TALENTED NEW PERFORMERS from Dubai’s burgeoning local music scene have found expression in the city’s popular nightclubs recently, enjoying support and appreciation from audiences keen to back homegrown initiatives. Two weeks ago, Sal, an up and coming R&B star, launched the video for his break through the single That’s What I Like at Quantum.

Last weekend it was the turn of The Recipe to showcase their talents at Alpha, with an act that accompanied the release of their first mixtape CD.

The Recipe are a loose collective of nine rappers, singers, emcees, producers and lyricists who have formed a commercial bond through their shared love of hip hop. The group comprises Swerte, Jabbar, Perfect Storm, Tru, Young Vaughn, Hira Beat, Kaz Money, The Truth and DJ Crunch Credit. The collective was founded in August 2008 and played their first live show in March of this year.

Mixtape Volume 1, which club goers received fro free with their entrance tickets to the Alpha performance, was inspired by other local acts from a different musical genre. “We came across a CD by local rock artists,” revealed 28-year-old Kaz Money, just before going on stage for the group’s promotional set.

“We thought that if these guys can release a CD of rock music, we can do the same with hip-hop. Basically we’ve evolved from a bunch of guys making music to becoming an independent label,” he added. Kaz clearly recognises the strengths that arise from a bunch of talented performers with the same passion pooling their skills together. “We can do so much more as a group than individually – there is power in numbers,” he said.

As with many of Dubai’s musicians and performers, The Recipe truly reflect the make-up of the cosmopolitan city. “Swerte is half Indonesian and half Swiss and Perfect Storm is Chinese/English,” revealed 24-year-old Hira Beat, who himself has Filipino and Indian parentage. The Recipe’s resident beat boxer, who joined the collective last November, has certainly been busy recently, having just secured the title of Middle East Beat Box Champion 2009 - an award he picked up at the recent Abu Dhabi Barbican Turbo custom car event.

Hira Beat, who has been performing vocal percussion for six years, is responsible for much of the collective’s organisation, with one recent show being held at The Comedy Junction; a popular Filipino night spot in Deira. In addition to his efforts for the collective, he works full-time marketing professional audio equipment, including Shure microphones, a brand which the group rely on for their performances.

The artist wants to extend his collaboration with other singers and musicians within the local scene. “My aim is to work as much as possible with other local artists; performers such as Mestiza, but right now, I want to take a break!” he said.

The Recipe affiliation has resulted in each of its members’ talents complementing the creative energies of the others, resulting in a highly synergistic and crowd-rousing display that was evident when the group finally took to the stage at Alpha. But with each individual being a performer in his own right, anyone within the collective deciding to take time off won’t create too much of an issue; unlike with a group containing musicians with clearly defined separate roles.

One member of The Recipe who will shortly be moving on is Young Vaughn, a 20-year-old emcee who joined the collective a year ago and is currently studying for a degree in audio engineering. “I’m travelling to London in January or February next year to continue my degree there,” he said, taking time to acknowledge the strengths of the collective’s structure. “We all have our own styles, but when we’re together, we move as one. I know that I’ll always be a part of The Recipe as long as I want to be and put the effort in,” he added.  

The Recipe’s Mixtape Volume 1 is available as a download on-line through a link on www.facebook.com/therecipe. It will also be distributed at the collective’s future gigs and performances. Further information about Dubai’s very own hip hop group can be found at www.myspace.com/therecipedxb.