Skepta’s first-ever event, Big Smoke, celebrated the music that has influenced the North London musician’s career at Crystal Palace Park. There may not have been a more significant artist in terms of influencing UK Rap and providing opportunities for the following generation over some decades.
It was only fitting that Frisco and DJ Oblig, reprising their legendary The Den club nights on the main stage, opened the event with a grime set. Manga Saint Hilare, who delivered contagious energy, and Flowdan, who sang his verse from the GRAMMY-winning hit “Rumble” by himself, Skrillex, and Fred, made cameo appearances. Furthermore, Frisco achieved a full circle moment when he shared the stage with his son, up-and-coming Tottenham rapper ThaFirst, an achievement that must have made both musicians proud.
Nigerian rapper ODUMODUBLVCK gave a performance that was brimming with vitality and spirit, showcasing why he is so respectable. He was able to elicit a lively response from a young audience that might not have been very familiar with his music by playing tracks from his highly regarded 2023 album “EZIOKWU.” Jme, who performed later in the afternoon, rattled through classics with cameos from House of Pharaohs and £MONZO, so he didn’t need to convey his discography to an increasingly animated audience. Being one of BBK’s most well-known performers, he gave an amazing performance, and it was only fitting that he closed his set with the song “Man Don’t Care,” which was crucial to the second grime revival in the middle of the 2010s.
Great music could also be found outside of the main stage, and the Mas Tiempo tent made sure that there were plenty of options available to create an inclusive atmosphere at the event. DJs Ossie and Kitty Amor both gave incredibly amazing shows; Ossie used house music, while Amor combined several electronic music genres with African influences. This was prior to Uncle Waffles taking the stage, who managed to attract a sizable audience with her Amapiano song choices, her renowned energy-filled dancing, and her overall presentation.
Unquestionably, Skepta’s performance was the festival’s outstanding premiere. A wide range of outstanding talent was on show all day long, showcasing the North London artist’s ongoing appeal and influence in the UK scene and beyond. It will be interesting to watch how the festival develops as Skepta announced on stage that they intend to carry on next year, but for a first go, it definitely delivered in terms of creative skill and has the potential to become a summer calendar regular.
