I'll start by stating that I'm not the biggest fan of Aussie Hip Hop around. However, that said, after witnessing the talent at this show I'm starting to become a fan. I think I've never been a big fan due to the overbaked Aussie accent that was so present in early Aussie Hip Hop, but admittedly artists like Muph and Plutonic, Urthboy, Seth Sentry, Pez and of course Hilltop Hoods are rapidly moving away from that style, and bringing something unique, funky, and hard hitting to the table.

The same can be said about what I've seen tonight.

Drop the Junk 2 has been billed as a night of local Hip Hop, organised by Quizmical (of The Lady Throat Killers), and he had asked me to come and check it out. I did have other plans (had been invited to The Floating Bridges Xmas party in Pomona, but a late storm quickly put a stop to that - no way in hell was I going to drive on that death highway in the wet), but since they were quashed, the invitation to witness local Hip Hop talent seemed interesting.

I've never been to the Coolum Beach Hotel before, and despite the bullshit no hat policy ('no hats on in here, mate' - yet when I walk in there's 5 guys walking around with a variety of headwear. WTF? Fail.), the venue is pretty cool. Kind of like a Sands Tavern in an alternate reality. Walking in I notice there's easily over 100 punters there of all stereotypes, so I grabbed a Schooner and settled in to watch what the artists had to offer.

I arrived a bit late, due to the change in plans, and I was also pretty damn tired from a long week, but the combination of beer and some crafty DJ work from DJ Jah Cruz was perking me up a bit.

Quizmical has got banners up for his studio, as well as Skate Sauce, so big thumbs up for the local business support.

Having missed the start, I was there to catch Kudos take to the stage. As I said at the beginning, I've never been a big fan of Aussie Hip Hop, but Kudos has brought something different. His non-Ocker approach (compared to old skool Aussie Hip Hop) is way more interesting and easy to get into. This guy is a tripper though, but so damn entertaining, and his rhymes are slick and flowing, and so f*cking fast. All in all, an awesome, funky set.

During the break, looking around I actually notice a few Coast Music Industry Illunumni in the crowd, but I'm not there to talk shit and business - I'm there to have a live taste of local Hip Hop Talent.

There's another slathering of DJ stuff, but it's real funky beats instead of the typical Fridays Doof Doof shit. It actually reminds me of the style of music played in the back alley clubs in Melbourne that I've witnessed - and thank f*ck for that.

Just as a side note, The Coolum Beach Hotel would have to have one of the tiniest bar attendants around.

With more people turning up, I'm starting to notice that this isn't my normal crowd. Admittedly, if I had a bunch of mates here getting on the drink, we'd be having a ball like 99.9% of the people here tonight. Instead, I'm on my own to make sure this show gets reviewed and more importantly to make sure you all now know of the Hip Hop talent that exists on the Sunshine Coast.

Love Substance are up next, mixing up beats and samples with live guitar. Right idea, cool sound but just needs to be tightened and streamline their performance. The mix was all over the shop, but people were still digging it, and some crafty MCing over the top picked up the performance. Eventually, the group got the sound sorted and it sounded SICK.

What came next shocked the shit out of me. Big, nasty, dirty drum'n'bass with two vocalists over the top. I had to ask repeatedly (to myself - I must've looked like some weird dude talking to myself) 'where the hell have these guys been hiding?'.

The sound of The Outlook and Mr Boinkin was big and bouncing. They definitely had the crowd pumped, showing off super smooth vocals and fast flowing rhymes over the top of dirty, bouncey beats. Hell, I felt like one of those bobble-head figures, my head was bouncing/nodding that much.

The biggest disappointment though, was not being able to catch The Lady Throat Killers in action. The Outlook and Mr Boinkin were still pumping at 12.30am, and with no sign of slowing down, I was beat. I really wanted to catch them live, but had to settle for their track 'Beer on a Cactus Trip' (you can download that track from their profile) on the long drive home back to ol' Nambour town.

Next time there's a local Hip Hop show on, check it out. You'll be amazed by the talent this area produces.

Rooster.