Keep It Live

by Jason BirchmeierWhile Freaky Flow's debut for Moonshine, World Domination, introduced much of North America to his hip-hop-influenced style of drum'n'bass DJing -- outside of Toronto, of course, where he had been a superstar for years -- Keep It Live introduced the North American masses to his live performances with MC Flipside. In most cases, there isn't much difference between a DJ's mix albums and his or her live performances; however, Freaky Flow isn't your everyday DJ, as this album no doubt illustrates. The mix captured on Keep It Live was recorded on January 17, 2002, at the Living Room's weekly Silk Thursdays event in Toronto, and apart from one mix that was "skipping like a mofo" (to quote the liner notes) what you hear is what actually took place that night in early 2002 -- this isn't a pro tools mix; this is the real thing. However, as easy as it is to speak highly of Freaky Flow's mixing skills, not to mention his scratching, MC Flipside demands attention on Keep It Live. It's no coincidence that Freaky Flow had been performing with this guy exclusively for years; he knows how to MC over drum'n'bass beats, something even the best MCs struggle to do well. It's somewhat of a toss-up when you compare this mix to World Domination, Freaky Flow's mix from the previous year; where that album showcased the DJ's studio skills along with his track selection, this album showcases his in-the-moment DJing skills. After all, Freaky Flow rose to prominance in the late '90s not because of his mix albums but rather because of his live sets, and this album shows why Moonshine -- located in California, about as far away from Toronto as you can get, keep in mind -- took such interest in this guy, not to mention his legion of fans.