New York rap personality Wiki set to play Headrow House in July

Jay Fullarton on 5 June 2022

By now, the New York rap personality should need no introduction, with as much personality as an Action Bronson or an ODB. Wiki was one half of the cult-underground, abstract Hip Hop trio Ratking, who pushed boundaries with tracks like Canal. They emerged amongst the aggressive, hungry, innovative Hip Hop resurgence, amongst iconic supergroups like Odd Future, A$AP Mob, Black Hippy, and Pro Era – in what was surely Hip Hop’s second golden era.

Wiki is coming to Headrow House in Leeds on 25th July, for what should be one hell of a show. He’s always shown love to the UK, featuring a lesser-known King Krule on the classic Ratking track So Sick Stories, and also featuring Jesse James Solomon, and Obongjayar on solo tracks. So, we welcome him to Leeds with open arms, ready to hear his stories behind the mic in the intimate venue. 

After an incredible 2021, which begun with the severely underrated, overlooked side project with NAH, Telephonebooth – one of the grimiest, dirtiest portrayals of New York since Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, but only a brief, 21-minute glimpse into the dark alleyways and gritty underbelly of NYC.

His year only continued with a surprisingly even better LP, Half God, with production across the tracklist from Navy Blue (who also put on quite a show at Headrow House this year). With Wiki’s lyrical displays and gobby inflections, he shows off an almost New Yorkified Slowthai style delivery, or rather maybe, Slowthai mirrors an abrasive, even more chaotic, British version of Wiki… 

Earl Sweatshirt collaborator, Navy Blue – the LA based pro skateboarder, model, rapper, and producer extraordinaire with an already vast discography up his sleeve from over just two years, seems to have mellowed Wiki out – with Madlib style production behind the boards, Wiki shines over choppier, sunnier beats. With a clash of styles that should’ve been too difficult to pull off, their chemistry seems to work so well. A complete shock from the typical eeriness of Wiki’s bodega stock of rhymes and flows. 

From signed to independent, Wiki has remained one crazy, vivid storyteller; he will transport you to New York City with his penmanship, and his combinations of Hardcore East Coast Hip Hop, and Abstract Jazz Rap. Whilst still relatively low key, because of his talents Wiki has been incredibly influential on this new scene of experimental, alternative New York based emcees… Tracks like Roof are just a testament to this. Whilst he was once a Danny Brown type poster boy for weirdo, dark aesthetics, his latest is much less menacing and dingy, more bittersweet, hopeful, and seems to come from a better headspace, with a more personal, human quality to it.

Make sure to check out both Wiki’s solo output, and Ratking’s body of work (despite their split), and make sure you grab tickets while you can here! 

Miles Kane, supported by Brooke Combe, takes the O2 Academy Leeds by storm

Phoebe Hedlam on 5 June 2022

Miles Kane’s first support, Tom A. Smith, kicked things off with some classic indie rock; his charisma drew the crowd in and set things up nicely for Edinburgh singer-songwriter, Brooke Combe who followed. It was clear that Combe understood Kane’s crowd as she got them suitably warmed up with her cover of Arctic Monkey’s ‘Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High’. Her warm vocals leant itself perfectly to the indie classic and got the crowd firmly on her side as she made her way through her singles, ‘A-Game’ and ‘Impress You’. The catchy bass on Combe’s final track, ‘Are You With Me?’, got the crowd fist-pumping and raring to go for Kane’s performance. I am sure I won’t be the only one in the audience who will be keeping an eye out for what Combe brings out next. 

With his infectious energy, incredible band, and hit after hit, Miles Kane bought the house down on Sunday night at the O2 Academy. 

Miles Kane started as he meant to go on as he opened with the riotous ‘Don’t Let It Get You Down’ from his latest album that is difficult to resist screaming along to at the top of your lungs. What followed was a mixture of hits, old and new, that left plenty of room for Kane to show off his showmanship. Kane made it clear why he has been in the game for over a decade as he treated the crowd to plenty of guitar solos as well as a special guest: Leeds-born Corinne Bailey Rae joined him on stage to sing their single, ‘Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough’. Scattered amongst his solo hits was a couple of The Last Shadow Puppet favourites, ‘Aviation’ and ‘Standing Next To Me’, that fit in nicely with the Motown influences of his latest album Change the Show. Kane was supported by an incredible band that matched his energy and stage presence as they helped him to rile up the crowd and get them on his side. A particular highlight was when Kane gave the stage to his sax-player and backing singer during ‘Never Get Tired of Dancing’ which showed the band off to their full capacity as they ensured that no one was too tired to have a boogie on a Sunday night. Another fantastic moment was Kane’s rendition of The Beatle’s classic ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ – a true celebration of the music of the North. 

In short, Miles Kane is an artist who knows exactly what his crowd wants and isn’t afraid to give it to them: something to sing along so loud to, or stamp their feet so hard to, that they may just forget that Monday is just around the corner.