Live
Tory Lanez and Yoko Gold: Kentish Town 6/4/17
No matter who you go and watch live this year, you're unlikely to see a more energetic performer than Tory Lanez.
I've watched plenty of gigs at Kentish Town Forum over the years, but never anything like this.
The Canadian rapper - who has previously stated his intention to take Drake's crown from his countryman - delivered a musical two fingers to health and safety guidelines as he spent a large part of his set being carried by the crowd.
And in scenes unlikely to be repeated anytime soon, he channelled his inner Spider Man to climb from the audience at ground level onto the balcony above.
Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, has a reputation for his lively performances, and the 24-year-old did not disappoint on the second of his two sold-out shows at the north London venue.
The evening got off to a lively start with support act Yoko Gold, also from Toronto, making a brief and angry appearance onstage.
He took exception to something being thrown up on the stage - even standing right in front of him, I didn't see what it was - dropping his microphone mid-track and leaping offstage toward the crowd, looking for the culprit.
Gold them stormed off to a chorus of boos, leaving the DJ with a big job to kill the bad vibes before the main act took to the stage.
The mood caused by the support act's petulant display soon lifted, thankfully, and Lanez appeared soon after to flashing lights and a crowd looking to party.
He's been releasing mixtapes since 2009, and his two biggest hits, "Luv" and "Say It" have both been streamed more than 100 million times on Spotify.
Both feature on his debut studio album "I Told You", released last year, and signs are that he's going to follow in the footsteps of fellow Canadians Drake and The Weeknd to become a massive star.
His flow is good and he kept the audience - largely in their teens and early 20s - engaged with versions of "Friends With Benefits" and "Guns and Roses" from the album.
Not one to be constrained by the confines of the stage, he leapt over the barrier and launched himself into the audience, in a friendlier manner than the support act had done.
Crowd surfing is something he's become famous for, and it is impressive how he can keep on rapping while being lifted.
Highlights included an early version of "Anyway", and he showed his vocal dexterity on "I Need A Girl".
Unsurprisingly, it was his biggest hits that brought the loudest roar from the audience.
Punters may have been talking about his climbing antics as they left, but Lanez had demonstrated his ever-increasing catalogue.
Both Drake and The Weeknd have performed sell-out shows at The O2 Arena earlier this year, and Lanez has made no secret of his desire to emulate their success.
He'll find it harder to climb there though.
PHOTOS: DAVE BURKE
Words Dave Burke
