R&b
The last two years have seen rapper Aitch expand his music brand, responding to an exponential growth in popularity in the competitive landscape of the UK and further afield, and the sold-out show in North London marks the culmination of his success.
The Moston born and bred lyricist is here to demonstrate he is at the top of his game. With a varied setlist that covers twenty-seven tracks, the show entertains in numbers and resonates widely.
Clever, cheeky, but thoughtful, Aitch works his way through the set, as he pulls out all the stops with a production that tells the story of his roots, how his background in the north formed his character, and to some extent, informed the music he makes, and it does so without neglecting to reach further and build a connection with his audiences. His is a unique story, but it’s one many can relate to.
The storytelling skills and relatability are winning components in this show. Conversational and engaging, the tone is well-pitched, and the stage production consists of carefully selected video footage, images of the artist’s childhood, recent music videos as well as footage detailing career highlights. Respectively, tonight’s list of guests is impressive, and showcases rising talent and established artists.
Show opener, 2019 hit ‘Taste’, settles and focuses the mood, it’s a chilled intro to an event that continues to build on energy, while the fourth song ‘Strike A Pose’ welcomes the first of a number of guests, featuring Young T and Bugsey. It’s an electrifying delivery that calls for more, and ‘Buss Down’ gets the audience moving before a vigorous rendition of ‘Latest Trends’, which is performed with A1 x J1.
Keen to build on the zest of the show, the fun doesn’t stop there. The name ArrDee is often linked to Aitch, and tonight he appears to perform ‘War’, providing a collaborative snapshot, one that seems fitting ahead of further guest appearances with Tion Wayne on ‘Let’s Go’ and ‘Just Coz’ with Giggs.
But ‘1989’ supplies a true, standalone moment, where the sample of the iconic Stone Roses track ’Fools Gold’ produces undisputed Manchester vibes. The biggest highlight of the night, however, is the undeniable, high intensity of ‘Rain’ with pal and collaborator AJ Tracey, where the combination of sole hooks and the pulsating, hypnotic quality makes everybody sing the words back.
An original, northern voice in lyrical and musical terms, Aitch has done a lot of the ground work in preparation of what is ahead; a fresh chapter in his life is about to begin with a new year that promises even greater things to come.
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Words: Susan Hansen
Photography: Ben McQuaide
Setlist:
Show Intro
1 Taste
2 What’s Next
3 Bring It Back
4 Louis Vuitton
5 Strike A Pose (with Young T & Bugsey)
6 Buss Down
7 Latest Trends (with A1 X J1)
8 Raw
9 Keisha Becky
10 War (with ArrDee)
11 Wait UFO
12 Safe to Say
13 Interlude
14 Fuego
15 Cheque
16 The Palm
17 Let’s Go (with Tion Wayne)
18 100X
19 Just Coz (with Giggs)
20 In Disguise
21 1989
22 Sunshine
23 Interlude/Belgrave Road
24 Close To Home
25 My G
26 Learning Curve
27 Rain (with AJ Tracey)
28 Baby
