Heads up Melbourne, you’re getting a mini-rap festival this weekend!

Celebrating the brightest local talents in contemporary hip-hop, Juice will be taking over The Gasometer Hotel for a nine-hour mammoth event featuring some of the city’s favourites including Baro & Kwasi, while Sydneysiders will be represented by the ever-popular Manu Crook$ and hyperactive Kwame. With live sets sandwiched by DJs spinning the best turn-up anthems from around the globe, it’s shaping up to be a belter.

3000 resident Rob Steezy is one of the minds behind Juice. He’s long been spreading his rap gospel on the airwaves via Hood Pass Radio, and IRL at his infamous REUP club nights, and this Saturday night will be another memorable chapter. Ahead of the event, Big Baby Steezus has run through the Juice roster and selected the choice cuts that he’s most looking forward to experiencing live.

Prepare your earholes with Rob’s massive picks below alongside his ample commentary (plus a shoutout to Fred Durst, huge) and grab your tickets to Juice right here:

Baro – Lay U Down/Sexy

This is some super wonky beautiful bullshit. I say bullshit because Baro is way too young to be this talented. I don’t wanna be an ageist, but for a 20-year-old (may be younger/older but still young AF) to croon over a LA Priest-meets-Thundercat beat with such maturity, it makes me feel real sad that I still watch cartoons.

SophieGrophy – Ran$om

When it comes to discussing this song I use this really handy acronym: E.T.I.L.T.T.S.I.C.A.L.B.I.I.S., which stands for “Every time I listen to this song I cry a little because it is sick.” Sophie Grophy oozes confidence, and her flows are sick, and this beat is so good. She is bound to be a GOAT.

Manu Crook$ – Blowin’ Up ft. Miracle

This song gets me. When I was a kid, ‘Ultra Nate – Free’ was a huge hit. I consider it one of the best dance songs ever created. Then comes Manu Crook$ flipping Ultra Nate’s beat and talking about how he is blowing up, getting bigger and better. I can’t help but see a link between the songs outside of the sample. If it wasn’t for Ultra Nate’s super positive anthem that was all about living your life and doing what you want, we wouldn’t have sick artists like Manu Crook$.

Kwasi x HFNR x Reiis – Benzo Valentine

Ayo, Travis Scott called, he wanted to congratulate you for taking the ‘Days Before Rodeo’ sound and turning it up a notch! Guy Fieri also called, he said welcome to Flavortown. This stuff makes me want to mosh so hard, it’s like in ‘Soulfly – Bleed’ when Fred Durst comes out of nowhere and spits bars.

Sky Pharaoh – Gucci Freestyle

Look, tbh I could’ve made this list pretty much exclusively Sky Pharaoh. The Gremlns crew in general are going to be huge AF. Sky Pharaoh is my fave tho. Gucci Freestyle is so playful, it’s full of bravado, sick bars and bird sounds. I wanna live in this song.

Kwame – Friends

Goddamn this shit is smoother than smooth peanut butter. In a world of crunchy peanut butters, sometimes all you need is smooth peanut butter. This song makes Smino wish he wrote it. Smoooooooth.