Live Review: Remi, Hau, 90's RD

The small stage of NSC is crowded when 90’s RD (Raw diverCity) start the evening with a sound mixer and up to eight vocalists. A collective of aspiring young artists from mostly hip hop backgrounds, they cruise through a couple of very smooth R&B tracks and dance to obscenity-laden rap numbers. Still developing but full of potential, the group should be great guests to invite over for your next dance party.

Multi-award winner, triple j Hip Hop Show presenter, and one half of Koolism, Hau Latukefu and his ‘homegirl’ Crystal attempt to warm up the steadily growing room but are met with only a lukewarm reception. Latukefu’s vocals sound strangely distant even as he works hard to pull the crowd in. DJ Crystal fares better with snap timing on the turntables and a turn herself singing cracking vocals in one track.

For those who haven’t seen him in awhile, what a difference a year makes for Remi. Around this time last winter, he was supporting Public Opinion Afro Group with a distinctive hairstyle and faint nerves filtering through his vocals. He’d just released a hit album but the main act demonstrated how much more refined they were in the flesh. 

It only spurred him, producer Sensible J and mix master Dutch to knuckle down harder, garnering an ever-widening fan base, collecting the first-ever Australian Music Prize for a hip hop album for Raw X Infinity earlier this year, touring successfully overseas and acquiring a serious set of dumbbells, it appears. Perhaps all those elbow curls as he pumps his arms and microphone rhythmically to Sensible J’s beats have contributed to his toned frame. 

“My job, as your host tonight, is to make sure you all have a fuckin’ awesome time! Come over to see me later for my latest free album or download it on bandcamp. You paid hard earned money for tonight and I just want to show how much I really appreciate you all coming out to support us.”  Fitter, faster, far more confident and doling out some generous hospitality to boot.

The new album, Call It What You Want, is an adventurous experiment in layering Remi’s rapping vocals over the sounds of a wide range of music that has inspired he, Sensible J and Dutch. So we’re treated to Weirdos (From Planet HOB), with a strong Regurgitator vibe, and There Goes The Neighbourhood, with touches of Nick Cave. 

The mostly young crowd tonight takes time to warm up to the new-sounding beats and grooves, trying to catch the ride of the hook. They don’t stop moving, however, which is a good sign.

Remi has his act down pat. He’s now a maestro when it comes to stealing the show, with aerial kicks and sharp, almost snarling vocals. Harnessing energy and throwing it back at the audience is part of the nature of hip hop, and he does it remarkably well. About to embark on another long international tour, this is his bon voyage party of sorts. We look forward to his return.