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Kate Tempest review – performance poet returns to her rap roots Kate Tempest review – performance poet returns to her rap roots
(about 2 hours later)
Kate Tempest is living her teenage dream. "Fucking hell, there are speakers under the stage, I can feel the bass in my ankles," she cries excitedly. "This is a long way from poetry." Kate Tempest is living her teenage dream. "Fucking hell, there are speakers under the stage – I can feel the bass in my ankles," she cries excitedly. "This is a long way from poetry."
Tempest is an acclaimed performance poet and playwright, but both physically and stylistically this is where she began, as a 16-year-old hip-hop fan writing rhymes in nearby Brockley, south-east London. Now 27, Tempest has returned to these roots for the launch of her debut solo album, Everybody Down, which combines both her startling storytelling powers and rap prowess. Tempest is an acclaimed performance poet and playwright, but both physically and stylistically this is where she began, as a 16-year-old hip-hop fan writing rhymes in nearby Brockley, south-east London. Now 27, Tempest has returned to these roots for the launch of her debut solo album, Everybody Down, which combines both her startling storytelling powers and rap prowess.
Against a background of edgy bass and fitful, chilling beats, Tempest tells the story of burgeoning love among the drug deals and desperate dignity of inner-city life. It's a stunning literary treatise, brought to life on stage by two percussionists, producer Dan Carey on frenzied, buzzing swarmatron and soul singer I Am Fya. "It feels like they're here," Tempest says of her vivid characters. "I can hear them going 'C'mon!'. It's lovely." Against edgy bass and fitful, chilling beats, Tempest tells the story of burgeoning love among the drug deals and desperate dignity of inner-city life. It's a stunning literary treatise, brought to life on stage by two percussionists, producer Dan Carey on frenzied, buzzing swarmatron and soul singer I Am Fya. "It feels like they're here," Tempest says of her vivid characters. "I can hear them going 'C'mon!'. It's lovely."
Her genuine respect for the world she's created and passion for the genre she's used to explore it makes real the drama of The Heist and touching tenderness of Theme from Becky. Versatile and playful, Tempest uses double-time flow during Chicken, then dances joyfully to the disco-flavoured first single The Beigeness, and when the music falls silent for The Hammer, so too does the sold-out crowd – rumoured to include both Rick Rubin and Frank Ocean – captivated by her every word. Her genuine respect for the world she's created and passion for the genre makes real the drama of The Heist and tenderness of Theme from Becky. Versatile and playful, Tempest uses double-time flow during Chicken, then dances joyfully to the disco-flavoured first single The Beigeness, and when the music falls silent for The Hammer, so too does the sold-out crowd – rumoured to include both Rick Rubin and Frank Ocean – captivated by her every word.
Although Tempest berates herself for not "playing it cool", it's her infectious delight that makes this, her first "proper" show, so special. She wallows in I Am Fya's Dawn Penn-like warbling in Lonely Daze and can hardly control her glee as Circles blossoms from paranoid playground chant to fully fledged club anthem, hugging percussionist and childhood friend Craig tightly. Tempest ends with an impassioned, a capella defence of hip-hop and what it's meant to her. "I'm pretty sure I was born to be a rapper," she spits defiantly, as cheers erupt around her. Although Tempest berates herself for not "playing it cool", it's her infectious delight that makes this, her first "proper" show, so special. She wallows in I Am Fya's Dawn Penn-like warbling in Lonely Daze and can hardly control her glee as Circles blossoms from paranoid playground chant to fully fledged club anthem, hugging percussionist and childhood friend Craig tightly. Tempest ends with an impassioned, a cappella defence of hip-hop and what it's meant to her. "I'm pretty sure I was born to be a rapper," she spits defiantly, as cheers erupt around her.
• At Latitude festival, Suffolk, on 18 July. Details: latitudefestival.com.• At Latitude festival, Suffolk, on 18 July. Details: latitudefestival.com.