TomTalks #33: Ghetts, On Purpose, With Purpose Tour - 02 Institute, Birmingham (A Passionate and Energetic Showcase of the Best of U.K. Rap)

 

Ghetts is a legend of the U.K. scene at this point, known for his passionate delivery and sensational lyricism. 2024 saw him deliver his latest album, 'On Purpose, With Purpose', giving fans the many sides to this artist they love. As is always the case, a tour was forthcoming, and I bought my ticket, full of anticipation.

This was my third time seeing the artist formally known as Ghetto, having previously been dazzled by performances at The Warehouse Project in 2019, and Leeds Festival in 2021. But, the tour show is where you get a musician at their best, and that was certainly the case here.

Before the main act, we got a showing of the next generation from Prince Jaakan. He showed his versatility by rapping over everything from drill to more afroswing vibes, bringing out Elzinoo to perform. Finding information on this artist was difficult to come by, but they warmed the crowd up nicely and are sure to get some new fans coming their way.

Prince Jaakan

After a break, the man of the moment came to the stage, and boy, did he deliver. His energy is present at every show, but it was very much on display here. It adds bite to the lyrics and shows the Newham MC has come here to give you something different. The stage presence was captivating, while interaction with the crowd was genuine and showed a love for the audience. The addition of a live band was the cherry on top, providing a different experience to the project and your average rap show.

The crowd was hyped and ready for this show, making for one of the most dedicated audiences I have seen. I don't believe I saw any mosh pits (although, I was near the front), which highlights how good the audience was. They knew the bars word for word, showing how this new LP is already cemented as a classic in their eyes.

'Anakin (Red Saber)' was a great opener and really set the stage for what was to come. Tracks like 'Blood On My Hands' and 'Laps' were already hype, but they were made for a live setting. Getting a wheel up from the live band indicated they went off.

Jaykae

While the night focused on the new album, we went back to 'Conflict Of Interest' with songs like 'Hop Out' and 'Mozambique', with fans welcoming a cameo from Jaykae. Rude Kid then came to the stage as Ghetts spat at a deadly velocity over classic Grime instrumentals. Whether over 'Forward Riddim' or 'Pied Piper', these fans was here for it. This man is a 140 legend, and the legendary MC was present to show he still knows how to ride those beats.

Ghetts

Following several minutes of hyperactive energy, we slowed things down a bit. 'Hallelujah' showed his more vulnerable side, while the vibey afroswing vibes of 'Gbedu' with guest Harry Aye showed that previously mentioned multifariousness. The incredible 'Double Standards' hit just as good live as it did at home, before the encore. Coming back to the stage, we got the much anticipated 'Mount Rushmore' (sadly without Kano and Wretch 32), and the sensual anthem 'Mine'. We even got a surprise with a UKG remix of the latter, before he left the stage to chants of 'Artillery'.

I knew Ghetts was going to put on a show, but man, this was a great performance. Having seen him before, I knew it would be a good showing, but this was top-of-the-range entertainment. The performance was full of passion, the crowd was sensational, and the tunes went off in a live setting. If you're a rapper who wants to know how to perform live, take a few tips from Ghetts, you won't regret it.

Rating: 4.5/5

Ghetts is on Instagram, X, and TikTok. You can also follow TomTalks on Instagram, X, Threads, and YouTube.

The tour is sadly over, but you can stream 'On Purpose, With Purpose' here.