Words by Christopher Kevin Au // Images by John Buckley & Cole Bennetts

Food and hip-hop have always been intertwined.

After all, it was the legendary Fat Joe who said that he goes “to church like a mobster, discuss your death over shrimp and lobster.” Murder plots and succulent seafoods? What a nice time. From there, everyone from Action Bronson to Andrew Levins have been bridging the world between eats and beats, with local crew One Day being the latest to bring the concept to life with their Barrio Nights party.

Held at Barrio Cellar in Sydney’s CBD, this is a sit-down dinner that turns into a club night, so you get a refined and wild side, both in one sitting! This Saturday, Barrio Nights will be celebrating the queens of hip-hop and R&B, and there are plenty of them – Honey Cocaine, Bahamadia, Tinashe, Sky’High, Remy Ma and Gangsta Boo, just to name a few of our faves.

Accordingly, on the decks will be three spectacular ladies soundtracking your night, including Serbian selector Nes and the debut DJ set from Left. songstress CozGod. Also on the bill is Yemisul, who’s been DJing at all of the city’s biggest hip-hop and grime nights with flair. Yemisul has kindly handed us this exclusive mix in preparation for Saturday evening, where she runs through her favourite queens of the genre.

Opening with a remix of Cardi B’s omnipresent anthem ‘Bodak Yellow,’ the 30-minute mix then turns to OGs like Lil’ Kim (the GOAT) and Trina, as well as Khia’s timeless licking anthem, ‘My Neck, My Back.’ It all ends with a steamy Rihanna X Aaliyah mash-up, and quite honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Listen to Yemisul’s mix below, and head down to Barrio Nights with an empty stomach and your dancing shoes. Event info right here:

Cardi B – Bodak Yellow (Svani Remix)
Stefflon Don – Lock Arff (Section Boyz Remix)
Nadia Rose – U Know What
Jorja Smith x Preditah – On my Mind
IAMDDB – Shade
Azealia Banks – 1991
Kahlo – Fasta
Leikeli 47 – Don’t Do It
Lil’ Kim – The Jump Off
Ms Jade – Feel The Girl
Khia – My Neck, My Back
Destra Garcia – Dip n Ride
Mr. Eazi – Skin Tight (UK Remix) ft. Stefflon Don & Haile
Gyptian – Hold Yuh (Remix) ft. Nicki Minaj
Beyoncé – Baby Boy (Mina Remix)
Trina – Fuck Boy
Rihanna X Aaliyah – Work The Boat (Amorphous Mashup)