Live Review: Slowthai - O2 Brixton Academy, London 18/10/2019
With the state of UK these days, there’s not a lot to get excited about; when Slowthai announces a huge tour where tickets are only £5 there’s only one thing going through everyone’s minds “We Have To Go!!!”.
After releasing one of the best UK rap album’s of the year and getting shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize, which he turned into absolute chaos in only a few minutes by swinging round a decapitated head of Boris Johnson by performing, these tour dates sold out in mere seconds which shows how dedicated Slowthai’s fan base have become after the past year.
As a deafening chant of “Fuck Boris” swirled around O2 Academy Brixton the house lights went down, the beginning notes of ‘Nothing Great About Britain’ grew the hype even more as the curtain fell to reveal Slowthai stood there grinning like kid in a sweet shop, the show instantly amped up after that as he flowed beautifully into ‘Drug Dealer’ and ‘Polaroid’.
A quick appearance by fellow UK rapper Jaykae for their collab ‘Grow Up’ got a huge reaction from the crowd before the ear piercing screeches of ‘Psycho’ echoed out of the speakers. Slowthai quickly getting faster and faster with his screams before the song blasted into the first few bars, flames and smoke instantly appeared if by magic heating up the room even more than the crowd had done so far!
“Brixton! I’ve dreamt of this my whole life!” he bellowed from the depths of his lungs before once again turning on the flames and booming the bass for ‘IDGAF’ where the crowd participation was strong, every single member of the crowd screamed the words, middle fingers in the air.
At this point in the set he asked everyone to get their phone lights out which looked amazing reflected off the mirrored backdrop of the stage, he explains that the mirror is there for a reason “Its there to show there is something Great about Britain – YOU!”.
Playing the beginning of ‘Inglorious’ is always going to set the crowd off but to ask “Where’s Big Smoke?” as the track is rewound is a safety hazard, as the man himself Skepta strides out of the smoke to perform his verse, the audience lose their minds!
Set ender this evening was fan favourite ‘Doorman’ which made for an incredible finale, there was so much smoke and flames by the last chorus you couldn’t even see the stage. Slowthai’s stage presence is unmatched, his ability to take things from pure mayhem to a calm zen like state is phenomenal, having only started releasing music in 2018 this guy has come insanely far in such a short time. Walking off stage “We’ll see you at Ally Pally” he jokingly says, which gives us a little hint at where things will escalate to next.
Words and Photography by Joe Dick