Giggs is not new to the U.S. Despite being barred from entering the country for the better part of previous decade, the U.K. legend’s musical presence in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and several other major cities has grown exponentially. From being co-signed by Guru and Jay-Z to collaborating with Drake, Giggs has built his brand internationally and empowered U.K. artists globally as they jump across the pond. As he enters the next chapter of his career, Giggs is finally receiving the flowers he deserves in the U.S. as he embarks on his first headlining tour in North America.
On a warm spring evening in Manhattan, a surplus of cheers, claps, and laughter permeated the cinema-turned-concert venue known as Gramercy Theatre. Smiles covered the faces, and drinks were glued to the hands of everyone in attendance. Some hit a calm two-step, while others nodded and waved their hands in the air. Much of the crowd would have to be at work or school within 12 hours, but that didn’t seem to matter because it didn’t seem to matter to the man standing on stage — Giggs.
The soon-to-be 41-year-old rhymer has spent the better part of the last two decades breaking down barriers that were meant to keep young musicians from places like Peckham from achieving this. Six albums and nearly 20 mixtapes into his journey, he stands on stage at the Gramercy Theater in New York as Busta Rhymes and fans from across the city watch in amazement. He didn’t arrive at the venue with album-themed decor or flashing lights. Instead, he brought the one thing people paid most to see — himself. Donning nothing more than a blue sweatsuit and a pair of all-black Sambas, the South London storyteller stood tall and proud as he delivered performances of newer singles like “Hallelujah” with Lojay and “Starlets” with Dave East before hitting a crescendo with performances of “KMT” and “Talking The Hardest.”
Whether he was diving deep into his emotions with “Once In A Blue” or reciting the braggadocious verses that make “Incredible Sauce” a fan favorite, one thing remained the same for Giggs. While Giggs could rest easy knowing that he’s one of the most influential artists to come out of the U.K. in the 21st century, he doesn’t perform that way. With no backup tracks and no frills, his baritone vocals were delivered with the kind of hunger that an emerging artist usually displays, not someone who will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their first mixtape next year. By the end of the first song, it’s clear that Giggs is a one-man show. Backed by his DJ, the attraction of his performance lies in his exceptional breath control, vocal presence, crowd interaction, personal charisma, and, oh yeah, a catalog of hits dating back to 2005. The only downside to Giggs’ Zero Tolerance tour is that it’s his first headlining in North America. Had he not been stripped of an opportunity to share the stage with Lil’ Wayne in 2006, he could have established a foothold in the U.S. much earlier and this process could have been quickly sped up, but timing makes this tour what it is. It’s the start of a new chapter and a new opportunity to grow for someone who has done a lot to enhance this culture we call Hip-Hop.
