Double Talk 4

Ganzenhoef and Paradiso, Amsterdam-12 and 13th May.
This years Double Talk 4 is reported double. Because of sickness and being overloaded with work, this report involved more then two reporters. The festival brought up some very different opinions. AQ: "The first night in Ganzenhoef was the best with only entrance fee of ƒ15,- it was a lot of value for your money. The second night, naah, it couldn't move me." Marianna:"I was really eager for this evening but it was less then I expected. Probaly because I was sick, I missed a lot what was going on. Sad that the peeps who go to Bassline, concerts and other parties but didn't come to this. I think this is what muisc is about: Rhythm and Poetry." DJ Love Supreme: "First of all, the (ƒ45,- second evening) price was a little high for a lot of people to get down with the program, that's too bad, because it was worth it."

4 years ago a group of people from [NES] Theaters and Paradiso came up with the plan to blend poetry and HipHop together into one two-days festival called Double Talk, and since then there has been one every year… Main force behind the concept, production and idea of Double Talk was Emerald Barryl. Who wrote for the first two DT's two special books with lyrics and poems from artists performing. Check these books! Last year it was only one night in Paradiso and it was the last time Emerald was involved. This year it was again a two-day festival. One night in Paradiso and one in [NES] Stash Ganzenhoef. Because of the renovation of Frascati it was held in Amsterdam Southeast community center Ganzenhoef.

You can never really tell what to expect before you step in the arena, but once you're there you will find enough food for thought coming out the speakers. No doubt.

Report by AQ:

May 12th the opening night in Ganzenhoef. The question was "How many peeps will come down to the Concrete Jungle?" Not that much, only 70 paying visitors. Well including all the artists, staff and guests it was still comfortable crowded. In contradiction of the Paradiso night with only a few more then 100 paying visitors. The atmosphere was relaxed. No stressing and every body who were here, were open minded to see what was going to happen.

In the line up were no big stars or names. So no change of 'big stars' frustrating you with a 'no show' or being to stoned or drunk to deliver a decent performance. One sad point, no Rollarocka. Lot of peeps were eager to see him. The concept of the evening was that the artists would perform the results of their interaction they had with each other in workshops held in the daytime. Tri-Ad rocked, as usual, and interacted with Unspoken Heard. LC, the female singer of Tri-Ad, was called back on stage for a freestyle with one of the MC's of Unspoken Heard. Once more: wicked!

Brainpower had to battle Pumpkin Head in freestyles. To make sure the lyrics were not pre written, they had to use the subjects or words given to them on stage. On stage subjects on a Flap-Over, drawn by Mickey, were shown and Murt The Man-O-Script presented words in Bob Dylan style. In two words: great fun!

Just 4 Fun together with ex-020ers: Glenn, Elvira and Jefferson, gave a great performance of a story told in moves. Dance/Breaking, also a form of poetry although a lot more abstract, have to say.

The best kept secret and most amazing was a Breaking crew from Paris: Trafic De Styles. A B-girl and boy this time only two, but normally it are seven B's in a box. They performed a dance out of, around and with a wooden box. It was amazing can't even imagine that they are normally with seven. The girl was indeed a beautiful woman. Murth: "Dat was een zeer mooie doos." In general it was real good to see that there were more women on stage then we are used to see on stage. Props to Paris for le box royale, it was too tight! Loved it, styles terrific!

The evening was hosted by Murth The Man-O-Script, doing it good. And by DJ Oh Jay. Playing like records supposed to be spinned. Heard some jealously sounds by some of his Amsterdam counter parts. But hey, we definitely have too hear Oh Jay more often in Amsterdam. He's one of the few DJ's who doesn't fuck up records by pitching them up. And as selector, he selected the right pieces. Only one thing less, between switching DJ's and host it kept quiet. If there were two DJ's sets instead of one, Murth should have had some background music while hosting. For those who were there, if you see in the full moon Murth flying by on his broom, you know were he got it.

Yep, the first day of Double Talk 4 was phat. Eager for the next day…

Report by DJ Love Supreme:

For those of you who were there, this is not really for you, because I know everybody has got their own idea of how good or bad that night was, but this is how I felt it, so shhhh for a second and let me finish… First of all, the ( Fl.45,= ) price was a little high for a lot of people to get down with the program, that's too bad, because it was worth it. I came jumping in at 22:00 (kickoff time), but KC the Funkaholic was still playing some mellow Jazz in the room downstairs and by looking at the stage filled with instruments/ turntables/ Mics/etc, you could tell something was about to jump off tonight… So I got a smooth drink to go with the vibe and sat down for a minute, while the room slowly filled-up with people.

Our host with the most for the night was Rich Medina; a good poet himself but tonight he was the captain of the ship. He brought Krewcial and his very talented sidekick onto the stage as the first act to bless the Mic, backed up by the band for the night T.W.L (Those Who Listen) featuring Tinus on the drums and Mark on the bass both from Postmen. And Laurens ex-Gut on the keyboards. They gave a tight show with freestyles that were free and BrainPower who was on point…

The next act to step up were two poets from NY: Jessica Care Moore, together with her man Shariff Simmons, spitting out verses like it was nothing, making the crowd say "oooohh" and "aaaaahhh". And even though you couldn't follow every word, the message was crystal clear… They brought on a nice Afro havin' lady from Dallas, did one more song together and then left the stage for her to do her own show. The lady I'm talking about goes by the name of N'Dambi and even though she used a DAT tape instead of a band she still proved to us why she is one of Erykah Badu's backround vocalists ("Hmmmm")

All of this made me thirsty, but while I was in line trying to get some juice at the bar, I heard a voice, reminding me of the Unspoken Heard twelve inch I play when the sun shines, doing a Mic check 1-2. I turned my head to the stage and saw the whole formation, together with the T.W.L. band, getting ready to be better MC's than they already are in my book… They rocked it like no other and after so-many songs gave the Mics up to Tri-Ad, who held it tight and didn't slip.

Meanwhile there was something boiling upstairs too: Palabras, "the phrase stage" (open Mic for poets and lyricists). The program they had put together included two live bands and about nine artists who all did a ten minute presentation of their work. It was very diverse and some were really gifted in the art of using words. And while Ursula Rucker finished up her act downstairs, the crowd was getting ready to see the artist formerly known as Common Sense together with Jill Scott in the main room, with his own band… Now do I need to go on, or can you feel what's coming? Ok, for those of you who were too cheap to buy a ticket, I'm going to rub it in… They ROCKED it!! The girl can sing, he can rhyme and the band made it "funky for you". Most people wanted more but that would have been like eating ice cream all day, too much of the good shit.

To top the night off, King Britt did his thing on the turntables together with KC and the party people who had some energy left could get busy on the dance floor.

All that I can really say is that the whole thing was energetic, poetic, athletic and I give credit to the ones who put this whole thing together, thanks; see you at the next Double Talk…

Txt: DJ LoveSupreme, Marianna and AQ
Photo's: AQ