Live Review: Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, L-Fresh The Lion

Billed as the night to kill your NYE slump, the Metro Theatre became a place of musical consciousness on Saturday as an Australian newcomer joined two Brooklyn hip hop giants.
Hailing from Sydney's south west, L-Fresh The Lion kicked things off with an a cappella performance of his biggest release to date, One. Joined on stage by DJ MK1 and female MC Mirrah, L-Fresh set the mood for a night that was equal parts party and sermon. Though his songs are driven by social and political themes, L-Fresh manages to deliver his message with a lyrical wink, like the dropping of a Biggest Loser reference in Forever Rising. Visually, it was hard to take your eyes off the beaming Mirrah, and although the main man was being a little outshone by his vocalist, they came together in perfect union for a reprise of One at the close of set.
Opening with a mix of reggae tracks and a flash of '60s soul group The Stylistics, Dead Prez immediately consumed the stage with a charisma that transcended their heavy political agenda and delivered a set full of light and joy. To accomplish this is no mean feat, at times M1 and Stic (Dead Prez) beating you over the head with their message – Politrikks; a five minute shout out to the Tamil Tigers – but the mood never felt bogged down. The biggest crowd reactions went to DP classics Hell Yeah, It's Bigger Than Hip Hop and set-closer, Police State, the latter bringing DJ MC Mike Flow out from behind the decks and out the fore on the mic.
Starting out with a much more militant and serious tone, headliner Talib Kweli produced a crowd-pleasing set that pulled tracks from across his entire back catalogue. Palookas and I'm On One were the first to get the crowd moving but his nods to the early days with Mos Def and Black Star got the most support; Umi Says and Definition inciting huge sing-alongs. His performance evolved into a real party with Hot Thing and his most commercially successful track, Get By, but the momentum seemed to dip a little with the long spruiking of his latest album, Gravitas. Overall, Kweli's magnetic stage presence and ability to deliver the speed and strength required from such a long solo performance was an impressive feat. Not bad for a man who's been in the game for over two decades.