Pharoahe Monch, The Kazimier, Liverpool, 19 Feb

Swaggering onstage, bottle of whisky in hand, Pharoahe Monch embraces a room of party revellers and launches into Damage, the lead from his upcoming PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) album, before unleashing Organized Konfusion material, banging out verses from Stress. Support comes from Boogie Blind, one of the new-school representatives of the X-Ecutioners, and the chemistry between the two onstage is palpable, Boogie successfully raising the energy levels before Monch’s entrance with a stream of classics – and, midway through Monch's show, he takes centre stage, showcasing his own impressive turntable skills.

Monch intersperses his performance with opinions on the current state of hip-hop commercialisation, and the inequality suffered at the hands of the police. “There is injustice in New York, Liverpool and all over the world,” he preaches to captivated fans, before delivering an anti-authority mashup of NWA and KRS-One. He marches enthusiastically through tracks, performing older songs, and the Jill Scott-backed Still Standing (written about his struggle with asthma), as if he’d just released them yesterday.

Homage is also paid to the late Nate Dogg as he drops his verse from their collaboration Oh No. New single Bad MF is met with chants of approval from the crowd – Monch is without a doubt one of the old school MCs, whose artistic energy, lyrical prowess and dexterity shines through in his live performance.