So the week has already been a lil hectic; old skool rap legend Slick Rick and reformed RnB group D’Influence all providing great shows. It’s now the weekend and all roads lead to a scenic and historic London venue, Alexandra Palace, rapidly weaving through traffic the excitement and anticipation increases. A die hard fan of rap music for eons, and having worked in the industry and helped sign and promote artists music at record labels and radio station it’s a proud moment for the Tottenham MC, Skepta sell out a near 11,000 capacity venue in record time. The plight of my peers in the UK rap game has not been a smooth and easy one in comparison to other music genres. Grime, a uniquely British rap art form, is the contemporary evolvement of domestic rap culture. A diverse congregation of young, old, black, white and asian, with a high female constituency filled the auditorium of Alexandra Palace.
Stuntin with @djabrantee @jezwelham :-
Click the pic below to watch @skepta @jmeBBK ‘That’s Not Me’
Click the pic below to watch @wretch32 perform :-
Click the pic below to watch @therealkano perform :-
Click the pic below to watch @lethalbizzle perform :-
Skepta and his Boy Better Know click were great ambassador’s for the scene and had the ‘mandem’ come through, from Giggs, Novelist, Section Boyz, Shorty BBK and many more. In a year when Canadian rap megastar Drake endorses Skepta and Crew, makes an impromptu appearance at a Section Boyz show after his Brit Awards performance and does collabs with RnB singer Kyla and south London MC Santan Dave; the future may be looking brighter for UK Grime/Rap..
The few vids here are just a snapshot of monumental performances throughout the night.
The event was a huge success; being streamed worldwide and showcasing the stars of the UK Grime/Rap to a global platform.
