LIVE: Red Bull Sound Select Presents Stormzy at the Echo

The week following SXSW is usually used to recoup from the grueling week before, but a few artists move right into more shows to keep the momentum going. For them, SXSW was the pregame.
On Wednesday night at the Echo in Los Angeles, Stormzy, along with Red Bull Sound Select artists Lizzo and Kauf, were in full-on game mode. The Red Bull Sound Select March showcase (curated by Spaceland Presents) began to fill up and the audience began to make themselves comfortable as LA-based singer/producer Kauf's ambient grooves took center stage.
In between sets, Lizzo's collaborator/best friend/DJ Sophia Eris took to the stage and unleashed a special mix of A Tribe Called Quest tracks as a tribute to and in celebration of Phife Dawg. By the time the audience went from solemnly nodding their heads to enthusiastically rapping along, it was time for Lizzo to hop on stage. Flanked by two dancers, the new Atlantic Records signee's set was nothing but high energy. From the beats to the choreography to her giant singing voice and fast-paced rapping, she kept the room hype while effortlessly performing relatable songs with topics ranging from self-love to looking for that lost cell phone on a drunken night (that was in her hand the whole time).
By the end of Lizzo's set, the Echo was packed from wall to wall with a crowd that included label vets, visiting Brits, diehard grime fans, local musicians, and hip-hop royalty, Nas. Everyone was awaiting the LA debut of Stormzy; the grime star that's supposed to bring the hardcore hip-hop derivative genre across the pond. Fresh off a sold out NYC show, glowing reviews at SXSW, and starring in the latest Adidas Originals campaign by NIGO, Stormzy has hit his stride and isn't letting up until his name rings bells worldwide. He commanded the energetic crowd that bounced and moshed on and off throughout the set better than a lot of industry vets. With his rapid fire flow, explosive live set, and pure desire he might be the one. Don't sleep.
Photos by Chardé Kelly