Music / grime
Review: Kano, O2 Academy
Grime trailblazer Kano had a monumental 2019. From becoming a Top Boy sensation to headlining the Royal Albert Hall, it would appear that the East London rapper, true to form, will be having yet another unstoppable decade. Having recently announced to headline Love Saves The Day, battling through a sold out O2 felt like an intimate affair.
As Footsie proved to be a phenomenal choice of support, the tone was set for an evening of royalty. Beginning with the opening track of his latest album, ‘Free Years Later’, showcasing his latest material as a selection embroiled with injustice, violence and the state of affairs black communities face in this country. The LP itself has been critically acclaimed for demonstrating the growth of Grime whilst continuing to champion his originality.
With his career spanning over 15 years, his 6 album catalogue came to life as the crowd voyaged through his repertoire. As the beat dropped to the 2005 classic ‘P’s and Q’s’, the live brass dynamic illustrated the power of this nostalgic anthem. This appeared to be the catalyst to the evening, as from then on, he commanded Bristol with captivating deliveries. From the harrowing homage of ‘Trouble’ to seasonal reminiscing in ‘T-Shirt Weather In The Manor’, the set displayed a diversity which solidified the rappers importance.
is needed now More than ever
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Kano’s humble nature came with a sophistication which is enthralling to watch. With a minimal backdrop of just an illuminated platform stage, this allowed for his flow to take full focus throughout. From soulful offerings to being thrown straight back into his gritty lyrics, his unleashing of bars onto the adoring crowd only grew greater.
Claiming that Bristol is technically a home away from home, it was an electrifying highlight to end the ‘Class of Deja’. It was met with one of the largest roars of the night. After this ignition, unsurprisingly, ‘GarageSkankFREESTYLE’ and ‘3 Wheel-Ups’ saw Kano burst into frenzy as the balconies of the O2 shook.
Climaxing with a full band stage takeover to Sister Nancy’s ‘Bam Bam’, the set was seamlessly triumphant in capturing the essence of culture through many forms. Thought evoking, energetic and crucial, Kano is a master of musicianship who ceases to produce current creativity. Despite having just spent 2 hours with a musical influencer to many, what struck me is that given Kano’s legacy in the scene, you really can’t prepare for his immeasurable diversity.
Image by Olivia Rose
Read more: Kano and Orbital announced as Love Saves The Day 2020 headliners
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