I went out to trendy (in 2001) Hoxton Square tonight to watch some hip hop. Not the kind of thing I usually do, admittedly and it probably wouldn't have crossed my mind if I hadn't been asked to go. I was checking out a guy called
Example who I must confess I had not heard of before (though I think I had possibly heard his pretty funny take on Lily Allen's Smile,
Vile - the Vindaloo bit is inspired), as I might end up doing a little TV item with him.
Maybe I am still a bit jet lagged or maybe I am just old, but I found it all a bit overwhelming. It's definitely because I am old. I couldn't hear the words and it was all a bit shouty, but it's hard to pick up on a new act live if you haven't heard any of their stuff before.
The packed room of fans were enraptured, a couple of lads at the front getting a bit over-excited as they rapped along and having to be told by Example to get off.
I found it hard to cope with the noise and claustrophobia and having to shout when I am already losing my voice, so I sloped off before the end. When I got home I watched his videos on his website and liked them very much. I probably should have done it the other way round. But I still enjoyed being teleported into a world that I know little about and that really I should never be encroaching upon, even if I might have been mistaken for someone's dad having turned up early to pick them up and take them home.
I was finding it hard to imagine how Example and me might get on if we met, but I suppose if I end up doing the thing with him I will find out. I hope we will become best friends and I will be able to hang out with him and his homeys all the time. He's a West London boy like me, so you never know!
Ha ha ha.
