, Nathan Haines’ Squire For Hire, Waxolutionists Counter Fight and Mixologist’s Mix CD, Mark de Clive Lowe’s Tide’s Arising.
LIANHART, human beatbox extraordinaire has performed across the UK at Bafta, Cardiff Stadium, The Royal Festival Hall and The Rise Festival alongside artists such as Mitchell Brothers, Kano, Lemar and Terri Walker. He has frequently performed at the Ministry of Sound, and graced our radio waves, including an ultra slick performance on Ras Kwame’s 100% Homegrown Show on Radio 1 Xtra. Lianhart is the first professional beatboxer to bring this abstract art form to the West-end, currently working on the brand new musical Daddy Cool.
MR GEE, BBC Radio 4’s presenter of Bespoken word, Mr Gee brings fast wit and rhyme to the mic as DJ and MC @ Mic Check 1, 2. He states that, “Hip hop at its best is an art form which elevates the spoken word. We decided to put on a night that embraces today’s rappers as our modern-day poets and celebrate their words.”
Prepare yourselves for lyrics moving faster than the speed of light, beatboxing that’ll knock you on your back, and words so well-honed they must have been working-out.
Listings Information
Mic Check 1, 2
Friday 2 June @ 8pm
The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG
£7 / £5 (concessions)
Albany booking: 020 8692 4446 / www.thealbany.org.uk
Info www.applesandsnakes.org