Sing-a-long

Once a month, Hip Hop Karaoke at Revival on College St. so that aspiring rappers can try their verbal gymnastics skill. As part of Indie Friday, HHK took over Dundas Square so that everyone can check out the good and not so good cunning linguists.

Next to the stage was the sign-up table along with 1000-page binders containing rap lyrics for those who may not be sure of the next lines to spit. For most of the evening, surprisingly few people needed that aide. 2 MCs and a DJ helped out. The only rules: no n-word, no freestyle, and because it was outside, try to keep the cursing down.

Most of the participants were obviously veterans of HHK although there were a few newbies. Particularly impressive or energetic performers got a prize from the Dollar Store loot bag. There were only 2 atrocious rappers: a girl who could neither sing nor rap to Kanye's Stronger and a teen who got booted off the stage for free-styling off 2-Pac's California Love, even after numerous warnings. Casual rappers stuck to simpler songs such as Coolio's Gangsta Paradise while the veterans channeled Wu-Tang Clan. Fun was had by all, especially the intoxicated, middle-aged dudes, who tried to rush the stage numerous times (perhaps to prove they are still hard-core). After security repeatedly intervened, they were finally escorted from the square.