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WNBT

WILL NOT BE TELEVISED

By Mark Jorgenson Artwork by urban-spam.tumblr.com Photography by Daniel Dempsey “THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED” FIRST APPEARED IN A POEM BY COUNTERCULTURE ZEITGEIST GIL SCOTT-HERON IN 1970 YET REMAINS AS TIMELESSLY POIGNANT AS EVER BEFORE. LATER BRILLIANTLY SATIRISED BY SIDNEY LUMET’S 1976 CULT CLASSIC FILM NETWORK, THE IDEOLOGY THAT UNDERPINS THIS SINGLE STATEMENT HAS TRANSCENDED EACH DECADE WITH INCREASED GUSTO. The decision to use this quote as the name for a hip hop night in Manchester was not taken lightly. The baggage that accompanies a reference of this nature is not to be sniffed at for anyone.

Manchester has long been blessed with an array of hip hop brands and nights that cater for what we are somewhat loathed to call ‘the scene’. Yet a disparity remains between these so-called ‘local nights’ and the MENworthy grand slam hip hop shows which, over the past few years, have seen an increasing number of big US rappers pass through the city, put on a listless arena-style performance, drink rum, eat chicken, fuck groupies and move on to central Europe.

It was this gulf which lead to the creation of the Will Not Be Televised brand; the need to surpass the boundary of A&R/promoter domination of the big venues and bring the essence of hip hop back to its core.

It started with humble beginnings. The first WNBT started in September 2011 at Trof in Fallowfield with Manchester legend Chimpo holding down a set for 3040 people, and rapidly ascended to a sell out show with 400+ people shaking Antwerp Mansion to the rafters less than 4 months later.

The choice of home venue has been pivotal aspect in the growing momentum behind the WNBT movement, and you could not find a better venue than Antwerp Mansion to encapsulate the rawness of a hip hop night anywhere in the north west. If we do say so ourselves.

The WNBT nights have provided a glittering array of top US talent in less than humble surroundings, from GZA, Jeru and Raekwon to the crop of top UK talent in the form of Jehst, Cappo, Dr Syntax Ramson Badbonez, the Four Owls; resulting in the frequent return of High Focus legends Leaf Dog and BVA. Mix this with the cream of Manchester talent through the likes of Sparkz, Skittles, TNC and Broke’n’English – backed by ever-present resident DJ Konny Konn – we have brought together an eclectic mix of acts to offer Manchester hip hop heads with consistently affordable and top quality shows every month.

Let’s not get too ahead on the self-congratulatory stakes.

The ambitious yet honestly-motivated plan to bring relatively-unknown-in-the-UK New Yorker Mr Muthafuckin eXquire on his debut UK tour resulted in a ball-ache of hilarious magnitude, with eX arrested on the eve of the tour for ‘an altercation with a jeweller in Brooklyn’.

Despite this set back, the reception to each night has given the credence that people are feeling what we’re trying to achieve. From Jeru flyering his own night in Nando’s to the GZA night at the Mansion, the crowds and artists have all shown their own appreciation for what we’re trying to offer the Manchester hip hop scene.

Even Jehst. No really, he loved it.

We’ve got to give special shouts to all those who have continued to support the WNBT movement, including In The Loop, More Bounce, Taste The Diff’rence, Go Dumb, Mind On Fire, and everyone else who is working together to keep the hip hop in Manchester as strong as it’s been for years. If ever.

We have plenty more in the pipeline. With Jam Baxter and Dirty Dike, and a UK tour for Executioners’ scratch legend Boogie Blind on the horizon, we’re working behind the scenes to take this shit to the next level.

To quote Common from the opening of his 2006 classic The Light: “The revolution will not be televised; the revolution is in a decommissioned Belgian consulates home in Rusholme, Manchester”.

Here are some star quotes from some of the acts we’ve had pass through: t +&)45 i."/4 (055" 1": '03 508&- "/% TING” in response to staying in a hotel called the RAM & SHACKLE. t +&36 5)& %"."+" i8& "3& /05 5)& ##$ 8& "3& /05 &41/ 8& 8*-- /05 #& 5&-EVISED” after heading out to Nandos for a 3 piece. t 3*$)"3% #-"$,800% i:P NBO ZPV HPUUB CVZ some chicken or you gotta get out, my boss is watching” t 3"&,80/ i * )"% 50 #645 40.& / ((" */ THE MOUTH” in response to an over-eager spectator. t ",*- UIF .$ i5)"5 4)*5 8"4 %01& '*3& 0/& 0' 5)& #&45 $:1)&34 803-% 8*%&w interview with In The Loop hip hop attaché AGENT J. t (;" i8)"5 5)& '6$, "3& 8&--*/(50/4 w in response to walking through the Antwerp Mansion piss moat on the way to stage. t +&3&.: ,:-& i(&5 0'' .: 45"(& :06 AMOEBA OF A MAN!!!!!” t $"110 i *4 5)*4 " 7&/6& 03 " 8)03& )064& w t %+ #00(*& #-*/% Y NFO i)0.&#0:4 "3& MY UK CONNECT ! in response to booking his first UK headline tour.

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Jaz Kahina

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Photography - Anis Ali

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Jam Baxter

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Power

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The Godfathers Feature

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Copywrite

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Kingdom Of Fear

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Kingdom Of Fear

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Wisher

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Split Prophets

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C2C Split Prophets

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