Spank Rock: Time to get dirty
With party cultural insiders pegging Baltimore as the American city with the hottest scene of the moment, much of that heat can be attributed to the x-rated electro-soaked hip-hop of Spank Rock. Led by the irrepressible rapper Naeem Juwan (also one-half of 2 Live Crew tribute act Bangers & Cash), the Spank Rock collective has grown to include rappers Pase Rock and the show-stopping Miss Amanda Blank, whose fierce style and sex-obsessed flow has her primed as the next Lil’ Kim minus all of that unnecessary plastic surgery.
Kid Sister: I guess this is growing up
Rumors rumbled that Chicago’s red-hot hip-hopstress would be a no-show at HARD, with record label pressures to finish a long overdue full-length CD forcing her to miss various tour dates this summer (although at press time, she was still scheduled to appear). It’s a legitimate concern, as her buzz has built to such a crescendo that Kid Sister was nominated for “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist” at this year’s BET Awards and an appearance at the huge Glastonbury festival in the UK, primarily on the strength of one single, “Pro Nails” (the video boats a cameo from supporter Kanye West). That buzz was built the old-fashioned way, with KS and her Chi-town crew of DJ duo Flosstradamus (which includes her brother, J2K AKA Josh Young) and boyfriend DJ A-Trak criss-crossing the country perfecting an upbeat and engaging live show. After a celebratory set at this year’s Coachella, expect KS to really bring it when she hits the stage Saturday night. UPDATE: The rumors were true--Kid Sister will not be performing at HARD. Pour out a little Red Bull in her honor Saturday night.
MSTRKRFT
These Canadians are toe-to-toe with Justice vying for the crown as the new electro kings. MSTRKRFT come with the extra cred, as one half of the band was originally in Toronto noise terrorists Death From Above 1979. The dynamic duo’s ear-splitting slabs of buzz-saw bass lines and arena-ready beats move the American Apparel nation with ease. They’ve remixed pretty much everyone worth remixing, and have DJed at Cinespace Tuesday nights as much as Steve Aoki. You could almost call them honorary Los Angeles citizens at this point. MSTRKRFT surely whip the neon massive into a sweat-soaked frenzy when they hit the decks.
Bloody Beetroots
Italy has gotten into the DJ duo sweepstakes with these Spiderman-masked superheroes determined to “save the rave!” Flipping the hyperkinetic rave sounds of the late ‘80s/early ‘90s through a laptop filter of the modern warehouse party scene, the Bloody Beetroots are like the ADHD-addled little brothers of Justice ripped on energy drinks and Taco Bell. Exuding enough energy to power a small city, dancers that want to keep up better eat their Wheaties. When it comes to BPMS, the Bloody Beetroots show no mercy.
