The long-standing Poets v MCs show is back in a new guise. After 16 years of spoken word v hip hop, the battle has shifted to pit city against city. With crews of new talent and an enthusiastic crowd (I’m still hoarse from cheering), this night was a mix of funny, clever artists intent on using their words for good.
Positivity wins in this upbeat battle of words and wit
The fresh format still lines up poets against MCs, alternating at the mic with the loudest cheers from the audience, deciding the winner. But now, the second half of the show is about which city has the strongest talent, regardless of style. Cue comic stereotypes and cerebral slaggings off, and some bang-on paeans to what makes each city great.
Past shows have seen the OG Brighton Crew trounce London, get crushed by Edinburgh’s finest, and tonight it was North v South, with my steely old stomping-ground Sheffield, battling my long-term lover, Brighton. First up, MCs from both cities faced off the poets, divided on stage by a fine hip hop DJ.
Standout MCs included the deservedly self-assured Benny Diction and Boudicca, who grew into her co-host role as if born to the throne. Champion poets from Brighton’s spoken word night Hammer and Tongue lived up to their reputation, while Chris Parkinson’s reptilian Larkin (“they lizard you up, your gecko and iguana”) had me creased with laughter.
Next up was city v city. Both got punctured and praised for what truly makes them special: Norman Cook or Phil Oakey? Barm cakes or bread rolls? I’ve lived in both places and was charmed by both sides. My highlights were a rousing ode to BN2 9SB and a sharp-eyed reference to Human League tribute acts, accompanied by a crisp packet.
The stage was a gentler space than billed. Performers took pains to be nice and had prepared their pieces in advance, which didn’t leave much room for the unexpected. More freestyling and actual slam battles could have brought more fizz to the evening and delivered the ‘versus’ in the title.
Nonetheless, as a format to get a mix of talent on stage and structure a night, the imagined conflict works, and the gentleness fitted the positive, thoughtful messages most artists were keen to put across. As Boudicca put it, 'We love using our voices to make a difference.'
I cheered and danced and gave a damn who won, and went home glad people care enough about the world to rap about it. I’d call that a success, in any city.
