Rejjie Snow
Electric Arena
★★★★
When Rejjie Snow rolls out his fluid, dexterous flow over jazzy hip-hop beats, he reminds me so much of his hero, MF DOOM.
Snow’s voice might be more pristine than the gruff tones of rap’s metal-masked arch supervillian – plus, he sometimes leans into his north Dublin accent – but it’s the way he caresses the syllables, like a well-tuned drummer caresses his symbols.
His set in the Electric Arena at Electric Picnic on Friday proves that skill is natural and not studio gifted.
Over tracks like Pink Beetle and Olga (1984) Snow raps on stage with satin-smooth clarity, while more barbed bangers like Flexin rattle the crowd from side to side. ("Let's open up this mosh pit!" he demands before Blakkst Skin.)
The set draws to a close with a tricolour flashing on screen and chants of “Rejjie! Rejjie!” The homecoming of a new-age rap star.
In three words: jazzy, nimble rap
If you like this, go see: A Tribe Called Quest
