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Memorable: Dizzee Rascal's show proved he's still ahead of the rap pack
The urban music of Dizzee Rascal seemed to suit the network of dank, shadowy railway arches where he performed last night.
The venue under London Bridge was an atmospheric backdrop for the 22-year-old rapper from Bow, who was there for a free music event staged by a mobile phone company.
For the few hundred fans who got in after emailing their mobile numbers, it was a memorable experience thanks to resident theatre company Shunt.
There was a carnival theme with stilt walkers and conjurors, while a lift that rattled and shook during its apparent descent was a fake. We hadn't actually gone anywhere: it was all a trick pulled by the suspiciously manic lift attendant.
Amid this artifice, the Rascal put on a show largely unadorned by gimmicks - he performed with just a fellow
MC and DJ - and underlined his talent as a vocalist and urban music producer.
Three years after he won the Mercury Music Prize, Dylan Mills has stayed ahead of the pack of UK rappers by concentrating on his career rather than controversy.
He opened with Jus' A Rascal, a familiar tune with rapidfire vocals that got the crowd moving, but it was the DJ who really ignited the show with some choice selections during Everywhere.
While Mills spat out his lyrics, Queen's Another One Bites The Dust was played over the track followed by Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, with the young audience clearly more familiar with the latter. After touring with the Red
Hot Chili Peppers in Europe, this was a chance to try out new material on home turf. Flex was a catchy tune in celebration of " the ladies", as he referred to them, and a couple of girls in pink underwear and blonde wigs gyrated on stage.
Sirens was huge and noisy, but the one surely destined to be the comeback single was Da Feeling, an exhilarating combination of drum'n' bass and Jamaican dancehall which featured Joss Stone - on tape this time.
Occasionally, Dizzee misfired, as on the dreary marijuana anthem Lemon, and his relentless style could sometimes be demanding.
But the stunning synthesis of beats and bleeps on Stand Up Tall was a fantastic-finale and, perhaps mindful of his fee, he then urged us to "make some noise for T-Mobile".
Dizzee earned his cheque - but I couldn't quite bring myself to cheer for a mobile phone network.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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Great gig, loved the whole thing from the moment I got there. Never thought I'd see Dizzee Rascal and stilt walkers etc together in one venue, class!
- K, London
I loved this concert, Dizzee Rascal has such energy, and the vibe was wicked - no attitude or anything. Some people said he shouldn't have won the Mercury Music Prize, but if the doubters ever saw this show they would see just how wrong they are.
- Tony, Chiswick, London
Dizzee Rascal is da bomb. His show was electic and the carnival theme made it happening. If you ain't seen D it's well worth it! Jus' a Rascal? Jus' the most talented MC in the UK.
- Marc, Tottenham
