LIVE: Skepta | O2 Academy, Birmingham | #IgnoranceIsBlissTour

Skepta arrived in Birmingham for the second date of his Ignorance Is Bliss tour riding the crest of a wave. His follow up to the groundbreaking, Mercury Prize winning Konnichiwa has drawn plenty of plaudits, and rightfully so. Ignorance Is Bliss advanced Skepta's sound, drawing on influences from across the pond to create an eclectic record that is in parts introspective and personal, and in others laden with bangers.

Photography by. Pharaoh | @pharaohdraws

It's the latter he focused on in Brum, kicking things off with no less than seven tracks from his latest record. These include the standout Redrum, a fierce track that showcases the grime legend's penchant for hard-hitting, fast-moving content. From there, the concert segued into an intriguing tour of collaborations with ASAP Rocky, Octavian, Playboi Carti and slowthai. Some Konnichiwa classics featured not long after, with local hero JayKae appearing for a rowdy rendition of That's Not Me.

Photography by. Pharaoh | @pharaohdraws

The best was saved for last, however, when Nafe Smallz appeared on stage for set closer (and Ignorance Is Bliss standout) Greaze Mode. It was the perfect ending for a show that really demonstrated Skepta's range as an MC, one that leaves this reviewer intrigued to see where he takes his sound next.

#CGlifestyle #Birmingham #O2Academy #CGuk #Skepta #IgnoranceIsBliss #NafeSmallz #Jaykae