Live Review: Remi, N'Fa Jones

This is not your normal hip hop crowd but, then again, this is not your normal hip hop line-up either. Remarkably few punters are sporting the traditional hip hop uniform of hoodies and sneakers, preferring a much more hipster-ish look. They haven't wandered into the wrong show, though – they're stoked to be listening to N'fa Jones as he works his way through a smart, funky set. The former 1200 Techniques MC is ably assisted by Dutch on keys/MacBook and Sensible J on drums, and he gets the cool-kid crowd thrumming with tracks such as March On and nifty new offering, Robots. The upcoming headliner even joins him onstage for a rendition of Champion, which only serves to get the crowd even more excited about the set they've come to see.

A massive cheer erupts when Remi takes to the stage for his headline set. Grinning from ear to ear, the young MC launches into an energetic set, aided by Jones as hypeman. Sensible J and Dutch return to their respective places, behind the drums and keys, and keep the beats flowing thick and fast. Remi's set draws partly from his recent digital release, FYG (for the uninitiated, that stands for Fuck Your Genre), also incorporating tracks from his upcoming album.

Remi is a consummate performer. He's impossibly slick and completely unafraid to shake what his mama gave him (seriously, this dude's got moves). His set is a sheer delight and offers hip hop that, while danceable, is also garnished with a level of lyrical skill that prevents it from being dismissed as mere 'party rap'. He has broad appeal without being bland or safe, and he knows how to whip the crowd into a frenzy. His set ostensibly closes with Sangria, the radio hit du jour, but the punters are having none of it and chant Remi's name until he agrees to play a couple more songs. Both are yet-to-be-released, new tracks, but they're so tight and impressive that there's nowhere for this young artist to go but up. Betting against Remi would be a fool's move. He's got the goods.