Secret Wars Euro League: London Vs Cardiff 16 April 20101

Big thanks to Aspecks’ newest affiliate Kaizen Star for the photographs and text for this article. Oh and Kaizen Star is also responsible for the fresh beat you can hear playing in the video – is there no end to Kaizen’s talents?!!!

Secret Wars, by definition is an artistic battle, where creative wits on either side of a wall do battle with black markers on white boards. Teams of three seasoned graffiti warriors, collide to a soundscape of house and funk, while spectators and revellers watch in awe and anticipation. Secret Wars takes place in secret locations and  luckily enough the Aspecks team were both hip and nosy enough to scrall down the details and get down to Shoreditch for the 2010 Euro League when it arrived in London.  As we arrived at the “hush hush” venue, which was jam-packed with other nosy people, London’s graffiti’s warriors were just assembling battle plans on one side of the room, whilst three Welshmen, and a sheep some 151 miles away from home were representing Cardiff on the other side.  Shifting between the two rooms, at first one could see no real difference between the two designs, but after a while as the fog began to clear, it seemed that although London was holding the fort at home, Cardiff were keeping their poker face on. Perhaps, it seemed they might have an ace or two under their sleeves. London’s team took a wild stab at Tom Jones “It’s not unusual to be loved by No One”, and Cardiff seemed to be taking a dig at the Royal Family. However as time went on and a few more black markers were disposed of, it was clear that Cardiff really did have an ace, and their depiction of “Maggie’s Farm” was undeniably inventive.

More text and pictures and an exclusive video of UK Beatbox Champion Reeps One after the break…

A few hours, and some rounds of drink later. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The Host counts down, and it’s all over. By now the crowd were in a heightened state of anticipation, and artistic tensions were rising. A distraction was needed. Luckily (for the Welsh) 2009 UK Beatboxing Champion, Reeps One was on side to ease the tensions with an eclectic set including some Hip Hop,  Drum & Bass, and Dubstep sounds, plus a mind-blowing performance of jungle classic “Original Nuttah” with elements of the beat, bassline, and vocals all at the same time, all done with the relaxed casualness of a cultured professional. Check out videos of his performance below!!

Then the moment we were all waiting for, the verdict. Had London won the hearts of their home crowd? Or had Cardiff stole them with their tongue-in-cheek mockery of the infamous Ms Thatcher. Two judges held the fates of two teams in their hands.
It was now left for them and the crowd to decide on which team would be taking the walk of shame, and which team would get the spoils. The first judge gave victory to London which meant it was time for the crowd vote. The host produced a clapometer device to decide on the winner, and after an impressive bellow from London’s home supporters, many thought Cardiff were beat, but quite obviously the Welsh supporters had their Weetabix that morning, and after an gut-wrenching earsplitting scream, it was clear that London had a fight on their hands. Now over to the final judge (a Londoner) who had to make the unenviable decision of voting gainst against some 250 boozed up Londoners, but he did just that. He chose Cardiff, and secretly every Londoner has to agree, the idea is king, and Maggie’s Farm was a blinding effort from Cardiff. Fair play to those three brave lads who came to London with a watertight game plan; they won the prize, fair and square.

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