US Rapper The Game performed at the HMV Forum to a packed venue full of loyal fans on the 26th of November. Every where you turned you saw the colour RED as concert goers came dressed in line with theme of his new album R.E.D.. Having watched the Big Boi perform at the Kentish Town venue earlier this year I was eager to watch the American rapper grace the stage in true Hip Hop fashion.

I was not disappointed at all!!! Opening up for him was Chris Brown’s best friend Teyana Taylor. As soon as she got on the stage the crowd grew wild as she undressed down to reveal a black play suit showing off her perfect sculpted body. Teyana performed a dance routine to a melody of Beyoncé tracks from her new album sending all the males in the building into a frenzy. As we waited impatiently for The Game to jump on stage, Taylor showcased her singing/rapping talents to London.

We didn’t have to wait long for the show to start as the Californian rapper came on stage [on time!!!]. The concert hall was illuminated with red lighting setting the scene for a edgy, highly energised performance. Not one for getting drawn into mosh pits, I stayed at the back where I got a full and great view of the stage. The Game gave London a show stopping performance, performing tracks from the R.E.D album including older hit songs which saw him rise in the hierarchy of Hip Hop greats. His punchy and gritty voice took over the venue with people bobbing and dancing clinging onto every lyric.

Unlike some Hip Hop gigs I’ve been to, this one was all about coming together to celebrate a great artist who has seen both the highs and lows of the Hip Hop game. I never knew The Game had such die hard fans in the UK…..Everyone knew every lyric to each song and became even more excited with every track he performed. A few fans introduced themselves to me, giving me their previous experiences of watching the rap star live [for a moment I forgot we were at a rap concert and not in a night club...lol]. When The DJ began playing Red Nation, roars burst through the audience. The Game made his fans feel at home and connected with them in his own unique way. As the show was coming to a close, he went into a medley of his old hits, inviting all the females in the venue to back him up on stage while putting his all into tracks such as Breath and the monster hit, How We Do. The Game could feel the love London had for him when he looked into the crowd to see all the red tops, dresses and hoodies fans were wearing. For his last song he performed Pot Of Gold and invited up all the guys that were wearing red to join him up on the stage. As Chris Browns vocals on the chorus blazed out through the speakers you couldn’t help but sing along and see how much The Game means to a lot of people.

A big thanks to the HMV Forum Kentish Town for providing our competition winners with complimentary tickets!

Words by: Poncianó Junior