As we approach a new decade, the current wave of retro cool begins to slowly flow from the current hipster fascination with the 80s to the much harder to define period of the 90s. No complaints from coolography, though; as 80′s babies we grew up predominantly in the nineties.

Musically, two London nights spearheading the revival of the pre-millenial decade are the Dalston based Work It, and Hip-Hop specialists Livin Proof. So when word hit coolography inboxes that these two nights were holding a joint event, at Shoreditch’s Cargo, on a bank holiday Sunday, and for the entry price of ‘absolutely free’…

We were there. Arriving early – the night was a guaranteed roadblock – coolography took advantage of Cargo’s afternoon barbecue, savouring the ridiculously beautiful weather, as well as a couple of merguez sausage burgers and comically oversized litre bottles of Cruzcampo beer. Assorted hipsters, backpackers and cool kid collectives steadily poured in, until the otherwise spacious venue soon became packed to near capacity.

With the line outside allegedly stretching the length of the block, we were fortunate spectators of a surprisingly successful attempt by opportunistic gatecrashers in scaling Cargo’s lofty walls. Taking that as our cue to leave the physical conflict outside to enjoy the musical conflict inside, we ventured onto the overpopulated dance floor to the sounds of classic tribe. Throngs of 90′s devotees sharing knowing looks and a mutual aural appreciation – this was coolography’s kind of rave.

11pm arrived and, the 2 camps were let loose from their corners, with Work It being the first to launch an opening salvo – 15 minutes of pure reminiscence – which Livin Proof responded to in kind. In this heavyweight bout, only the winners were the crowd, successively riled with the sounds of the Wu-Tang Clan, Dru Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige and Nas. Such was the devotion of the masses that they were resoundingly (and rightfully) unforgiving if even a beat of post millennial music echoed through the cavernous Cargo back room. Though not just limited to Hip-Hop and R&B, the night undoubtedly kicked off big time as soon as the old school garage and bashment sets came in. Ploughing through the crowd was a veritable history lesson in old school skanks and dance moves from bygone eras.

As probably one of the best nights coolography has attended in recent memory, we hope this 90′s appreciation trend continues [for the next decade at least].

Work It / Livin Proof / Cargo