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Striding through the doors that UK grime stars Wiley and Dizzee Rascal have broken down, Wretch 32 brought his Black and White Tour to Liverpool’s Student University and played it safe.
The London rapper even asked the audience’s permission: “Gonna take my glasses and coat off, if it’s alright with you?”
Wretch lacks the star presence of a well-seasoned performer, but he had the gathered throng of students and eating out of the palm of his hand.
This is largely due to the hype machine behind chart hits Tracktor, Don’t Go and Unorthodox featuring Example (who has definitely sold his soul to the Devil, as there is no other logical explanation for his success).
The majority of Wretch’s other tunes sounded like Mark Morrison’s B-sides. He even had to bring on a string of special guests with increasingly obtuse names like Scorcher Skywalker, Shazam and wait for it… Trevor (who could actually sing).
It was distinctly average, although Wretch does have potential, but catch his live show and make up your own mind. Tell us, are we lying?
Photography by James Chapman