LIVE @ Crate - Benny Diction & Palmer Eldritch

After a short time away from the laptop to focus on production, DJing and juggling life, we're back.

Photo by TH3 Collective

The lads from TH3 Collective were kind enough to invite me back for their last instalment of intimate live hip-hop PA's at Crate, this time welcoming London's Benny Diction & Palmer Eldritch, and what a way to end their residency. Vibes were high as the crowd rolled in, and Crate's newly granted alcohol license made sure they stayed that way.

Eldritch opened with a showcase of his laid-back, head-nodding instrumentals mixed live on a Roland SP-404, a piece of kit I'd rarely seen used in the flesh, but a staple for the genre. Lush keys, crunchy samples and snappy boom-bap drums were a perfect warm up. At one point Adim - @spontanious_monk - leant into me saying he couldn't keep the camera still enough to film because he was bopping too much, we need to get this man a gimbal!

Benny took to the mic and delivered a performance worthy of a bigger stage. Opening with 'Tranquilo' from his new album 'Look Both Ways' produced, mixed and mastered by Palmer. Translated, it means 'don't worry', and it's a beaut of a beat from Eldritch, gorgeous piano and the drums left subtle and distant. Benny raps in Spanish on this tune as freely as he does in his native tongue. He also spits in French on the album in his track, 'La Chute'. Mint.

We were treated to a few other tracks from the album, along with a few collaborations from special guests. 'Malestrom', 'Ash' and 'Greaseproof' were some highlights from the new release. But my favourite on the day was a currently unreleased track entitled 'Not Dying'.

Self-described by Benny as 'middle-aged mortality rap', it explores the balancing act of indulging in your passions as an adult, whilst simultaneously raising a family and being in full-time work, on top of trying to grasp and create opportunity as a musician. Something anyone with young children, myself included, can relate to heavily. So if you're reading this Benny, please tell me it's coming out soon!

This theme of balance runs throughout the album, exploring the relationship between the highs and lows of human existence and how to navigate them, physically and spiritually.

Album Artwork by @cyphersoreeyes - 'Look Both Ways'

The crowd were able to get involved with the action to pick a few tunes. The Roland SP-404 which Eldritch used for the show is a sampling workstation, whereby the user can assign beats and samples to each pad on the interface. These are lettered (A-J) and numbered (1-12). Benny got people to pick a letter and a number to determine the track he would play next, which didn't quite go to plan with the first choice as we somehow managed to pick one of the only acapella samples which were loaded, but this lead to killer acapella verse from the man himself.

Special guests on the day were, Lady Paradox, who had just got back from a 4 date tour in China, Manny Marko and Louis Cypher - who designed the artwork for 'Look Both Ways'. The latter 2 jumping in for a freestyle cypher with Benny which was full of skippy flows and punchlines galore.

Photo by TH3 Collective

It was a brilliant show and great afternoon spent listening to even better music. 'Look Both Ways' is out now on Gold On The Mixer, with features from Nottingham's own Cappo, DJ Rasp, Defcee & more. Go cop it here, you won't regret it.

This might have been the last date of their residency at Crate, but it certainly won't be the last we hear from TH3 collective. They have plans for shows later on in the year, alongside some presentations and lectures from performers and contributors across the hip-hop landscape. Be sure to keep an eye on their socials for updates, and thank you to them again for the invite, already looking forward to the next one.

Socials

@crate_____

@benny_diction

@eldritch_ldn

@official_th3

@goldonthemixer