Wireless festival review – British rap stars show Americans how it’s done
Finsbury Park, London
In his first major set since leaving prison, J Hus made a joyful homecoming and outshone much of the A-list American talent – the irrepressible Cardi B aside
It’s barely past lunchtime on Friday when the first wig goes flying through the crowd, and is joined by numerous others throughout the weekend. Even Cardi B gets in on it during her headline set, snatching her own wig during Bodak Yellow and hurling it to delighted fans, before asking for it back on Twitter the next day.
It is a neat symbol for the boisterous, mostly innocent energy of Wireless, a summer party for young, multicultural, expensively accessorised Londoners with Europe’s best lineup of rap and R&B. Cardi is perhaps the biggest star, and her set is pure joy. As well as being strong on the mic – all diamond-hard consonants and constant emphasis – there is her reality-show immediacy, complaining of asthma and introducing her husband, Offset, as “a fine chocolate man who hitting my thang”. From sex to social graces, we could all be a bit more Cardi B.