There is something special about seeing an artist in a venue they have outgrown; the distance feels smaller and the intimacy deeper. Every moment means more, knowing this is probably the closest you’ll get before their fame projects them far into the distance. If only you could preserve it forever in your mind. Nowhere was this feeling more acute than last Tuesday at Kojey Radical’s intimate gig at Lafayette. After the show ends, there’s a palpable feeling of awe in the crowd, an unspoken bond between me and my fellow gig-goers, over the shared privilege of what we’ve just been able to witness.
But it’s not just through his acclaim that the East-London-bred British-Ghanaian rapper, poet and all-around creative, exceeds the 600-capacity venue. Something seems different. Kojey feels different: more assured in himself and his polychromatic creativity.
You can hear it in his rendition of ‘Feel about it’, the line “Got my compliments from confidence,” inverted from its original version; finally, he’s been freed from the shackles of his insecurities, no longer reliant on fragile external validation. You can feel it when he’s conducting the audience’s energy, guiding us through the different “Levels” of his performance. Whether it’s in response to seductive harmonies on ‘Hours’ or calls to shake a leg to funky Swindle-produced baselines on ‘Playback’, we humbly abide by our maharishi clad in a multicolour three-piece suit and neon glasses. Although it’s not long before he strips off his jacket and waistcoat, his performance too great a force for confinement, to furiously spit bars from the Top-Boy-approved single ‘If Only’. After, he saunters across the stage remarking, “Sorry, just had to remind people I’m still cold.” As if we could ever forget.
In a genre where competition is so central, braggadocio is commonplace, but Radical has the rhymes to back his claims. A live band only makes his effortless flow more impressive, filling out the sound while he deftly fuses humorous asides with eloquent musings of his surroundings. Throughout the set, Radical reconciles hip-hop, grime, funk, soul, boom-bap and spoken word, cycling through genres with finesse.
What captures Radical’s audience the most isn’t his dexterous musicality (although it doesn’t hurt), it’s in his moments of candid vulnerability. During a prelude to ‘Can’t Go Back’, Radical recounts a friend’s recent plea for help after confessing they’d been experiencing suicidal ideation. The room responds with absolute silence, hanging on his every word. In Radical’s last EP, Cashmere Tears, mental health was a running theme, intending to comfort, empower and encourage an open discourse through music. Before its 2019 release, Radical had confessed the EP came into being following a heavy spell of depression, where his creative outlets helped him to cope. It’s through these moments of brutal honesty that Radical has earned his loyal following; not only does he understand what it takes to make great art but he has the talent to execute such a feat.
Radical’s debut full-length album, Reason to Smile, out on the 4th of March via Atlantic/Asylum Records, continues the mental health theme that punctuates his discography. The title, as he reveals during the show, refers to the “Continuous work” needed to manage any mental illness. Lasting just an hour and featuring all three of the album’s pre-release singles, the set was a mere teaser for what’s to come, as well as Radical’s O2 Academy Brixton show later this April. (Shameless plugs for both of which feature in the interludes).
Recently, in a press release, Radical commented on the upcoming LP: “This is the first time I’ve done it to the scale and ambition of what I speak. Previously it’s been ‘I’m warming, I’m warming, I’m warming up.’ But I’m warm now—put me in the game.” Even aware of his devotion to constant self-improvement, for those familiar with his work, it’s hard to believe Radical’s current discography could ever be considered a “Warm-up”. I, too, was in doubt. But not anymore. As the few privileged Lafayette attendees will confirm, Radical’s momentum is as potent as ever. I’ll see you again in Brixton, where, I have no doubt, even the 5000-seat venue will not be able to contain the endless vibrancy of his performance.
Organised in partnership with the Music Venue Trust in partnership with the National Lottery The Revive Live tour encourages fans to GoLocal, to support grassroots music venues and experience live music safely. View more tour dates and buy tickets here.
Pre-order Kojey Radical’s debut full-length album, ‘Reason To Smile’, here.
Get tickets for Kojey Radical’s spring tour here.
Words by Elina Ganatra
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.