“Turn down for who? Turn down for what? Turn the f#@k up goddamit!!” Sacx, one of the organisers of the hip hop gig, shouted the words and duly took a swig from a bottle of vodka.

Hats&Kicks goes down in Thembisa on the first Saturday of every month and pulls in a huge crowd. This weekend they brought out rappers R-Senic and Kay-Dog who murdered the stage as an opening acts for  the headliner Riky Rick. A female singer that goes by the name of Amara Fluer soothed everyone with the sweet sounds from her self-titled EP. R-Senic’s rhymes had audience member OKMALUMKOOLKAT nodding away with excitement.

We know Thembisa keeps feeding us some of the best house events, but the hood is skeptical when it comes to going to hip hop gigs. People in the hood aren’t keen on coughing up large sums of money for tickets and drinks and then still buy expensive gear in order to fit in with the commercial scene. Hats&Kicks isn’t in Sandton or Bassonia, but in the hood. People still party with the purpose of having a good time, without worrying about getting mugged or the cliche rumours you hear about the hood.

Hats&Kicks makes hip hop look glamorous and grand, taking well-known Sandton standards to Thembisa. We book tables, get served before dope performances and DJs keep us entertained all night. The girls are too fly, the guys dress up, and good music is delivered until the sun rises.

“Dude, I didn’t know I could party like that in the hood. I would relive that night anytime again,” said rapper Riky Rick after the performance. He delivered an epic set and also gave the crowd something new from his upcoming album. Sacx, the organiser and resident DJ, killed it all night with the sickest of hip hop beats.

The event started about a year ago and has been growing ever since. “I want Hats&Kicks to be like Back to the City [Africa’s biggest hip hop festival] but on a monthly bases,” said Lika, Sacx’s partner. Hats&Kicks is definitely the place to be when you want to listen to good music, eat great food and party with dope people all night.

As much as everybody at Hats&Kicks loves spending money on drinks and fresh clothing, they do give back to the community. They have graced the hood with performances by Khuli Chana and Maggz, who both performed at a charity event. Yes, a charity event.

The most interesting thing about Hats&Kicks is that it’s pushing a lifestyle – look fresh, smell good and spend good money – which  has been dead in the township hip hop scene for a while. They are also playing a role in growing a culture that needs such events to expand.

So do yourself a favour and make it a point that you bring your a$$ down to Thembisa to check out Hats&Kicks which happens every first Saturday of the month. Come chill, ball out, bring out your favourite hats & kicks and be part of the lifestyle. That’s what Hats&Kicks actually is, a lifestyle, more than just another hip hop event. I am extremely happy that such an event is growing, all in the name of hip hop.

Hats&Kicks baby, “Turn down for who???”

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