REVIEW | MC ABDOMINAL (@MCAbdominal) & DJ FORMAT (@DJFormat4 ) LIVE @HAUNTBRIGHTON

After being introduced to DJ Format & Abdominal by my older brother back in 2003(age of 13), this gig was a 14 year of wait. The first song I listened to was Vicious Battle Raps & it astonished me I was amazed, hooked, an instant fan, I had a new idol in MC Abdominal. The record appeared on DJ Format’s first studio album release, Music for the Mature B‑Boy who also had legends like Chali 2na, Akil from Jurassic 5 contributing on. Definitely worth checking out a great blend of funky hip hop record.

Moving on to Abdominal first album in 2007 — Escape From the Pigeon Hole to this date my favourite Album of MC Abs, Topics of the songs were about real things I could relate to like things that piss him off from day to day Walk Left, Stand Right to exercising lung capacity with 16 bars on one breath, Breathe Later which is a masterpiece song to any MC and is a must listen(see live video clip below)

Literally having just finishing my abdominal workouts I bump into MC Abdominal outside the gym hooded up I get a quick snap(picture below) he’s calm, collective, patient… I Arrived at the gig DJ Format was accompanied by Abdominal signing some tee shirts & selling some merchandise at the back of the venue, Really cool vibe in The Haunt a resonance of them at back of the gig chilling, cool and relaxed. It was a quick minute & Format was introducing Abdominal on stage who opened with a Title from his new album called Still hungry. The venue had a crisp clear sound, the beat & the people bounced around the small venue which by now had around 200 people inside. 15 minutes in they decide to stick the fork in another classic, Ill culinary behaviour. There have been so many hip hop gigs I’ve been to over the years and you cannot work out what the MCs are saying, not with this one the lyrics had clarity and fresh beat after fresher kept pumping throughout the set, Vicious battle raps came next rapped over a Wu Tang Clan beat which flowed extravagantly.

The songs kept coming and Abs was tireless on the mic it was powerful, excellently remastered old beats with new lyrics the understanding between Format n MC Abs was so smooth throughout. Great show great sound lachaim guys. I managed to talk to Abs after the gig and asked about the UK tour Cardiff, Bristol came close but Brighton was the best in his eyes. It was a treat to see these underground veterans in action.

It was pure satisfaction & possessed lyrical clarity to scream insanity. From vicious battle raps to old skool classics Abdominal lay it down with the vocals while Format kept it fresh with such a wide range of catchy hooks. So all in all was it worth the wait of 14 years. Hell yeah I would see them again tomorrow given the chance. Solid ⁹⁄₁₀. Peace out for now.