Live

Lil Tjay: O2 Academy Brixton, London 12/11/21

It's been a big couple of years for New York rapper and singer Lil Tjay.
Since 2019 he's released the mixtape "State of Emergency" and LPs "True 2 Myself" and "Destined 2 Win", cementing his place as one of the most sought after artists on the planet. Such was the demand for tickets for his London show that a second night had to be added to accommodate the high demand.

An opening set by Kenny Allstar saw local hero Sneakbo take to the stage to huge applause.

It was the first time I'd been to Brixton Academy since March last year and damn it felt good to finally be back.

After being denied the chance to perform in front of a crowd for much of the last 18 months, 20-year-old Lil Tjay looked equally delighted to be back to work. "Headshot" and "Laneswitch" got the show off to a lively start, while "None of Your Love" sounded fresh.

For one so young he's got an impressive stage presence, and will no doubt be performing in front of arenas at some point in the not-too-distant future when he returns to the UK.

Pop Smoke cover "War" was a hit with the crowd, while "Not In The Mood" brought the performance to a successful close. Expect a lot more from this exciting young artist in the future.

PHOTOS: DAVE BURKE
Words Dave Burke