Made Of Solid Gold: A Mega Hip-Hop Celebration Emerges At Pasir Panjang Power Station

Hip-hop is taking over the Pasir Panjang Power Station on 21 March (Credit: Anrev website [left], Solid Gold Facebook page [right], 24OWLS [rear])

Hip-hop is always about its roots, and contrary to what you might think, they do run deep in the local music scene. Even before the emergence of other mainstay genres today like say, indie-rock or reggae in Singapore, hip-hop was having its time in the sun with pioneers that pushed it back in the day. Today, that spirit remains headstrong and hardy with a new event that salutes tradition – one set on rejuvenating the hip-hop scene for youths and seasoned vets.

Keeping the culture fresh is the Solid Gold House Party on 21 March, a mega hip-hop throwdown co-organised by Solid Gold Productions and Recognize Studio, happening at the formidable Pasir Panjang Power Station (this beast of a building hosted the inaugural Alex Blake Charlie Sessions in 2019).

Pasir Panjang Power Station is a venue that keeps on surprising (Credit: 24OWLS)

Solid Gold Productions, itself, is a name that resonates through the ripples of scene history as the enterprise pieced together by turntablism extraordinaire Koflow, and maverick of longstanding b-boy group, Radikal Forze, Felix Huang; the latter also set up Recognize Studio in 2010, as an educational platform for the dance community. The notorious duo helmed Solid Gold through the years, showcasing the breadth and versatility of hip-hop at establishments like the now-defunct Velvet Underground in Zouk (circa Jiak Kim days) and more recently, Cherry Discotheque.

How an average Solid Gold night looks like at Cherry Discotheque (Credit: Solid Gold Facebook page)

As you might’ve gathered, the influence that Solid Gold Productions possesses till this day is substantial, and they’re sounding the horns with a rare, large-scale jamboree that honours the pillars of hip-hop. Dancers of all sorts will flex their footwork and freezes at the event’s dance battle, a four-hour showdown between breakers, poppers, lockers and more. Street artists – RSCLS, ZNC, Alotone & Monster, and Defaze & Ban2Han2 – will be busting out the cans for live graffiti all day. A Hustler’s Market will also be set up with street-savvy threads and accessories, as well as food and bevvies for fuel.

Solid Gold co-founder, Koflow, will be manning the decks with his turntablism prowess (Credit: Koflow Facebook page)

And on the ones and twos, Koflow, Anrev and Yooh The Vibration will be in charge with their deft, repertoire of hip-hop, from the classics to the contemporary. Hyping them up on the mic will be esteemed emcees, Mr Boo and Ash Radikal. All respected profiles in their own right, this is an entourage that will make you fall in love with hip-hop all over again.

Hip-hop has always been a dominant force in Singapore; there’s no doubting that. But for the deep-seated culture to be celebrated and flaunted in a massive urban space like this? Now that’s a true feat that needs to be felt.

Solid Gold House Party, 21 March 2020, 3pm-1am, Pasir Panjang Power Station, 27 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 117537. For more information, visit the event page.