For a moment we could argue about the line-up of the Finnish all star hip hop team. Should it include the biggest names or perhaps the toughest underground artists? What ever the result of the discussion may be, I dare to say that the closest the 35-year-old Ilosaarirock got to this ideal was in the form of Marienhof.

The posse with the monstrous title “Q-continuum presents the Marienhof” consisted of so many vocalists that the crew nearly ran out of microphones. Besides Emma Salokoski, who was mostly chilling out in the background, Puppa J, Axl Smith, Tommy Lindgren and Paleface all contributed to the rhyme stew.

Especially the last two spent a good long while on Rentolava (The Chill Out Stage), and Smith gathered up positive karma by dissing himself in freestyle bits, which were all still tolerable length. The boys organised chants for the audience, ran around in circles, and Father Metro even flashed his underpants (those were white, in case anybody’s wondering).

The references to The Message by Grandmaster Flash heard towards the end of the gig reminded the audience of the continuum-like nature of rhythym music. The same message was delievered by the music of the band: the bass is just as serviceable and valid an instrument as the transverse flute - as long as the rhythm section keeps the groove alive. And that was guaranteed.

Text: Olli Sulopuisto
Translation: Hanna Laaksonen

15.07 2006 klo 23:01 - In English.