AJ TRACEY // ONE NINETYFOUR, LONDON
British rap legend delights fans
★★★★☆ (4/5)
The heart of central London played host to an electrifying homecoming show for one of the city’s modern icons. Since launching into the mainstream, British rap star AJ Tracey has been an undeniable influence on the hip-hop zeitgeist. The evening’s show, an intimate showcase as part of the “Not Even a Tour” tour, aimed to allow Tracey to find his feet in a headlining slot after a period of playing mostly festival slots.
From the excitement of the audience, the headlining break did little to dampen the dedication of his fans, embodying the energy that means he remains one of the UK’s most dynamic hip-hop artists.
The evening's venue, One Ninetyfour Piccadilly, presented a luxurious setting for the special performance. Through a sophisticated blend of lighting and aesthetics, the venue helped to provide a memorable host for a night of rousing music. A stacked lineup presented a tantalising selection from some of the best in UK hip-hop. Sets from D7, LZEE and Big Zuu were warmly received by the audience and turned the already excited concertgoers into a frenzy.
A changeover after the last support led to a quick introduction, and a euphoric chorus of audience cheers as their hometown hero as he took to the stage. Immediately, Tracey grabbed the audience's attention, refusing to relinquish any grip as he made his way through a one-hour set which covered all of his classic tracks and some new cuts from his soon-to-be-released album “Don’t Die Before You’re Dead” ( released June 13th). The tight scope of the venue allowed Tracey to build a deep connection with the audience, with banter flowing to and from the stage between songs. The intensity of the crowd's passion fuelled the performance and elevated every song as they belted out the lyrics.
The hits-packed set list provided a masterclass in intensity as Tracey barrelled through the tracks which have cemented him as a mainstay in U.K. rap. Classics such as “Ladbroke Grove” delivered nostalgia but still felt cutting edge, while a handful of new songs played showed how Tracey has evolved as an artist. As always his razor-sharp lyrics and flows blended with trailblazing instrumentals to create his distinctive sound.
A wall of noise from the audience's cheers was all that remained as Tracey left the stage. Having thoroughly delighted all in attendance, the night had shown an artist who is still at peak performance and ready to deliver some of his best tracks.