Well Deep – 10 Years of Big Dada @ Electrowerkz, November 16, 2007

The prominent Big Dada (imprint of London based Ninja Tune record label) tonight celebrates ten years of pioneering some of the most forward thinking and diverse hip hop across the globe. The line-up boasts a list that any self-respecting hip hop fan would shudder in their boots to have the chance to experience all on the same bill. We have Roots Manuva, Diplo, Infinite Livez, Jammer & DJ Logan Sama, Mike Ladd, Cadence Weapon and many more to sample from.

A bustling queue awaits entry outside Electrowerkz, a venue well known for it's basic necessities approach to clubbing, and a place in which authentic moss growing out of the walls wouldn't be at all out of place. All three areas are open tonight, Jammer & DJ Logan Sama bust out some dirty beats in the middle room, ending with a couple of mash-ups – notably Bodyrox's 'Yeah Yeah' and So Solid Crew's '21 Seconds' which both have the crowd chuckling and shaking their thang.

Then Infinite Livez finishes proceedings in the bottom room with his leftfield avant-gardeisms, aided by DJ Dysu and Bolivia Neutron Bomb. Wearing a huge afro wig, pink sunglasses and neon clothing which includes a pair of garish pink flares, the energy radiated can be felt in the drops of sweat dripping off the stage. Infinite Livez knows how to conduct a crowd with warbling distortion-heavy vocals and they lap it up singing along to the lyrics.

The legend that is Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva pulls the largest crowd tonight secure in the title of Big Dada’s most famous signing to date. As the door policy allows one-in-one-out we’re treated to a wonderfully exuberant performance in the jostling top room. Aside from the more widely known tunes approached during the course of the live PA set, with ‘Join the Dots’, ‘Juggle Tings Proper’, ‘Colossal Insight’ and ‘Movements’ all receiving mass approval, Roots pull out a few rare titbits, notably in the form of ‘Clockwork’ from an old Ninja Tune mixtape. There’s a mass entourage joining Rodney tonight, with freestyle beatboxing pumping the crowd into oblivion.

The one song that’s been on everyone’s lips for the entirety of the set is clearly saved for the closer and as the opening sample to ‘Witness’ oozes out of the stereo with it’s offkey pulsating beat, a dirty grumble consumes the room as everyone sings along. Infinite Livez offers a finishing thought: "I missed most of the acts but I heard we was pretty good". Although that was the case, Roots stole the show tonight and the evening as a whole reinstates the fact that Big Dada has a keen eye when it comes to showcasing some of the most unique and original acts the grime and hip hop scene has to offer.