Central Cee's opening act in the Ziggo Dome was dutch artist ADF Samski, a rapper who has been making music for a decade. And he really did bring the perfect energy in anticipation of Central Cee making an entrance; he brought dynamism and passion to the venue, feelings that diffused into his crowd and gave them an even greater taste of what was to come. Fans were clearly hugely inspired by his act, and resonated with the life he brought to the stage.
After his departure, the venue fell into indistinct chatter, conversations between people sporting either the merchandise, hats/bandanas, or both. It was refreshing to see how one rapper has clear influence not only over the world of music and artistry but also fashion, inspiring his fans to take on his signature style. There was, from a simple look upon the crowd, a cohesion that one cannot find anywhere else but the sphere of music; everyone wanted to embody Central Cee in their appearance, thus deeming him an artist that means so much to so many people. This unique and beautiful influence was not ignored by the rapper within the show either, encouraging the crowd consistently to join in, sing along and thanking them for bringing him to the place he stands today.
The show itself was indescribably excellent. With so many different elements to it, it was clear that so much time had been injected into its planning and construction. Even the video clips on the screens were taken to another level; no more were they used to simply enhance viewer sightlines but now they existed to tell a story. Bookending the performance, these screens showed Central Cee in a car with a few colleagues initially rapping acapella until a sudden flash of light brought him out onstage to the roaring sounds of audience applause. And once the show had reached its end, back came the screens and he told the "story" of a live show he had dreamt, much to the amusement of those in the car. This narrative arc gave the performance its sense of individuality but also completeness; we were allowed to move in and out of the performative spheres and not left in limbo wondering when, where or if he will appear again.
After a couple of opening songs, Central Cee calls for his day one fans, and those newer to his work, to throw his signature three finger "w" sign in the air as he begins his song '6 for 6' imminently followed by 'Cold Shoulder'. As the former takes us through his own hardships on the journey to success in a somewhat uplifting manner, the latter uses the idea of rejection to provide evidence for the impact of resilience. In particular, the lyrics "said I was a one-hit wonder" were chanted with emphatic strength by the crowd as they stood by and supported his success despite rivalries and dismissals.
Another poignant moment was just after the venue was lit up via the crowds' phone torches and he arrived at the bridge transporting him between stages. Not only was there a desire for a mosh pit from the artist, but the crowd was more than happy to oblige and there began a string of incredible moments between the performer and the audience. In his orange shirt and shoes, and outfit change inspired by the Netherlands' football team, he sang a myriad of his songs : 'GBP', 'Obsessed with You' and his song with Ice Spice 'Did It First' to name a few. Each one came with something individual- for the last, graphics on the screen depicted pop ups on a phone of the show as it was being performed live on a pink background, a switch up that brought a great refresh of energy to the show.
As the concert progressed into the final few songs, a guest appearance from dutch rapper 3robi, an artist with a similar vibe to Central Cee and he gave an incredible performance. It was the sort of surprise that brought ear-piercing cheers amongst the crowd and a great collaboration of languages and nationalities.
Then ending his show with a pair of his latest singles 'BAND4BAND', a track heavily used and loved by TikTok, and 'No Introduction' the crowd were left satisfied yet inherently wanting more. It was such a dynamic show with every single element collaborating to indulge us in a world where nothing was too much. We began to expect the unexpected and were left surprised and excited every time.
Abby Tapping
Image: Abby Tapping