Accelerated Culture
True Playaz Tour Night
AIR (formally Code)
29.11.03.

This was the second night that the Accelerated Culture crew touched down in Birmingham's new super club Air, bringing along with them the True playaz crew.

Arrived just after 10 and to be greeted with a fairly large queue, outside the cub they had a large projection screen showing some mad visuals to keep the ravers entertained whilst they were queuing up.

Walked straight into the main arena and was greeted by the sounds of DJ Zinc. Zinc was playing a mellow set to start off playing a few dub plates too, to keep the set interesting but I did think it was odd having Zinc on so early.

There was slight alteration to the set up this time round, as they had a stage for the mc to perform on, but still no dancers to keep the crowd happy. Zinc was accompanied by resident mc, mc Presha.

As the arena started to get busier Zinc started to push up the tempo playing tunes such as his remix of Basement Jaxx jump'n'shout, Full Cycles drop bear, Twist em out, slipped in a little oldskool playing R-Type. Its weird to think that R-Type is actually touching ten years old and yet it still sends the crowd wild, Zinc finished the set with his new remix of Ready or Not 2003. Near the end of his set Shabba D arrived, a mass exodus of his fans ran straight to the front to greet their idol.

Well out of one True Playa into another DJ Hype, good to see Hype in Birmingham as he hardly ever visit Birmingham town very often these days.
Nice to see Hype back to his old ways scratching it up and playing around with the mixer, as the last few times I've seen him he's not been what he once was. Hype played an interesting set playing tunes such as Rubber Chicken, T-10minus, Nosher, Muderation teased in the Bad company classic The Nine too. Half way through his set the Rawhill MC's touched down MC Spyda alongside Navigator.

Well it was time for Nicky Blackmarket, Blackmarket played my favourite set of the night his tune selection was spot on. He made use of the CDJ's available playing the Stevie Hyper D tribute song off CD, which sent the crowd into sheer chaos, along with Spyda going mental on the mic. Nicky played the Formation monster Dual Voltage, the Echo-box remix was played that went down well, along with the anthem of the moment Power of Rah.

After Blackmarket it was time for the godfather to step up, Radio One's Grooverider, he was accompanied by nu-breeds Eksman.
I heard that recently Grooverider has been a bit slack lately but tonight his set was wicked. Playing some dark and bassy tunes, which I suspect were Dillinja tunes. Playing the Trumpet as he also sneak in Circles remix as well.

Final set of the night, as not advertised on the flyer Ebony's Shy-FX, for some strange reason for the last hour the main arena was busy again and everyone seemed to get a bit livelier.
Laying down some of the classics as well go get the people buzzing including the infamous Trust me, and the Metalheadz classic that is Pulp Fiction which is a timeless tune, he also played murderation too. Nice to see Shy FX not sticking to the rules and squeezing an extra tune too send the ravers home with.

Shame that there was a little trouble at the very end of the night which did bring a damper to the end but good to see security on the case before it got out of hand as it looked like a little fight.
Other than that still was a brilliant night, more packed than the previous accelerated last month. It's good to see that Accelerated have listened to some comments off people and to put the stage there for the mc, but you need to get some dancers there!

The next Accelerated Culture @ Air is in late January that will be hosting the award winners' party. Good luck to all the nominees at next weeks awards.

Massive shouts to Justin @ Kool, Zinc, Nicky BM, Spyda and Navigator, maximum respects to Charly, Zoë + Collete, Scotty and Dave, Ajay, Astro also to Ross and the Solihull boys.

Heres a list of the winner from the Drum and Bass Awards

BEST DJ: Andy C
BEST OLD SKOOL JUNGLE DJ:NICKY BLACKMARKET
BEST LYRICAL MC: SKIBADEE
BEST CROWD HYPING MC: FEARLESS
BEST DJ NEWCOMER: HAZZARD
BEST MC NEWCOMER: EKSMAN
BEST PRODUCER: TWISTED INDIVIDUAL
BEST RECORD LABEL: RAM RECORDINGS
BEST TRACK / ANTHEM:BANDWAGON BLUES – TWISTED INDIVIDUAL
BEST RADIO STATION: KOOL FM
BEST INTERNET RADIO STATION: PYROTECHNICRADIO.COM
BEST WEBSITE: BREAKBEAT.CO.UK (DRUMANDBASS ARENA)
BEST WEBSITE FORUM: BREAKBEAT.CO.UK (DRUMANDBASS ARENA)
BEST INDEPENDENT RECORD SHOP: BLACKMARKET RECORDS – LONDON