Every so often an artist comes along who leaves their mark on the world (for better or worse). For Michael Jackson it was the moonwalk, Bonno the sunglasses.
For rap giant Lil Jon it was taking three innocent words dipping them in crunk and leaving the world wondering how YEAH, WHAT, and OK were now the most explosive words in the English language.
On a crisp Thursday night, the stage was set for the capital to host the most intense and energetic performer in the rap business.
Kicking off the Australian leg of the Jon tour, for Canberra fans it had been a long time between bejewelled pimp chaliced drinks, and as countless basketball jerseys and freshly dreadlocked hair poured through the front doors of the UC refectory the atmosphere was contagious.
Crip walk, 2 Step, and the Dougie were all on display between sly moments taken to edge out other clawing fans for positions in the front row.
Leading the nights charge was Canberra’s own DJ Rawson, gifted with warming an already searing crowd, he looked almost too composed firing out club anthems and rap classics alike. Rawson delivered an electric set that sent an already frenzied crowd sprawling for a spare inch of room on the dance floor, even belting out a few exaggerated YEAHHHS in return for the crowds OOKKKKSS.
The time was finally at hand as LiL Jon swaggered up the stairs burdened down by a thick gold necklace with grillz to match and took up the mic.
Firing out his seemingly limitless array of chart-topping collaborations combined with catch phrases yelled with such intensity not seen since the release of the Terminator franchise, the Atlanta rapper proved why he has held the title of the bass-heavy rap game for the last decade.
Delivering rap classics from ‘Snap Ya Fingers’ and ‘Lets go’ to taking up the electro spotlight with ‘Turbulence’ and a remix to ‘Drink’ with fellow party rockers LMFAO, the father of Crunk had every pair of Nike Airs far above the ground.
Desperate arms shot up as Jon took off his black T searching for the most deserving fan in the crowd and was met with a souvenir of his own as two bras fired up from the masses. But one Crunk anthem was missing, and everyone from the window to the wall knew it. As the bass built into ‘Get Low’ and roared across the stage I watched people leave behind VIP seating to rush down to the bouncing dance floor.
Lil Jon proved he is more than a walking catchphrase, turning lil ol’ Canberra into a completely frenzied environment, all hoarse shouting and pimp chalices spilling over. Definitely not one to miss when he returns, just make sure you have a panadol and ice pack waiting for you when you get home.
Photography by Chris Whitfield
