AJ Tracey, O2 Institute, Birmingham - review with pictures
West London’s finest touched down in Birmingham last night as AJ Tracey and Co blessed the O2 Institute with their wavy presence, as part of the Secure the Bag tour.
The My Team Paid leader quickly established the vibe for the evening with a hard hitting rendition of LA4AWEEK, starting off the night strong. With the crowd already warmed up well before the first track came to an end it seemed as though the energy in the venue would continue to grow as the night went on - and so it did.
The Ladbroke Grove lad may have been a way away from home on the night, but you never would have guessed it, commanding the stage as if he were performing in his own backyard.
The young 23-year-old moved seamlessly between performing his new repertoire, off the Secure the Bag mixtape released earlier this year, and his older collection of tracks that his long-time fans clearly appreciated.
Shelling down the packed out Birmingham crowd with numbers such as Tour Team, Blacked Out and Pasta, AJ Tracey demonstrated why he is being regarded so highly amongst his older peers.
Performing after his West London partner in crime, Big Zuu, and alongside his stable mate Ets, the three demonstrated without any shadow of a doubt why the MTP set have been moving so quickly through the grime scene ranks of late, and why there’s no chance of them letting up any time soon.
Starting the night off with his un-rivalled brand of energy, Big Zuu tore a hole in the O2 Institute. The always animalistic West Londoner lived up to his name throughout his performance, consuming the venue with his relentless bars and powerful stage presence.
Interacting with their fans at every opportunity, AJ Tracey, Ets and Big Zuu all brought their own personality and hype to the night, carrying the breaks well, keeping the pace electric throughout.
If a night of unrivalled grime stardom wasn’t enough for those in attendance the tour gear on offer downstairs was certainly enough to cap off a sick night. With a selection of Secure the Bag t-shirts on offer in a dazzling array of colours, including a tie-die colourway that will light up any night, AJ Tracey and Co are making their mark on the grime scene in unapologetic fashion, and it suits them.
By James Stride
