The Colony and DJ Skully The Toucan After Kela got the blood pumping in the Toucan at the last Higher Learning, I was proper hyped up for the next one. With good vibes coming from people on the street, I figured it was going to be yet another ram-packed affair. So I hurried the lady up so we made it in the club for just gone ten. Sadly the club was empty, when I mean empty, I mean there was a deejay and about five people in there! This instantly put a downer on my night, I’m not one for standing in the corner and nodding to the beats, but I’m not too up for being the only prick dancing. So I sat down on a nice comfy sofa and got more drinks. As I sat there, hoping for the club to fill up (it doesn’t), a few people venture from downstairs to listen to some of the tunes being spun by Ruffstylz but it’s still looking rather bleak. Finally a fairly large group turn up, so I’m thinking things are looking up. That is until I figure out the large group who entered are actually The Colony! Definitely a shame when the act makes up about one tenth of the audience! Still the tunes are being dropped, and people are starting to fill the floor a bit more. Once The Colony hit the stage, the vibes kind of weird, with people evidently not in a party mood. Still once the act kicks in, the group prove they’ve got enough energy to keep the show bouncing along nicely. Not too familiar with The Colony’s material, but they are obviously playing a few of their singles as some die-hards know the words. All the emcees have skills as they pass the mic around effortlessly. Then we are treated to a bit of rhyming over a beatbox, nice skills on both parts and you can tell the crowd is feeling it when it slips into a ragga flavour. Colony member Grimlock shows why so many rate him as he displays some crazy off the top rhymes, lovely stuff. A few more tunes are played, with the atmosphere steadily gaining a little momentum. The Colony then make way for their deejay, and UK DMC Champion, DJ Skully. The crowd packs in tightly to view an obviously well talented fella flex some forearm. Some really nice flares, orbits and all the stuff you’d expect, then a tight, tight, tight beatjuggle to really get everyone in the mood. Skully soon starts spinning what people want to hear with lots of party jams coming out. Broken up by the occasional scratch routine like the comedy beatjuggle of ‘Billy Jean’. Finally the Toucan has a party atmosphere going on… well done Skully. My main criticism would be that Skully did overuse the ‘wow’ factor of the juggle, plus it wasn’t so much mixing as scratching in the next record. Still, tune selection was well nice. Don’t know what happened much after that as I had to make a move, but it was safe to say people still looked like they had a good time when I left. On reflection, a night which was in fact rather tasty, yet ruined by the poor turnout. C’mon Cardiff, don’t you like your hiphop anymore or something?! Good effort on the people who did bother turning up to make it not a stink night. Lets just hope the next instalment is back to at least half capacity! *The Next Higher Learning* Toucan Club, St. Marys Street. Lewis Parker and Humurak D Gritty (EP Launch) plus deejays Killer Tomato & Ruffstylz. 10 til 2, £6 tax. - 2Hip | profile © ukhh.com 1999 - 2003