Adelaide hip hop showcase Basementality is getting too big for basements, says DJ and event organiser Jessi Jacoby.
“When I first started running these events it was just me DJing. I then slowly started getting local acts to come in and perform. Now I’m bringing it to another venue.”
After six shows in the basement of local bar Biggies At Bertram, Jessi is readying Basementality for its seventh show.
She has teamed with Music SA and Umbrella: Winter City Sounds for what will be the biggest show yet at CBD venue Chateau Apollo. “I thought it was a great way to step up with my event idea,” she says.
“Umbrella Festival is great at keeping Adelaide active in the cooler months, which I think is really important.”
With more room to stretch out, Jessi has put together a massive line-up of Adelaide talent. Artists signed to independent record label Playback 808 feature heavily, including rappers Ajak, E L K, soul singer Elsy and label founder DyspOra.
Up-and-coming hip hop duo Delicasteez and funk-soul band Camp Coyote will also take to the stage, along with DJs spinning vinyl throughout the night.
“I wanted an expansive line-up because in Adelaide we have such a great scene here in hip hop,” she says.
“It’s definitely a niche little community; it’s not as big as Melbourne. Playback 808 is probably the biggest in Adelaide right now. I want to give them all a place to showcase their talent and their music they’ve been writing.”
Jessi describes new venue Chateau Apollo as a great space for Basementality. Attendees can enjoy watching performances inside the huge space or slip out to the venue’s beer garden where there will be artists creating graffiti artworks live.
While Basementality may not be in a basement, Jessi says it doesn’t matter because Basementality is a state of mind she hopes carries across into her events. “The meaning of Basementality – there’s an Urban Dictionary for it – is about staying down to earth and humble, which I really like.
"I thought it was awesome because sometimes in hip hop and the music industry everyone can become up themselves and it can become a bad environment to be around. At my nights I want people to be super humble and heaps supportive of each other.”
