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Luv (Sic) Hexalogy concert gives fans show they were longing for
THE Luv (Sic) Hexalogy concert was the kind of show hip-hop fans do not get often enough here in Malaysia.
It had the rare feeling of a concert made by people who truly understand the culture they are celebrating. DJs were actually spinning discs, a live band was rebuilding classic beats from the ground up and Shing02 treated Luv (Sic) Hexalogy with the care it deserves.
The result was not just nostalgia. It was old-school hip-hop with real weight behind it. The show had groove, craft and respect, while also carrying a surprisingly wholesome quality.
At times, it felt almost like a memorial for bygone artistes, especially with instrumentals linked to MF DOOM, The Notorious B.I.G. and the godfather of lo-fi hip-hop Nujabes, also known as Seba Jun, moving through the night.
Odd venue, right energy
Pavilion Arena first seemed like an odd place for this sort of show.
The venue was almost too nice and clean, closer to a wedding space or orchestra hall than a place meant for scratches, basslines and head-bopping beats. That polish could have made the concert feel sterile. It did not.
Once the lights went down, the crowd and performers gave the room the life it needed. The venue’s neatness faded into the background and the music took over.
Bunga, also known as Lim Kok Kean, helped ease the audience into that mood with a funky, colourful opening set. The Malaysian DJ and Twilight Actiongirl figure mixed old Chinese tunes with other regional and ethnic sounds, giving the night an early sense of movement before the heavier hip-hop material arrived.
Oma rebuilds history
Oma was easily one of the night’s biggest strengths.
The four-piece instrumental hip-hop band from Manchester, UK, comprising Chris Larcombe on guitar, Corben Lamb on keys and production, James Harper on bass and Sam Heeley on drums, has gained attention for live covers of hip-hop classics. In person, the appeal was obvious.
Their versions of Wu-Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M., Ice Cube’s You Know How We Do It, The Notorious B.I.G.’s Big Poppa and selections from MF DOOM’s discography were ridiculous in the best way.
These are beats most hip-hop fans know through samples, loops and records. Oma gave them a body. The basslines rolled harder, the drums carried more force and the melodies had room to breathe without losing the identity of the originals.
That was what made its set so satisfying. It did not feel like a band simply covering famous songs. It felt like the bones of those tracks were being shown to the audience, then rebuilt live with more groove layered on top.
For a hip-hop fan, it was surreal. Some of these beats feel so tied to their recordings that hearing them played live almost should not work. Oma made it sound natural.
Turntables still matter
DJ Spinmaster A1 added another kind of pleasure to the night.
His set was pure underground hip-hop goodness, full of sharp scratching, heavy beats and discs being worked properly. There was something satisfying about watching a DJ command the room without relying on unnecessary theatrics.
The turntables were enough.
He truly earned the Spinmaster name, especially because his presence reminded the crowd how physical hip-hop can be when handled by someone who knows the craft.
Hexalogy with feeling
The main draw, of course, was Shing02 performing Luv (Sic) Hexalogy with Oma and Spinmaster A1.
This was where the concert became more than a strong hip-hop show. Luv (Sic) already carries so much memory, grief and devotion to music, but hearing it live made those qualities feel bigger and more communal.
Shing02 delivered bar after bar with calm control while the crowd kept nodding along, trying to follow the lyrics and soaking in every beat. Between songs, he spoke about peace, harmony, unity and understanding. He also explained how the Luv (Sic) Hexalogy was made with Nujabes, touching on the meaning behind each part and how some sections were shaped by death, grief and the passing of friends.
The performance at the Luv (Sic) Hexalogy concert never felt like a simple run-through of a beloved project. It felt like a tribute being shared in real time, with the audience invited into the history behind the songs.
The most beautiful moment came when Shing02 asked the people in front to turn on their phone flashes and shine them towards the audience at the back. The crowd lit itself up from both sides of the room, creating a small but memorable act of participation.
Then came the encore. Some people had already left when the performers first walked offstage.
Bad call.
Oma, Spinmaster A1 and Shing02 returned with Battlecry, the Shing02 and Nujabes track best known as the opening theme to Samurai Champloo.
It was an amazing capper to a show built on old-school hip-hop, memory and respect for the artistes who shaped the culture.
By the end, Pavilion Arena no longer felt like an odd venue. The music had taken over.
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