Following a hiatus, Red Bull Culture Clash – dubbed the world’s biggest musical battle ever – made its grand return to London on the weekend. A sunny springtime energy seeped into Tottenham venue Drumsheds: the scene was set outside with food and drink trucks circling the space, the hype mounting as crowds entered the main room where various stages were primed for battle.
Four teams went back to back for four rounds: Homegrown led by Jyoty, Voice of the Streets headed up by Kenny Allstar, Spice Army led by Spice and Native Soundsystem commandeered by head huncho Teezee at the helm.
As the clash got underway, the energy was through-the-roof electric. Hosts Dotty and Yinka laid down the law before Round One ignited a new level of thrills. Each team shone as they got a chance to showcase signature tracks from their repertoire. The first hour felt like an amalgamation of your favourite playlists; Spice and Flowdan (Homegrown) wasted no time getting into dubs, whilst Native Sound System and Michael Dapaah set out early with lyrical fighting talk.
The remaining rounds were introduced with a clarion call for everyone to up the ante. NSS’s afropiano by DJ Spinall did well to keep the crowd dancing. DJ Stush invited fellow UKG/house queens Egypt, Princess Nyah, Kele Leroc for zippy reworks of their classics. Ghetts joined the VOTS stage, followed by Leostaytrill x Jess Glyne and Ardee. Elsewhere, Sister Nancy‘s cameo with Spice made for legendary scenes.
Each stage continued to get more star-studded as the night progressed. Massive hits were played out to roaring music heads. Sneakbo, Stylo G, Chip, D Double E, Skrapz and Skillibeng shone bright for Spice Army; across the room A$AP Ferg and Mavado showed out for Homegrown, and Gracious K and Pa Salieu slew for Native Sound, as did Big Narstie and Bushkin for Voice of the Streets.
There was dubplate galore throughout the evening, controversially alleged to be AI. Nonetheless, these countless dubs were the unexpected star of the night – coming via Vybz Kartel, Shenseea, Dave, Central Cee, K-Trap, Sting, Ms Dynamite and many more. The screens also served to amplify each faction’s particular arsenal: Homegrown utilised shady posts from Elijah, Spice unveiled a video with the exonerated Vybz Kartel, and Native was backed a pointed diss graphic.
With so much talent packed into the building, we could have predicted this year’s Culture Clash showcase was always going to be monumental. It’s one thing envisioning but it’s an altogether different proposition experiencing generations of diasporic rappers and singers bring the heat round after every round.
In the end, the Spice Army reigned supreme off the back of a tiebreaker, and we were left reeling from sound system culture’s impact on the UK. Overall, the event shone a dazzling light on the breadth and depth of British Black music. There’s nothing quite like it.
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Words: Shanté Collier-McDermott
Photography: Ben McQuaide
