Live

Jay Electronica: Jazz Cafe, Camden, London 31/1/22

For years Jay Electronica had a cult-like following among hip-hop fans.
He's released top-quality singles and mixtapes for more than a decade, but his first album became something of a holy grail.

Then in 2020 came a double boost for his supporters - the release of his much-anticipated debut "A Written Testament" and the leak of "Act 2", which had sat on a hard drive for years. Both confirmed, if any confirmation were needed, that Jay's place at hip-hop's top table cannot be challenged.

The last time I saw him, before the pandemic, London showed up in droves to watch one of the world's most highly-rated yet enigmatic rappers. It was a massive coup by Camden's Jazz Cafe to secure four nights with a rapper with such a massive profile, and hip-hop lovers got the chance to catch him up close.

Jay Electronica is a force of nature, a wordsmith who packs deep emotion and meaning into his lyrics, who the world's best-known artists want to work with. The fact that so many in the crowd were able to recite every word of his tracks is a testament to the power of his work.

"Better In Tune With The Infinite" remains one of the most affecting songs released by any rapper in recent years, and his delivery was phenomenal. Classic tracks such as "Eternal Sunshine" were performed side-by-side with newer songs like "Universal Soldier".

He was off the stage and into the crowd for a frenetic performance of "Exhibit C", which features one of the best verses in rap history. He's an artist who wears his heart on his sleeve, alternating between getting huge laughs from the crowd as he jokes about getting speeding tickets in London, to tackling philosophy, racism and artistry.

The intensity of the final track, "APIDTA", showed the connection between artist and material which few are able to match. The track, about the death of his mother and featuring Jay-Z's "I've got numbers on my phone that'll never ring again" is wrought with emotion and Jay's tears as he performs it shows just how much it means.

Whenever Jay Electronica performs in the capital, London will show up, and it was a nice touch that he opted to perform several shows in such an intimate venue. He remains one of the most compelling rappers in the game, and his live shows cement his place as one of the best at what he does. A must-watch.

PHOTOS: DAVE BURKE
Words Dave Burke