Five breakers, two rappers, one R’nB diva, and turntable scratcher DJ Creativity. Two stories. Two turntables. Ready? Remix!

The young, energetic and gusty writing/performing/rapping duo of Jerome Sable and Eli Batalion, originally out of Montreal Canada, are currently tearin-down-d-house with their high paced rapping satire storytelling.

Sable (MC Cain) and Batalion (MC Abel) are rap jingle writers at the fictional Hoover Records, the “biggest, illest, baddest and phattest hip-hop records studio in town”.

While the money is good, the boys are continually planning their rise to the top of Hoover for representation. At the top, is crotchety yet happening label president J. Hoover (alias Jehovah); Head of A&R Job Lowe (alias Joe Blow); President and CEO Jonathan Hoover; Beats Production Zoe Farkas; Gangstafication Representative Ali Fashid; Marketing Director Bill Dodd, Conductor/V.P. of Finance Louis Saphire (alias Lucifer) and family intern Eleanor Hoover.

While the boys grind out silly jingles in the basement, upstairs Louis talks J. Hoover into demoting Job Lowe because his “gangster rap is out and conscientious rap is in” idea. So, down to the mailroom Lowe goes, and right into the hands of Cain and Abel who are ready with their demo tape. When Lowe’s lesson is learned, he’s called back upstairs and the boys have high hopes, only to have Lowe officially fired. With Lowe out and nothing to loose, Cain heads upstairs to make their case as the next big Act. Will Lowe get his job back and take the boys to the top? Will Cain and Abel remain a duo? What’s with the religious analogies?

Batalion and Sable are flanked by an ensemble of capable breakdancers (Shawn Beck-Gifford, Hassan Christopher, Ameenah Kaplan, Marissa Labog, Naomi Rhoads, Aimee Zannoni, Maya Zellman and choreographed by Hassan Christopher), vocalist Nikkema Taylor, and turntable scratcher DJ Creativity, as they miraculously play all the Hoover executive roles while rapping every word of their story. The production is a “retelling of the Old Testament as an allegory of contemporary corporate life in the music business.” However, the religious analogies only get in the way of the production’s overall amazing presentation. What works in this high-energy extravaganza are Batalion and Sable, a couple of young, good-looking white guys who satirize rap in a fun and funny delivery that everyone can enjoy, all set to some jamming tunes. They are qualified rappers, who possess outstanding stage presence, charisma and acting abilities.

Director Stefan Novinski does an excellent job bringing life, multiple locations and movement to an otherwise blank stage, while Steven Young’s lighting plays a key role in the visuals of the production. Nikkema Taylor’s backup vocals are right on the money, and DJ Creativity is at the top of his game scratching out all the live stage tunes.

J.O.B the Hip-Hopera possesses all the music, visual spectacle, energy, and excitement associated with the theatrical release of Moulin Rogue, except here it’s live. Casting Directors and Agents will surely flock to this production as Hip-Hopera go down as one of 2005’s most talked about local theatre endeavors.