Fake Label Night

Uberdope with long-awaited new material

Back by popular demand: the Fake Label Night, on which the Ghent-based label gives a sampling of the talent that is in its ranks. Ha gets the cream of national hip-hop to visit, ready to prove that the genre has also reached maturity in these parts. No fewer than four acts are presented to the audience, something we can't help but phrase as a "Pretty good deal".

The main act of the evening is Ghent flagship Uberdope, who seize the opportunity to present their new album. A release that could well become the crown jewel in their oeuvre, if we can take the gentlemen at their word. Those who have seen this well-oiled machine at work in recent years are already circling this date with the thickest marker in the vicinity, because history could well be written with a capital G.

Just as Gents and destined to capture the crown in a while: Alois & VLB. One listen of their EP Believe, released in 2021, is enough to understand why. Rich productions, introspective lyrics and melodic choruses that linger for days: the twosome has class to spare. Above all, don't stare blindly at Alois & VLB's young age. Both Ghent natives sound like old pros who never did anything else in life.

The third act that night is olsan, from the same ecosystem that previously blessed us with names like NTREK and Brihang. Rapper D. Meeuws and producer SNS dropped their debut album "millimeter" last summer, a record that chased shock waves far beyond their province. Over timeless productions, D. Meeuws takes stock of his experiences in his first thirty years of life. The peaks, the troughs and everything in between, unfiltered.

Last but not least on the bill is Simon, almost the incarnation of what evolution hip-hop made in our country. Grew up as a rapper with the Antwerp collective Roedel, but since a few years has been taking a steep upward journey as an indiepop artist. With success, by the way. His just-released debut album 'Zoveel Nog te Doen' (So Much Left to Do) opened the gates to a large audience, witness the reception of singles like 'Al Lang Voorbij' and 'Parklaan'.