Thursday night saw the Kurupt FM crew bring the “Champagne Steam Rooms” to Camden’s KOKO, in what was a sell-out show.
Intentions magnified towards the champagne era of UKG, which dominated night clubs throughout the country in the late 90s and early 00s.
It was sure to be a night of fun and vibes, so we thought we’d send GRM’s very own Jaik down to oversee the much sought-after event.
High demand
There’s no doubt that “People Just Do Nothing” has had its effect on the nation. But having failed to previously attend a Kurupt FM night, I was intrigued to see how that would transfer to the stage.
A sell-out is always a solid indication that it will be live, however demand for tickets were clearly even higher with touts looking to shift tickets to people intent on catching a glimpse of it all.
Despite the current demographic of people asking who’s on stage, followed by trying to mime lyrics to a song they’ve never heard before, it was packed to say the least.
As I’m not about that “sweaty moshpit” life anymore, finding a view was hard, but Kurupt FM were impressive in getting everyone going.
A night of surprises
Big Narstie was active before MC Grindah and co. graced the stage, and he’s always a popular figure, but there was more to come with regards to surprises.
Chabuddy G was his usual hilarious self whilst introducing the whole crew to the stage, with DJ Steves finding difficulty in lowering himself from a safety harness.
Donning a seductive white suit, Chabuds set the tone for the night with his hilarious personality lightening the mood.
The main act kicked off, but there was to be a lot more in-store to well and truly justify the ticket.
A trip down memory was to commence when DJ Luck & MC Neat were brought onto the stage by Kurupt FM, setting the dance alive with reminiscent lyrics on the lips of many.
https://twitter.com/MetropolisMusic/status/695361295290228736
After, the crowd indulged in classic finisher bars which have been ridden on freestyles and on the show itself by MC Grindah and DJ Beats.
Everyone in attendance was active in feeding off the “Brentford” collective’s energy, which made it even sweeter when the boys introduced the legendary Newham Generals (D Double E and Footsie).
Lenging it down with their timeless classic “Hard”, it had me wilding out like a fifteen-year-old teen at a One Direction concert and left me screaming “ooooooow ooooooow”.
https://twitter.com/MetropolisMusic/status/695369365210828800
But the biggest surprise of all was to be saved until the end, when the Wicked Skengman himself Stormzy burst his way onto the KOKO stage.
Big Mike’s appearance set the place on fire, with the noise replicating that of a last-minute winner away at Stamford Bridge.
In typical Stormzy fashion, the entirety of the crowd spat along to “Shut Up” with jaws swinging on the faces of university students, and it was a site to behold.
https://twitter.com/GRMDAILY/status/695371526040752129
Kurupt FM: A Worthy Experience
On the whole, I found myself very impressed with the event as a whole, which has seen my opinion of Kurupt FM rise higher than ever.
Deriving from a mockumentary on BBC Three, they’ve really managed to utilise their opportunities, with the “Champagne Steam Rooms” showcasing that.
Not only have they produced a great night for their fans, but they actually reminded me that they’re weirdly good as artists, even when you remove the humour aspect.
It’s without a doubt unique in its own right, and that explains the growing popularity surrounding it. The special guests were a timely reminder of their rapid rise to success and that even the biggest artists resonate with them.
A night well spent, and I look forward to hopefully returning to another Kurupt FM night once again. Until next time.
Words by Jaik Bramley-Fenton