To MC or not to MC...

killeye · Post by **killeye** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:07 pm

I know this is probably a tried and true discussion point on these forums, but after the Mixologists (with MC Trip) the other night I had to bring it back up. I thought Trip was the true showman, guiding the audience through the performance, getting the crowd revved and then doing his own acapella thing. But a member of my posse (ani_!) found the dude annoying...yeah he could have left out the repeated comments about "the great looking women out here" but other than that I felt he really made the night.

So I'm asking what the consensus is on MC's out there.Does the addition of an MC add to or dimish from your enjoyment of a set? And what about the MC's actual style? Some do that rapid fire thing (skibba) others really do scat almost jazz style vocals (conrad, cleveland watkiss) and others do a bit of both (Dynamite MC)what works well with what? whaddyareckon?

Amick · Post by **Amick** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:14 pm

Well for me, Adam F & Fresh was kinda shitehouse until Dynamite MC stepped up...then he basically took the gig by the throat.

But to be honest there isn't one local MC who i like, perhaps Pab but noone else.

I guess everyone has favourite MC's but to answer the question, I say

not MC...

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:34 pm

Not MC.

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:50 pm

I usually hate MCs with a few notable exceptions such as Stamina and a couple of others.

However, I thought Trip was really good the other night, but I was kinda trashed and maybe just in the right frame of mind.

I'd say no MCs unless they're damn good or I have a MUTE button I can use at will.

Lephrenic · Post by **Lephrenic** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:45 am

I like MCs, they don't bother me. And I've never found them difficult to ignore when I'm trying to hear the music, so I don't really see what everyone's problem is. Sydney's got some wicked MCs - Antic, Kray and Ozi Battla.
Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-lec-taaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

Zerotonine · Post by **Zerotonine** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:53 am

I think MC's can be frustrating compared to the tunes. But sometimes they bring another dimension to a set. As an example, there was an MC with a DJ warming up before Ben Shepherd and Crystal Method played. I mean he was constantly spewing. I would prefer if he would come in at choice moments, just not the whole bloody time. I just wanted him to shut the hell up

. So basically, No MCs...unless they keep it a little low key.

waggers · Post by **waggers** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:44 am

I rather like MC's; so yes, MC's.
Trip was rad.

Ani · Post by **Ani** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:12 am

I liked Trip, to start with! I do like MC's, they can contribute a lot to a gig. Trip was good at getting the crowd going, and his freestyling was impressive. I just got over the fact that he was more concerned about which chicks were going back to his hotel room after the gig then the music. A little playing around is fine, but it just got annoying after a while.

waggers · Post by **waggers** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:07 am

RE: girls; hotel rooms:
I'm kind of divided on that one...
On the one hand, Trip's a rad MC - he might as well enjoy the trappings of his fame. In fairness, there were some fit girls there.
On the other hand, save the pick-up lines for after the show and get on with the rhymes, sucka.
(ps: I don't really think Trip's a sucka. He was well entertaining)

Guyno · Post by **Guyno** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:43 am

Love MC's and use them most sets 'but' imo good MCing is also knowing when to shut up and let the choonage sell itself.

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:27 am

mc's will either blow my buzz or won't piss me off. that said, my fave mc is prolly stamina. doesn't seem to take it too seriously, plus he can sing. guys i don't mind include sp, dynamite and occasionally darrison.

that skibba style just shits me, because i don't have any idea why they do it.

nic · Post by **nic** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:31 am

Loved Trip. Was very entertaining and didnt chatter too much I thought. I rate Dynamite very highly.....MC, Yes.

Locally, I used to really like Direkt mc ing over breaks at Fractured. He had good balance and complimented whoever he was with. Havent seen him around for ages but...

quiet roar · Post by **quiet roar** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:10 am

Guyno wrote:Love MC's and use them most sets 'but' imo good MCing is also knowing when to shut up and let the choonage sell itself.

Spot on Guyno!

And that goes for scratching or drum solos too!

DBoy · Post by **DBoy** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:20 am

yep- it does have place and time and limits. They dohave to know when to bring silence. Is it Dilated who said that it is not just about when you talk, but about when you don't? spot on.

I agree on Adam F and Fresh, but Dynamite is one hell of live MC, he could pick up just about any DJ and make it entertaining IMO.

I like WASP but only with some DJ's. He flows with nice styleee with Ash but heard him with IDES before and didnt think it really suited.

And what is that MC from Brizzy? He has funky arse flows.

LÃ³s Kasinoâ€” · Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:46 am

still rekon dnb could introduce a few more soul mc's ... a la MC conrad..
the combination is awsome!

but as for working up a crowd, no one can do it like an MC...

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:59 am

MC's can trash a set, but they can also make a set fantastic.

DnB was born with MCing so no matter how much anyone whinges it will always have MC's.

Dynamite
GQ
Pab
Stamina
Wasp and Danny sometimes.

sweetcheeks · Post by **sweetcheeks** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 2:29 pm

if i was mixing beats the only MC i would want to work with would be Armanni Reign. he is flawless. as the the rest of the skibbadashabbadaskibbadashabbada arf arf arf drumm and baice in da plaice maike sum noize melburn town , it's less about adding the touches of vocal which can be so golden in a set and more about hyping up the crowd which i don't think is neccessary.

Lizkins · Post by **Lizkins** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:20 pm

quiet roar wrote:
Guyno wrote:Love MC's and use them most sets 'but' imo good MCing is also knowing when to shut up and let the choonage sell itself.
Spot on Guyno!

And that goes for scratching or drum solos too!

I second third that!

Schizo! · Post by **Schizo!** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:00 pm

Not MC

P.S. Valuetime: Love the Harvey Birdman avatar lmao.

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:11 pm

shake hand. shake hand. kiss baby. shake hand. kiss hand. shake baby. kiss hand. shake baby. shake baby.

Schizo! · Post by **Schizo!** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:43 pm

X THE ELIMINATOR!!!

Ok that's enough hehe

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:43 pm

I didn't see trip the other, but i gotta say i was well impressed by him last night. Very original, knew how to work it, and most importantly, he would shut the fuck up occasionally. I've always rated GQ and Fearless as well.

But I still say No MCs.

Post by **lynt** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:41 am

the Tint Professor MC is the dopest

"way cool with the tint professor!"

ukime · Post by **ukime** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:00 pm

I always found a MC helped with DnB acts we used to put on down at AR - seemed to get the crowd into it a bit more. But if they start pulling out the cheesy calls, "all those beautiful girls out there" and constantly asking "how are you tonight melbourne?" and stuff ... that ticks me off a little.

But yeah, I find it gives some acts a good vibe - really depends who they're MCing with. It can be a make or break sitch sometimes.

lynt wrote:the Tint Professor MC is the dopest

"way cool with the tint professor!"

rofl, "look shlick for the chicks".

db · Post by db » Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:50 pm

andycole23_steve wrote: as far as locals....i cant remember who...but at kenny ken @ krayl, locals MCs were wicked...
MC...

Wasp'n'Dr Sponk @ Kryal... Incredibly dope shit !!

MC FO SHO

Party Boosters !!

killeye · Post by **killeye** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:57 pm

A couple of ppl mentioned GQ, thought he was excellent with Andy C, hadn't ever heard his MCing before. Though he really didn't need to work the crowd much cos everyone was hanging for andy!

I guess one of the main points is, no-one minds an MC, as long as they know when to shut up (have to agree) but I guess your idea of when they should shut up can differ from someone elses!

Also, local MC's...there seems to be fewer local mc's at parties of late, anyone else noticed? nic mentioned MC Direkt..love his work, haven't seen his name around for a while either..

Guyno · Post by **Guyno** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:11 am

killeye wrote: Also, local MC's...there seems to be fewer local mc's at parties of late, anyone else noticed? nic mentioned MC Direkt..love his work, haven't seen his name around for a while either..

Direkt has still been spitting with the Beatsworking kru but I believe is taking some time out to focus on some seriously dope hip hop production. Have been hearing his werx for the past year or so and gotta say the guy has some real talent.

quick · Post by **quick** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:14 am

Stamina MC · Post by **Stamina MC** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:23 pm

quick wrote:

That is fucking AWFUL. Who did I have to piss off in order to incite someone to do that to me?!

Ag3nT[]0raNg3 · Post by **Ag3nT[]0raNg3** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:37 pm

BAHAHAHA!!

was wondering if you would see that! hahaharharrr

quick · Post by **quick** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:50 pm

Stamina MC wrote:
quick wrote:

That is fucking AWFUL. Who did I have to piss off in order to incite someone to do that to me?!

Wasn't me...

But I do think its funny, I mean someone went to all this effort.... for you!

flippo · Post by **flippo** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:47 pm

Like most ppl have said, it can be great, or it can be fucking shite. Dynamite at POW was great I thought.

Might step on some toes here but, I thought GQ at Andy C was fucken annoying. He must have said the same shit about 20 times. Being a dark pommy with dreds dosent make you an automatic rudeboy Killa MC. (oh contraversial)

Conrad sounds like he has some serious frogs stuck in his throat, although its a cool style and I can appreciate that. Local blokes can work it when its their night.

Personaly I think its just being confident and having fun. I don't like seeing an MC thats strait faced and thinks it's all very seriously cool rasta gangtsa shit and they gotta look tough and angry and shit. If they are having fun I usually like em.

INSIDE!!! IN DA PLACE!!! WID MA BASS!!!! RIIIIIIIIIIIIINSOUWWWDDD!!!!

Post by **system** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:26 am

it's a skill, no doubt. I'd say that a good MC is an essential part of D&B, especially given the provenance of the music.

my faves from the UK D&B scene would be DRS, GQ (many years), Dynamite and Stamina.

when you get down to it though, it's like DJs - there's heaps of crap ones out there and only the strong survive.

Stamina MC · Post by **Stamina MC** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:27 am

flippo wrote: Being a dark pommy with dreds dosent make you an automatic rudeboy Killa MC. (oh contraversial)

Controversial, no. Misguided, somewhat.

I can say with certainty as close to 100% as circumstance will allow me that being "a dark pommy with dreads" doesn't even cross GQs mind at any time, gig or otherwise. Moreover, I'm confident he has no aspirations or desire to be (or even be thought of as) a "rudeboy Killa MC".

If you're not feeling the man, so be it- but try not to lose focus on reality... please...

flippo · Post by **flippo** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:15 am

Andycole : that's a fair innings.

Stamina: Fair enough, you obviously know the man well enough to comment. Do not take what I said there seriously mate, I get a bit jaded when I jump on the net sometimes. (You know, the whole being able to say what you want without there being anyone physicaly there to punch you in the face syndrome). Mabye it wasn't his day, or mabye it wasnt mine of both. I guess I'm v. fussy when it comes to MCs.

if its any constelation price I like your work.

Tiki was good at Concord for BDO I thought. He tried v hard to get a large group of breaks and trance heads going, at 1:30 before their afternoon meds had fully kicked in, when the sound was at lower than optimum volumes. In a situation like that you need an MC.

Post by **system** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:36 am

andycole23_steve wrote:toasting over beats for what.....must be 13-14years ? does make him one rudebwoy dapper dan

more like over 20.

same o · Post by **same o** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:49 am

andycole23_steve wrote: as far as locals....i cant remember who...but at kenny ken @ krayl, locals MCs were wicked...
MC...

they were mc wasp and dr sponk they are my two favourite melbourne mc's..
however at times they do seem to ryhme to much.. in my opinion an mc can ruin a night or make it fucken sick... my favourite mc's are stamina, darison, eskman and conrad

Ag3nT[]0raNg3 · Post by **Ag3nT[]0raNg3** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:21 pm

quick · Post by **quick** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:47 pm

Not huge on MC's, but they are good dudes, Danny and JC are top blokes, but shit MC's... haha, joking ofcourse.

I'll always have massif respekt for Stevie Hyper D, fukn man is a Legend, and a Pioneer in my eyes.