Ghostpoet- Mine, Leeds University Union, Tues 8th Nov.
Ghostpoet (Obaro Ejimiwe) has come a long way in an impressively short time. His debut album, the wonderfully titled Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam was nominated for the Mercury prize- a signifier of music talent if there ever was one – and The Streets’ Mike Skinner lists him as one of his favourite MCs. After supporting both Metronomy and Jamie Woon on tour, Ghostpoet is now going it alone, with a performance that shows he is worthy of his many accolades.
Ejimiwe immediately commanded the stage, developing a relaxed easy rapport with the audience that went hand in hand with his musical offerings. Lifted from the album, the songs were given extra vitality on stage, though its trip-hop down tempo vibe meant that the crowd was mainly static, give or take a few head nods. However, this didn’t mean the audience wasn’t enthralled; Ejimiwe’s drawling, almost lethargic vocal style was contrasted by his razor sharp lyrics. The album title provides the insight for the discovery that the casual, witty nature of these retrained raps is tinged with a quiet sadness. In ‘Cash and Carry Me Home’, what starts of as an all too familiar nod to the dreaded hangover: “Morning’s approached and I wrestle with a headache/That was spawned in hell by the devil himself” becomes an all too familiar fight of battling with the world of “readin’ books and takin’ tests” when you’re just not ready for reality. Perhaps this identifiable feeling was the reason it gained one of the best reactions from the crowd.
Even though Ejimiwe was born and raised somewhere between London, Coventry, Nigeria and Dominica, it is pointless trying to trace heritage in his songs. However, anyone who has had the pleasure (or misfortune) of visiting Coventry (Ejimiwe’s hometown) would recognise it as the perfect urban inspiration for these dark natured songs. ‘Survive It’ remains one of his most accomplished tracks, with a delicious melody complementing the languid rap and message: “I just wana live life and survive it”. The sense of the struggle to move when you’re glued to a place prevails throughout, especially in songs such as ‘I Just Don’t Know’ and ‘Liiines’. It’s not all doom and gloom though, the soaring chorus of Survive it provided one of the rare opportunities for non-fanatics to sing along and Ghostpoet is here, on stage, moving into recognition to give voice to the feelings of inertia and unsettlement that prevail the mood of the dark side of the city.
This subtly is perhaps best heard in the album, but it was refreshing to go to a gig that championed the lyric and didn’t allow the band to overpower the voice. Due to the lo-fi tone there’s the chance you will instantly connect with Ghostpoet, or not get excited enough to care. However, a friend who had only heard of Ghostpoet three weeks prior to the gig was drawling along word by word. Now, if that isn’t a glowing testimony to check Ghostpoet out, I don’t know what is.
7/10
