Live Review: Obie Trice, Swifty McVay, Big T & Zanda Elwood, Shorty Mic & Pettikash and The Ruckus

Arriving an hour after the doors have opened, The Ruckus are playing to a rather vocal audience. Hoodies, backwards caps and sneans are the uniform of those in attendance as Shortymic and Pettikash deliver a short yet entertaining set. A freestyle contest occurs with four members from the audience chosen at random. Surprisingly they aren't terrible, although none are getting a record deal anytime soon. Duo Big T and Zanda Elwood take things back with a selection of aggressive raps over older style hip hop beats before it's time for the main event.

As the DJ tries to hype the crowd, D12's Swifty McVay appears and spits his verses from Rap Game (Bump heads) and Loyalty before welcoming Obie Trice to the stage. Dressed casually in a blue tracksuit and bizarrely wearing a red 'Biggie Smalls Kebabs' cap, it's easy to tell Trice has been enjoying himself backstage. Swaying and sipping from a bottle of what appears to be Hennessy, Trice begins with Eminem collaboration Drips, sending the mosh pit into hysterics. Stopping to explain how he almost didn't get let into the country due to his arrest record, the Detroit rapper continues with Average Man and the 8 Mile soundtrack's Adrenaline Rush. The audience are buzzing, throwing their hands in the air and singing along, while one lucky woman gets the chance to jump on stage and twerk for Trice, much to the crowd and the rapper's appreciation.

Trice takes a breather as McVay lets loose with his verse from Under The Influence before the headline act gets slightly political and leads the crowd in a chant of "Fuck Donald Trump" as the opening beat to Go To Sleep hits. Reminding everyone this tour is in support of his debut album Cheers turning 15, Trice gets the DJ to spin the theme song from the classic '80s sitcom of the same name. It fails to register with the crowd who seem to have no idea about the show as they nod along in silence. 

The longer the night goes the drunker Trice gets. He's constantly stopping songs to share stories with the audience, from his mum's death due to cancer during Don't Come Down, to his admiration for Dr Dre during Shit Hits The Fan. Thankfully, McVay is there to keep things on track. Every time it feels like Trice's getting lost in his own thoughts, McVay steps in with a variety of D12 tracks to keep the audience energised, including Instigator, American Psycho and Shit Can Happen. 

Trice professes his love for 2Pac before Hennessey, then get his DJ to drop Pac's classic 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted and heads into the crowd to pour Hennessy into people's mouths. There are more shout outs for Proof and Nate Dogg before Trice gets back to the music. Snitch and We All Die One Day receive a great reception as McVay goes in with D12 hit Purple Pills. By the time Trice gets round to Got Some Teeth he's struggling to stand but somehow gets the words out, even going a capella for the final chorus. 

It might not be Trice's finest performance but he manages to get all the hits in, and thanks to McVay's efforts as both hype man and support rapper, delivers a solid showcase of his career that's appreciated by the hip hop loving crowd.