J.Cole at Manchester Academy 20/11

In one of the rare instances I chose to venture out of my room seeing as so little R&R time is afforded to many a 3rd year, I spent yesterday evening (Sunday) in the glorious city of Manchester.

My friend and housemate Mica is due to be 23 on the 23rd November so I thought I'd be a considerate chum and surprise her with gig tickets to see one of her favourite artists J.Cole.

The rapper who hails from North Carolina across the pond put on a brilliant set to a bunch of raucous students on a cold Sunday evening. The air was crackling with anticipation and excitement as only a concert can encompass.

Brooklyn resident DJ Dummy was on the decks warming up the crowd with popular mainstream hip hop before moving on to a bit of dubstep to ‘rep the UK’.

J. Cole made an entrance simply: there were few flashing lights or tricks. Just one man and his microphone.

Performing a plethora of songs from his debut album Cole World, past mixtapes and collaborations. He opened with Looking for Trouble and title track Cole World.

Slowing the pace for a more formal and humble introduction over keyboard accompaniment, he continued with a bouncy cover of collaboration with[out] R&B singer Miguel, All I Want is You, with the entire crowd rapping every word.

After Higher, he slowed the pace right down moving the set to a more intimate level sitting on a stool at the front of the stage for the slower Daddy’s Little Girl.

The tracks continued to come thick and fast, including Lost Ones and Rise and Shine, generally performing one verse and the chorus for a mix of songs from the new album and his previous two mixtapes.

Upping the tempo once again for Mr Nice Watch and Work Out, his energy was matched every step of the way by the crowd who continued to recite lyrics with sheer ease and dedication along with him.

After asking the audience who had bought his album, the inevitable deafening response prompted him to sing a cover of the chorus of 2Pac’s Hail Mary.

This clip of his entrance (which I do not own, btw) demonstrates the wild reception the humble artist received from the crowd.

Disclaimer: This video features swear words...a lot of them.



He seamlessly switched between songs knowing exactly how to interact and work with the crowd keeping them engaged. He gave the audience his all spitting lyrics with pure passion. After seeing him back in January supporting Drake in Birmingham I felt it wouldn't be long before the stage was his, as he still is the best opening act I've ever seen.

We stayed at Premier Inn in Deansgate Locks where the beds were ridiculously gigantic, about twice the size of our doubles at home. It was the best sleep I'd experienced in a long time, bar a weird spluttering coughing fit which came from nowhere waking up Mica.

Can any of you cite your best gig or performer you've seen live?

Soundtrack: Bedouin Soundclash ft. Coeur De Pirate- Brutal Hearts

"Are you the Brutal Heart that I've been looking for
Cause if you're looking for love, you can look for that door..."

Stumbled upon this gem of a song 'Brutal Hearts' while watching one of the worst films I think I've ever sat through The Romantics. After one and a half hours of drivel the one single thing that stood out to me is this song from the soundtrack.

I'm not sure whether it's the rumbling percussion throughout or the haunting collaboration of female singer Coeur de Pirate and Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Malinowski

The song charts a one night stand but the sound is so pure and rough it is one of the best bittersweet accounts of a fleeting encounter portrayed through a song.

I just loveeee this track. It is incredible. Just felt compelled to share its brilliance.

What do you think: am I seriously obsessing over nothing or would you not agree this song is all I'm making it out to be...?

Shellowooo x

REVIEW: Drake and J.Cole

Friday 14th January 2011 saw the final UK concert in Canadian rapper Aubrey Graham Drake aka Drake's European 'Dreams & Nightmare Tour'.

Thousands of fans flocked to the NIA Arena in Birmingham to watch the artist delight audiences with tracks from his first official studio album Thank Me Later. Drake was joined (albeit not together onstage) by upcoming American rapper J.Cole who opened the show. An incredible and underrated rapper with thought provoking and often political lyrics in his songs warmed the crowd up admirably.

Arriving fashionably late my friend Susanna and I appeared to take our seats in block J on the left hand side of the stage.

Firstly Cole performed his set with astounding ease and grace, knowing exactly how to interact and work with the crowd keeping them engaged and anticipating the main man of the evening. He gave the audience his all on 'Grown Simba' spitting lyrics with passion. Performing new single 'In The Morning' which features Drake, Cole delivered the lyrics of the song so effortlessly one could have believed they were listening to the actual track. Cole was humble and thankful to fans. Certainly one of the best opening acts I've ever seen.

Drake made an entrance simply: there were few flashing lights or tricks. Just one man and his microphone.

Opening his set with crowd pleaser 'Forever' and ending with 'Over' Drake delivered the creme de la creme from his mixtapes and albums brilliantly. Was a little disappointed he didn't perform more material from The Comeback Season or So Far gone (was holding out for Closer and Say What's Real) but I'm assuming he had an obligation to his mainstream fans and newfound success.

Drizzy also surprised the crowd with a re-enactment of his '3 stroke' which he had been talking about in an interview with Westwood earlier this week. Drake and his pelvic thrusts and vivid descriptions sent female fans into a frenzy of cheering before 'What's My Name'.

Paying homage to Lil Wayne he also performed 'Single' and Young Money track 'Bedrock'. He sung his verse from 'Aston Martin Music' which also got the crowd singing along as every other song did.

Overall the event was amazing and Drizzy was definitely on top of his game and then some, but above all supporting act J.Cole was the highlight. He got the crowd going with some great songs and energy. These two combined may well be a force to reckon with in the world of music in 2011 and beyond.

R x


P.S. Oh and on a more boring note I think security could have been a bit better- need to mention how NO-ONE checked our bags, not implying I could have something illicit on my person, but really, in Birmingham, or anywhere for that matter anything could have passed through. Not gonna rant *snore*