Remember Victoria Aitken, daughter of disgraced Tory MP Jonathan Aitken? If you saw an episode of Young, Posh and Loaded a few years back, you couldn't forget her - even if you wanted to.

Self-styled Vicky from the Yacht made a woeful attempt to launch her rap career during a "battle" in a London record shop. While our Vicks claimed she was "like riches to rags, like Jenny from the block, only opposite", her rapping, like that of so many rich white people, was toe-curlingly bad.

Brighton's new Hip Hop Karaoke however, claims to be an entirely different proposition - just harmless fun.

The nights are already big in New York, where they started out in 2004, and now they have landed here via London.

The Brighton night probably won't be getting drop-ins from the likes of Rhymefest or Big Daddy Kane like its NYC counterpart but with three nights under its low-slung belt, things are going well.

Hip Hop Karaoke is open to everyone - whether it's up-and-coming MCs wanting to try their hand at being Busta Rhymes or suits wanting to relive their youth and try out a little Vanilla Ice.

DJs play the instrumental versions of anything from A Tribe Called Quest to Jay Z and a brave soul is handed the microphone and the lyrics.

The idea behind the night is that everybody can have a go, no matter what their background or talent. The only requirement is that you have to have fun, so attitude and wannabe gangstas are most definitely banned.

Entry is free and there are prizes and giveaways as well as DJ sets before and after the karaoke.

Visit www.myspace.com/hiphopkaraokebrighton for the full list of songs and photos from previous events. Just don't request Wind Beneath My Wings or I Will Survive.

  • Starts 10pm. Call 01273 728999.