Russian's DJ revolution

By Cheng Anqi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-24 08:05

Russian-born turntablist Vadim Peare will wow Block 8 with his widescreen sound during Chinese New Year. He will be joined by the vivacious and lyrically gifted MC Yarah Bravo, his partner, in love and music.

Vadim's insatiable appetite for rocking crowds draws a hardcore following. He has been hailed as an innovative hip-pop producer and has released numerous albums for illustrious labels like his own Jazz Fudge, the London-based Ninja Tunes, and most recently BBE, who released his deep and exceedingly expansive Soundcatcher album in 2007.

Although Vadim spent the last decade building a reputation for creating soulful hip-pop, the peculiar brilliance of his new Oneself project still comes as a surprise. Emerging as a solo artist before graduating to the venerable Ninja Tunes label, the Russian-born Englishman's recent Russian Percussion records suffered only from an overabundance of great ideas.

Collaborating with dozens of artists from around the world, Vadim moved in multiple directions at once, drawing from disparate hip-hop styles. Oneself, however, is clearly a singular group concept, firmly rooted in classic forms, while pursuing a relaxed, jazzy vibe defined by laidback raps and poetic, seductive vocals.

MC Bravo provides the rhymes. The group's album Children of Possibility combines reggae influences without sacrificing multi-cultural exploration. The honey-voiced MC Bravo, half-Brazilian, half-Chilean, is the goddess of streetwise, intelligent rapping.

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