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A sold out crowd gathered at Fowlers Live for a night of powerhouse hip hop.

Travelling the country on their dual headlining City Brothers Tour, Perth peeps Downsyde and golden haired, golden boy of the moment Drapht hit Adelaide with all the adrenalin and beers that they could pack into their bag of beats.

All the artists on tonight’s bill released albums last year so it seemed apt that Melbourne Emcee Pez of The Festival Song fame was a likely candidate for support to get the party started. Having queued for what seemed like an eternity to get into the venue (all of Adelaide seemed to have the same idea, to get there early to witness this emcee’s lyrical skills), I can’t say I was surprised to see the room heaving with people and Pez getting Fowlers hot and steamy for double trouble act of Drapht and Downsyde. Joined on stage with 360 the boys went about whipping us into a frenzy. However it was The Festival Song which found itself at number 7 on this year’s Triple J’s Hottest 100 that caused an eruption of epic proportions. Pez has got big things coming his way if tonight’s performance was anything to go by.

Giving everyone enough time to grab a few beers in between sets the riffs of Jimi Hendrix’s Foxy Lady boomed through the amps signifying that Drapht and Downsyde were clearly in da house! Cramming onto Fowlers tiny stage they unleashed a ferocious intensity that didn’t waver throughout the night. First time touring together on this scale Drapht and Downsyde have had a long association with each other through Syllabolix machine- a collective of Emcee’s and Dj’s. Many a hard hitting beat was served up, matched with fierce lyrics. Drapht momentarily left the stage to allow Downsyde to manipulate our attention with Anyone Can Do It and We Won’t Stop but It wasn’t before long that Drapht was back to join the boys giving us a taste of his 2005 album Who Am I with The Music.

Revelling in the fun of being on tour together they have clearly worked hard and performed a tight and virtually flawless set, but seeing them performed together and separately I couldn’t help but think that Downsyde had to work a little harder for their bread and butter.

Highlights were Fame and Fortune hotly followed by Master MC, Calm Before The Storm and Lightspeed from Downsyde, but not to be upstaged Drapht delivered some brilliance with Falling, Drink Drank Drunk, Where You From, before the night was finished off with the now infamous Jimmy Recard, which got hands pumping in the air and people bouncing to massive frenzied proportions! Pez also joined them leaping around like a jack in the box.

No encore tonight but you couldn’t help but feel you got your fill from the bag of treats packed with luscious beats.

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