A little over a month ago, The Perfect Beat cannonballed into Taiwan’s party promoting scene by bringing over Charlie 2na, the de facto head of one of the illest hip-hop groups of all time, Jurassic 5, along with a band that included Fish from the legendary Fishbone. The Vinyl Word did not make the show but by all accounts the gravel-mouthed MC played a prodigious set that lasted longer than two hours and showcased his solo work, Jurassic 5 songs and hip-hop classics. Tonight, The Perfect Beat is back at The Wall for a late show and they are bringing another hip-hop luminary, Tony Touch (real name Joseph Anthony Hernandez).
Like a lot of B-boys, Touch got his first taste of hip-hop through breakdancing in the streets of New York City. Heavily influenced by the Rock Steady Crew, the Puerto Rican Touch eventually shifted his focus from the dance floor to the turntables. In 1996, Touch released 50 MCs, a mixtape which featured a lot of the MCs he idolized like Kool G. Rap, Big Daddy Kane, M.O.P, and Big L. It even featured the MC Touch, who is thought to be the best in the business.
“My favorite all time MC is KRS ONE because of his stage presence, longevity, hit records, and philosophy,” Touch said in an e-mail interview with the Taipei Times.
Photo: The Wall
Since then, Touch has made two sequels to 50 MCs and has worked with everyone who is anyone in the hip-hop industry. Touch works at radio stations in New York City and runs two weekly parties, Toca Tuesdays, which featured legendary DJs each week, and FUNKBOX, where he plays deep house with celebrity DJs. The highlight of Touch’s career is that he has been lucky enough to travel around the globe and share his music. For Taiwan, Touch said, “The audience ... can expect a lot of positive energy and a lesson in musical sounds of all styles.”
■ The Perfect Beat presents Tony Touch and Terminology with Two Hands, Cap and Barry Chen tonight from 11:30pm to 4am at the Wall (這牆), 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Admission is NT$1,200 at the door and includes one drink.
An unpolished gem in the nightlife scene is 1967 Bistro. It is centrally located next to Civic Boulevard, has a wonderful outdoor space for barbequing and hanging out, but yet there never seems to be too many people there. Tomorrow, this will change as 886 Brewing is repurposing Oktoberfest as 2014 HOPtoberfest and having a day full of live music and a night filled with electronic sounds.
■ 886 Brewing presents 2014 HOPtoberfest with live bands and DJs Resident Soul, The Cook, The Thief, Hooker, Edify and Su tomorrow from 1pm to 3am at 1967 Bistro, 9, Lane 116, Guangfu South Rd, Taipei City (台北市光復南路116巷9號). Admission is free.
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