Cardiff Students Union
Not so much a new name on the block, Kano's been performing his own brand of hip-hop and rap for a fair few years now since the East Londoner burst on the scene back in 2002 with his track "Boys Love Girls."
With his involvement with N.A.S.T.Y Crew a major stepping stone and a certain Dizzee Rascal very much part of his progression through to being a major player in UK Hip Hop scene it seems at the moment he can't do no wrong..
Promoting his album Hoodies All Summer, his first since 2016's Made In The Manor, the latest dates for February were added due to the huge demand for tickets following his a very successful tour last year.
Considered the Top Boy of UK Rap, East Ham's finest and sometime actor thrives in the highly-charged environment of the smaller, compact venues like Cardiff's Students Union, His confidence and almost cockiness a major feature that sets him aside from others, though there's nothing big-headed or brash but a passionate plea to correct the unrest and injustice he sees in everyday life.
Opening with the first track on his latest album Free Years Later it was a very different Kano this time supported by a five-piece gospel choir, supplying a wonderful backdrop to what was quite an occasion with a full band in situ rather than the normal DJ only set up that we've grown to expect.
With a crowd already buzzing from a Welsh rugby victory earlier in the day the party really took off to another level as Kano let rip with some of his fan favourites like the powerful This Is England and his break-through track P's and Q's, which had the entire audience jumping.
Ending the quite stunning set with a brass-infused 3 Wheels Up following a cheeky version of SYM, it was an impressive performance from one of the genre's most influential stars.
Jonathan Woolway