When CLASH walks into Lower Third there’s an easy intimacy. rapport with the crowd makes the performance feel like a night spent with friends. He’s charismatic and engaging, moving between moments of brash humour and introspective songs that reveal a more vulnerable side to the rising star.
The Irish rapper begins his set by encouraging audience members to step forward with the assurance that he doesn’t smell, before launching into the high energy ‘Favela’. His melodic rap over a punchy, percussion heavy beat is a definite crowd pleaser, with the track featuring tongue in cheek lyrics such as “grey tracksuit, she can tell I’m excited.” The setlist continues to move between playful storytelling and emotional honesty. ‘PLEASE GET OUT MY HOUSE’ draws on the familiar feeling of an afters that has gone on far too long, a premise that lands with knowing laughter. The track is a cheeky and relatable slice of nightlife culture, with the crowd screaming “Can you please get the f*ck out my house.”
‘Boy Racer’ shifts the tone of the night from comedic to emotionally exposed. ‘Germ’ brings things back up with its jazzy, groovy instrumental, while ‘Must Be A Man’, from his new EP, offers a more honest reflection on masculinity. Sarcastic in its approach, the track explores the struggle to learn from mistakes and avoid being shaped by negative influences.
At one point, the Irish rapper orders a matcha to the stage mid-performance, only to declare that it “tastes like dogsh*t”, the kind of offhand moment that captures his unpredictable and playful personality. Elsewhere, he invites fans onto the stage, sharing the microphone during ‘Rude’ before pausing his performance to chant “Free Palestine” with attendees. Later, the rising artist launches into the crowd to close his show by moshing in the pit and kissing fans on the forehead, adding to the warmth of a set built around genuine connection.
Khakikid makes the most of a relatively intimate setting, turning crowd interaction into a central part of the show rather than a distraction from it. His music is fresh, melodic and charming, while his live performances show a humble and down-to-earth rapper who is socially conscious and intelligent. With his willingness to be both candid and sincere, Khakikid’s personality is just as integral to his appeal as his music.
