By Alice Hingley
On Friday the 1st of April, Arrdee embarked on a landmark night in his career. For the last stop on his first solo UK tour he took to the stage of Islington's O2 Academy, marking his first headline show in the capital. A definitive moment in any artist's career, this show served as the final test of validation for the young artist's reputation in the UK Rap scene. After his feature on Tion Wayne's 'Body' Remix dominated TikTok as the anthem of summer 2021, Arrdee has received acclaim from his peers and solidified himself as the new kid on the block. The London leg of the Pier Pressure tour proved Arrdee is worth the hype.
Reaffirming his patriotism to the Ocean City that raised him, Arrdee cherry-picked Brighton rapper Dredz for support. The perfect compliment to Arrdee, Dredz cultivated the room's excitement, channelling the electric crowd's energy to new heights. Spitting agile lyricism over bass-heavy beats, his flow served as a cold accompaniment for Arrdee. Leaving a memorable impression on the audience and fusing their energy ready to charge for the main event.
Erupting onto the stage with the confidence of a seasoned performer, Arrdee had the audience in his grip from the first beat as he balanced cocky-youthfulness with raw talent, flirting with the audience playfully. He infused the O2 with contagious excitement, charming the crowd with his assertive sense of self. They were hanging off his every word, tripping over themselves to get closer, catching him eagerly as he jumped in and out. There was an evident level of trust between the young rapper and his fans. Mellowing things down with an acoustic rendition of ‘Early Hours’, he showed versatility without diminishing the vibe.
His lyricism speaks to Gen Z - he performed with conviction, lacing his way through social issues. His skilful flow permitted him to dance through the setlist like second nature. His locker is unarguably original, with a signature Arrdee-ism. Still, his respect for the culture that came before him is clear. Gassed-up samples of iconic UKG tracks, including T2's 'Heartbroken', or SWA's 'Flowers', provided the bed for some of the most loved tracks. Reinvigorating timeless songs without tarnishing their legacy or leaving a sense of tackiness is a skill that will serve the 19-year-old well as he builds his own.
Challenging the crowd to “take the fucking roof down”, the MC dove into the audience for a final rendition of the Body bars that branded his mark on public consciousness. A gig to remember, this night was a coronation for the King of Brighton to prove he doesn't cave to 'Pier Pressure'.
