Review : Nafe Smallz Lights Up London’s Outernet For Sold-Out Headline Show

Tuesday night marked a special occasion for the UK Rap scene, with distinct genre-defying artist Nafe Smallz coming through to perform his highly-anticipated sold-out headline show at HERE at Outernet in London. Known for his captivating showmanship and hitmaking ability, Nafe Smallz produced another night to remember, boasting numerous special guests, a creatively immaculate set design and a great atmosphere throughout the room.

With his recent project “Ticket To The Moon” being so well received, the show was a fast sell-out, and the Outernet was filled up with more than 2000 people ready to hear what the project had to offer live. Known for his unique blend of trap beats and melodic hooks, Nafe took the stage around 9:15 with an undeniable energy that immediately captivated the audience. From the moment he appeared, backed by a dynamic visual display and a live band, the atmosphere and crowd was charged with anticipation.

A well-curated journey through Nafe’s catalogue, the Luton-hailing talent played tracks from a range of his projects, including hits ‘Greaze Mode’, ‘Legacy’, ‘Bad To The Bone’ and ‘Be What It Be’. Accompanied by special guests throughout the night, Nafe brought through Chip, Aitch, Tom Did It, Krept and Konan and Rimzee all to perform their tracks they have together; charging up the room with energy, the moshpit crew were active and a tangible energy reverberated around the four walls of the venue. With a brand new joint tape out at the end of this month (May), Nafe & Chip performed two tracks including one unreleased one from the upcoming tape – a great flavour of what they have in store for us.

Throughout the night, Nafe Smallz demonstrated exactly why he is considered a force to be reckoned with in the UK music scene. His ability to connect with his audience on a personal level was evident, diving into the audience to crowd surf and getting his friends to join in with the mosh pitting. This rapport fostered an intimate atmosphere despite the venue’s size, and with every track being sung back to the star, the environment was perfect for all those who loved his music.

From overhearing what people were saying in the venue, and from my own observation, Nafe’s use of a full live band has allowed him to grow as an artist. Reimagining what is already a classic project, the live band element, with drummer, keys, guitar, percussion and more allowed a scope for the album to be heard in a completely different light. It came as a refreshing change to how most trap-wave artists perform nowadays, simply just with a backing track and vocals.

Nafe Smallz’s headline event in London was nothing short of a resounding success and was the visible representation of how your flowers can grow when you water them. Nafe’s been mastering his craft for years, and his cultivated fanbase is a testament to his art. Nafe’s performance was a masterclass in showmanship, leaving no doubt that he is poised for even greater heights in the music industry. Adding to Nafe Smallz’s growing list of shutdown shows, this headline event continued to prove exactly why you should attend one of his concerts.