It’s been a year in between drinks Down Under for Alabama-born, Chicago-raised wordsmith Mick Jenkins, whose Sydney Laneway appearance last February was – as expected – arguably the best set of the day. The 26-year-old wordsmith has built a following for his acid jazz-tinted tracks, astute lyricism, gravelly vocals and hypnotic flow, with all-star collaborations spanning BADBADNOTGOOD, Kaytranada, and Chance the Rapper across an intricately-crafted catalogue of work.
Accompanying Jenkins this time round were Brooklyn natives and fellow Beast Coast members The Underachievers (AKTHESAVIOR and Issa Gold)— a rather dynamic double-bill, given the latter’s psychedelic-leaning beats and heavier trap-hinged tracks. On the other hand, The Underachievers’ lyrically-centred work complements Jenkins’ own musings, along with their shared Beast Coast fusion of New Age with old school boom bap. Despite the crossover, there was a clear divide in fans attending the show, split between the alcohol-free all-ages mosh area, and raised back area where attendees aged 25+ had gathered to sip their beers in content.
Melbourne rapper Baro was tasked with opening for the evening, and his smooth ’90s-inspired beats had the already packed-out room bouncing along. “This For You, Fuck Everybody” off Baro’s 2015 ‘17/18’ EP was a snapshot of his bold debut record, complemented by the slow-burning “I Never Meant To Hurt U” from the same release. Smiling beneath his red hoodie, he charged through more upbeat “wdubi” from new LP ‘Just Problems You Need To Know’, but left out riskier punk-underscored numbers from the album that would’ve given fresh listeners a peek into his expansive sonic repertoire.
Explosive from the moment they took to the stage with electric “Allusions”, The Underachievers’ energy immediately reminded me of their borough buddies Flatbush Zombies’ Sydney show earlier this year. With its “Goldie”-like pace, standout cut “Golden Soul Theory” off the Brainfeeder (i.e. Flying Lotus‘ label) signees’ 2013 LP ‘Indigoism’ had the room swaying to verses on enlightenment and materialism. Switching gears, the pair launched into “Al Capone” from their ‘It Happened In Flatbush’ mixtape, throwing the crowd into a frenzy; the “Let’s get lit” suggestion on the recording was swiftly transformed into an anthemic declaration.
Their flannel shirts flaying as they attacked from each side of the stage, The Underachievers were high-octane from the get-go, parting the audience like the Red Sea to unleash the mosh pit’s full wrath on bass-heavy tracks like “Crescendo” and brand new “Rep the Set”, all the while keeping the sweat pouring with a generous serving of hype count-ins between and during songs. The mood, however, was interrupted momentarily with some sound issues, and an awkward “Don’t fuck with the track” request/warning from the stage to the sound guy. Bookending the duo’s work on a smooth note, the jazz-inflections on old favourite “The Mahdi” felt like a smooth transition into Jenkins’ catalogue.
Backed by a four-piece band including a DJ, Jenkins emerged to the roaring audience, which seemed slightly smaller as some of the younger crowd has slunk away for their bedtimes. “Ya’ll ready for a motherfucking show?!” he bellowed, before launching into “FreeNation Rebels” and its eerily fitting lyrical observations: “The fans, they fuck with me like they can’t see how dark my pigment is now / A bunch of white boys tripping out, screaming “nigga” at me”. The live bass and drums added fresh flourishes to the well-loved track “Jazz”, however the autotuned inflections of Jenkins’ backup vocalist felt a bit out of place; throughout the show, the random melismas and autotuned echos seemed almost comical and overdone, especially since I’d seen Jenkins command the stage at Laneway backed by just a DJ and a track — an arrangement both simple and powerful.
Jenkins has been busy since his last visit, with a couple more mixtapes under his belt and a new album in the works, and the set was a true reflection of his prolific year; the set spotlighted material like “Gucci Bag” and “Earl Sweatshirt Type Beat”, as well previously unheard tracks like from the new LP like “Reginald”, and all were with cheers and emphatic grooving across the floor. Older numbers like “Your Love” and Kaytranada-produced “P’s & Q’s” were sprinkled through, along with rowdier offerings like “Martyrs” from ‘The Healing Component’ and “Jerome” from “Wave[s]”. And, of course, no MJ gig would be complete without repeated “DRINK MORE WATER” chants.
Unfortunately, issues with sound continued to tarnish the evening, to the point where – after several short pauses from the band to address the problem – deafening feedback forced Mick Jenkins to stop the set entirely while stressed sound dudes raced onto the stage and fiddled with cables. It was an embarrassing look for the venue, and would’ve thrown any second-rate performer off entirely. Thankfully, Jenkins and co persevered and with a simple a cappella “DRINK MORE WATER”, the atmospheric juices flowed once more. Mick Jenkins and The Underachievers proved to be a lethal convo, shaping the contemporary hip hop scene while sharpening all who are paying attention.
Photos by Charl Anfield.