Check out the gallery (minus the Wu Tang Man) here thanks to Gusto

This gig was set to be one of the Metro City hip hop events of the year, alas it was a size 14 steel capped tan Dakota to the ribs of those who went there with high expectations. With a live show that has been talked up by the pretentious likes of Pitchfork who tagged Fishscale as an engrossing LP complemented by an equally stellar live show, these expectations were completely founded but perhaps set too high for a Perth performance.

It is through media like Pitchfork that Ghostface Killah has become the – œin’ rap artist to listen to amongst the trendy No Age, Wavves and Japandroids listening types and these kids, in their outfits from Family, made for one hell of an adventurous recipe when mixed with the baggy get up and hi top wearing crew of suburbia. The flavours definitely did not complement each other but were an entertaining combination for a social observer.

It’s a tribute to Tony Starks’ wide appeal that he can pull such a diverse crowd, but he just didn’t seem to be feeling their vibe, which lead to the show becoming a chore for the Ironman rather than a party. There just seemed to be something that was pissing him off all night and this was only fuelled when the 10% of fuckwits in the crowd couldn’t keep their traps shut when he requested a minute’s silence for Michael Jackson. If you haven’t already heard, Michael Jackson died on Friday.

“To those faget ass mutha fuckas who was talking: Fuck You! To the rest of you, I thank you very much.”

Was his call as DJ J-love dropped a mash up of MJ classics midway through the set.

The supports held their own in putting the heat on the crowd with Downsyde MC Optamus punching through some commanding solo jams while a queue waited for the ATM to be fixed and bandmate Armee layed down a classic collection of hip hop beats in the lead up to Ghostface’s arrival. “I told you… it’s gonna be all classics, all night” he shouted before spinning some Biggie Smalls and then freshening up later on with Eminem’s Dre featured Relapse track Old Times Sake.

It may have been the fact that it was not until 12:30 that GFK swaggered on stage, flanked by rappers from his Theodore Unit posse, which lead to his seemingly uninterested attitude. A 12:30-2am timeslot seemed too late for a headliner and was met with complaints from punters who may or may not need to harden up.

“You guys are like my batteries, I can only get charged if you guys are charged.”

Ghostface warned the crowd of their responsibility as he opened his set and the show seemed that it was going to be the expected corker as they busted through Be Easy from hip hop masterpiece Fishscale. However the crowd must have failed in their responsibility and it became apparent Ghostface was losing patience. This was exemplified when he attempted to force a sing a long to Whip You With A Strap that just didn’t seem to happen.

Whether the member of the crowd who was grinding it up on stage lived up to her responsibilities back stage is unknown.

Ghostdeini managed to squeeze a shitload of tracks into the 1.5 hours through only performing them in parts. His Wu Tang mix up was easily the pinnacle of the set and Wu Tang birds were being flipped in full flight as he spat “Wu Tang Clan aint nuttin to fuck with” and “bring da ruckuss, bring da mutha fuckin ruckuss”.

He picked tracks from all over his catalogue, with necessary features from the killer albums Ironman and Supreme Clientele. Fishscale’s Kilo was nowhere to be heard and it definitely hurt. His Billboard hit Back Like That proved to be the expected hit with the ladies, who worked the Ne-Yo lead saddle.

“I’m like a baker, trying to make the perfect cake and my lyrics is the ingredients. That’s why I might take two weeks to write a paragraph, I have to make my cake perfect.”

Ghostface waxed this simile during the show and he is definitely one of modern hip hops masters of lyricism and still packs a raw punch at 40 with his aggressive flow and wit. This was on display at Metro’s but he didn’t give anymore than what was required of him and finished not one minute later than 2am with the crowd unable to inspire an encore.

Ok maybe the aforementioned steel capped size 14 to the ribs was a bit harsh, but the gig was at least a size 14 canvas slip on to the ribs of the longtime fans who had attended with aspirations of witnessing an all time show.

Check out the gallery (minus the Wu Tang Man) here thanks to Gusto