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It’s the job of Sway’s ever-present hype man Pyrelli to get the venue warmed up this evening. But tonight, rather than performing in Sway’s shadow, Pyrelli makes a name for himself and wins over a raucous crowd: accompanied by a mixture of gangster beats, party tunes, and calypso rhythms, Pyrelli’s lyrics are as intelligent and as well delivered as his rap partner’s. Highlights of an all too short set include Pyrelli’s smooth dance moves, and a number for the ladies that he spits over Janet Jackson’s, ‘When I Think of You’- brilliant.
When Mississippi rapper David Banner was added to tonight’s bill, it was assumed that he probably wouldn’t turn up; true to form, his name is missing from the advertised set times. After all, why would the new ‘mouth of the South’ be here, supporting home-grown talent? But wait, hold on to your New Era caps, as the DJ announces, "David Banner is in the building!" the room becomes a mess of sprawling limbs. Coming "straight from the United States of hate", Banner’s act is volatile and sporadic. Within seconds he jumps off stage and onto the shoulders of one of his entourage, rapping violently as he is paraded around the room. A minute later he is on the bar, and before this lowly writer knows it, Mr. Banner is right next to him, mid rap, stealing his pint! (David, beer in London is NOT cheap, next time, it’s your round).
Banner is incredibly entertaining in a typically American way - there is a beautiful irony in urging crowd members to join him in a prayer that is promptly ended by the sound of two gun shots – isn’t Amen more traditional? Doing his bit for racial harmony, Banner protests, "I don’t hate white people, I love them – your father’s are the diplomats, YOU can make a difference", and treats us white folk by playing ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. Thanks David, how very considerate/patronising – pint stealing idiot. Banner’s delivery is loud enough to fill the room without a mic, and as he drops hit ‘Talk to Me’ all racial faux pas are forgiven, a truly entertaining set.
How do you follow that? Only Sway has the answer – walking onstage to the national anthem, sporting his trademark union jack bandana, the crowd are reminded that tonight is all about UK. "Are you liver than America, Islington?" – the mental reaction suggests that despite Banner’s best efforts, tonight belongs to Sway. As the North Londoner drops favourites such as ‘Flo Fashion’, and ‘Little Derek’ it’s clear that this is a completely different breed of Hip Hop: Sway’s lyrics are more intelligent, more thought provoking, and more humorous than his American counterpart, and the crowd react accordingly.
Tonight Sway is joined by an army of friends, including Baby Blue, Nate James, Bigs, and old pal Pyrelli. Disappointingly, despite being spotted in the crowd, there is no guest appearance from the Mitchell Brothers for the fantastic ‘Harvey Nicks’, but it really doesn’t matter, Sway’s performance is flawless. Hilarious punch lines delivered with perfect comedy timing in songs such as ‘Hype Boys’, and 'Download’ ("Everybody knows Harry don’t look like Charles") get the chuckles they deserve, but as ever, it’s Sway’s freestyles that steal the show; any artist that can rhyme sausages with hostages and still come out with any shred of Hip Hop dignity must be good!
The night is wrapped up by the earth shattering bass line of ‘Up Your Speed’ which gets the crowd dangerously close to hysteria - quite simply, if tonight’s performance is anything to go by, Sway is the greatest thing to ever happen to the UK Hip Hop scene.
Photos by: Simon Leak
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