Grime has cropped up at the Brit Awards, Mercury Prize and Glastonbury in the past 12 months but the O2 felt like a landmark for the homegrown urban music genre.
As well as football, video games and a roller disco in the complex, the Boy Better Know collective curated a line-up beyond their signature sound, including the assured R&B of Mabel (Neneh Cherry’s 21-year-old daughter) and Parisian rapper MHD’s energetic “Afro trap”.
DJ Tim Westwood whipped up the audience with old school hip-hop. But the party really got started with the shirtless J Hus. There were multiple mosh pits for muscular tune Clartin, though the rising star also had a sweeter side to match his smile as he rapped about Kit Kats on Lean & Bop.
Skepta was just as imperious on No Security, Crime Riddim and Shutdown, juddering anthems that felt triumphant at BBK’s hometown spectacular.
Yet this was a team effort with strength in depth, including rapid-fire rhymes from grime godfather Wiley, crazy dancing from MC Jammer and arena-sized beats from DJ Maximum. Alongside Lethal Bizzle and Giggs, there was even a surprise appearance from Drake. With the superstar giving his seal of approval to grime, it feels unstoppable.
