Live Review: Rap City Enmore Theatre

As an unnerving metal-faced guy in a daggy green polo shirt approached the stage, the audience began chanting extended verses of “Dooooooooomm” in unison. Opening his set with El Chupa Nibre, DOOM instantly exhibited himself void of his signature reckless attitude and the recital of his clever rhymes was somewhat lacklustre. Breaking into One Beer, DOOM's performance seemed somewhat rushed and did not demonstrate his dense, raw rapping style.

As a dramatic change of pace, Ghostface Killah explored the Wu-Tang Clan with an eclectic mixture of tracks from individual members of the Clan, his own original material and classics from 36 Chambers, alongside his right-hand man Killah Priest. Ghostface expressed his overwhelming passion towards Australia and Australians, sentimentally musing “my spirit belongs in Australia, Australia is one of my favourite places in the world,” inciting energy in patriotic Wu-Tang fans. As the crew broke into Wu Tang's pivotal Protect Ya Neck, Ghostface urged kids to jump onstage and rap Method Man's verse, and a youthful looking fan shredded the microphone, impressing Ghostface and the crowd with his dope flow, on point lyrical knowledge and inspiring precision. Following this breaking of the wall between audience and artist, Ghostface exhibited playfulness and gnarly grit with a wild rendition of Ol' Dirty Bastard's Shimmy Shimmy Ya, breaking out in full force as he roared “Ooh baby I like it raw” in the true ODB style as the audience also roared along. As Killah Priest began yelling “Tigerstyle!” signifying the introduction of Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin Ta Fuck Wit, the floor shook with raving kids uncontrollably bouncing around and throwing up their 'W' logo hand formations in the air.

Although the banter throughout the performance was slightly excessive, Ghostface and Killah Priest amped the crowd dramatically, urging them to “jump” and “slamdance” as they spat out infectious, beat-driven rhymes all night.