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Hip-hop sensations and rap artists took to the centre stage at the Marina Beach Club to display their 'ill skills' in an urban talent-hunt, otherwise known as the Red House Hip-Hop Festival 2009, reports MAI_AL_KHATIB.
More than 700 guests jammed and rocked to the beats, as nine rappers battled it out in hopes to land a record deal with the Canadian Smoke 'n' Mirrors label which will market the winner's first single internationally.
The competition was open to Bahrainis and expats above the age of 18 who thought that they could 'spit' with the best of them. Savio Roy D'souza, Red House Marketing business manager and event director, said: "The purpose of the event was to basically take talent from Bahrain, give them a proper platform so that they can showcase their talent here and globally.
"We have a very good market for young people that are into hip hop and rap. I didn't want to just have a festival where international performers simply put on a show. We wanted our locals to get up there and prove what they can do. At the end of it all, we want to put Bahrain in the hip hop scene and with this festival it seems that might just happen. The event has opened a lot of doors now for us with international artists thinking of coming down and performing gigs here."
Saudi dynamo Hattan Shash, who is based in Bahrain, impressed the crowd mixing Arabic and English, rapping about his heritage.
International stars like G-Units Hot Rod and Canadian artist Big Page performed their chartbusters and judged the event. Bahrain's radio personality and comedian Imran Al Aradi lead the show that featured special acts and appearances by Bahrain-based MC and music producer 'Hotline' and Bahrain's DJ Outlaw and DJ Uptown. A freestyle battle even broke out with random audience members.
Also, young rising Arab stars Hussam Aseem a.k.a 'Flipp' or 'Fliperachi' and the lyricist May Alqasimin put on quite a show.
Bahrain's racing ace, Hamad Al Fardan, Outlaw productions newest member, blended his Arabic rap with Flipp. Hamad said: "I just joined the production two weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. Racing is my number one sport but during my free time I enjoy rapping."
Dance troupe the Magnetics entertained the crowd with their 'pop-lock' routine and crazy stunts. Salah Abdul Majeed, 21, from Riffa, said: "We are normally a three-man group but for the competition we had a few special guests.
"Hip hop is the best music for us because it has all the energy in the world. Although we have only done this for a year we think this festival was a great opportunity for us to display our talents and we hope to inspire others to do what they love."
Even George a.k.a Pappa G Middleton, Redhouse's aging but charismatic owner, busted out some rhymes with Hotline beat-boxing on the sidelines. Pappa G believed that this was a great coming together of cultures and that this is the future. Winner of the festival was American Cleveland Hodges a.k.a Cleevlon.
