Sheffield-based events organisers Tuned In brought Leicester rapper Kae Kuzi to Sidney & Matilda’s basement stage last week, topping a bill of exciting up-and-coming talent from the UK underground rap scene.
A refreshing change of pace from the sea of indie singer-songwriters and post-punk bands that tend to dominate Sheffield’s music spaces, Tuned In vol. 2 brought exciting underground rap artists from across the UK to perform at one of Sheffield’s best independent venues.
The first set of the night comes from producer-turned-performer Love George. Having produced beats for the likes of Ashbeck, El Londo, and Joe James, Love George decided Sidney & Matilda was the right stage to host his first ever solo show. If there are any first-gig nerves, they don’t show; Love George’s confidence in his own work shines through over the course of his enthralling debut set.
King Kai on decks keeps the tunes coming throughout the night and the energy high between sets, the next coming from Kid Blu3, a young local artist on the up. Currently honing her craft at Waterbear music college in Sheffield, Kid Blu3’s introspective and unapologetically personal lyrics stand out immediately with heaps of potential on display, even during a relatively short set.
Birmingham MC Jaycen Spades is next up and by this time in the evening the sizeable audience is really warming up, the catchy hooks and high energy of Spades’ music keeping the baying crowd satisfied. Jaycen has an energetic yet laid-back stage presence, with plenty of banter and crowd interaction between tracks. Love George appears again at the end of the set for a rendition of their recently released collaboration Dice, both artists looking totally at home together on stage.
The evening’s headline set comes from a lively Kae Kuzi, buoyed by King Kai’s energy emanating from behind the decks. Kuzi displays a laudable ability to keep the audience in the palm of his hand throughout his set, stemming from an obvious confidence in himself and his music. His set peaks with Local Tyrant, a performance that justifies Kuzi’s status as one of the rising stars of the UK underground rap scene.
For their most recent show – just the second of many to come – Tuned In curated a stellar line up of some of the most exciting up-and-coming rap talent in the UK. The evening was a welcome reminder that there is far more to Sheffield and the UK’s music scene than shouty punk bands and sad blokes with guitars.