Concert Review: Esdeekid’s New York Debut

There’s got to be something in the water across the pond in England. Over the past year, British rappers have captivated young listeners in the States. From Central Cee to Fakemink and now the Liverpool-born Esdeekid, who was briefly rumored to be none other than Timothée Chalamet, the U.K. rap takeover is in full effect. Last night, at Esdeekid’s New York debut, a swarm of twentysomething fans recited every word of the rising artist’s still-brief discography. Playing the first of a two-show run in New York, Esdeekid took the stage at Bowery Ballroom, adorned in his now signature face covering and delivering a rousing set to the crowd, where everyone from teens to trendy millennials was eager to catch a glimpse of the latest viral phenomenon.

There was a kid recording the whole thing on what appeared to be a Chromebook, another kid adorned in the exclusive Marty Supreme jacket, surely a nod to Timothee Chalamet’s collaboration with Esdeekid, following internet rumors that the rapper was his alter ego. The show was the latest bit of proof that the current crop of underground rappers from Britain has real staying power in the U.S., and that a legible subculture in hip-hop has taken center stage.

The show started with Esdeekid’s DJ playing songs from underground staples like Osamason, before transitioning into more familiar fare from acts like Rae Sremmurd, who, surprisingly, the audience of Gen Z-ers seemed well-versed with. The DJ set was rather brief, as Esdeekid seemed to materialize on stage in an instant, launching straight into “Century,” a high-octane single from last year that seems to be the soundtrack to all of TikTok. The song’s rumbling bass shook the room as the crowd went berserk and phones launched into the air, capturing the whole thing for the feeds where Esdeekid’s music, so far, has thrived.

There was a palpable sense of anticipation for “4 Raws,” the single that’s propelled Esdeekid from internet sensation to IRL phenomenon. Even before Timothee Chalamet’s much-publicized collaboration, the song was gaining the kind of online traction that many rap fans haven’t seen since the days of Odd Future. With its enchanting chord progression and gurgling 808s, the song is a case study in Esdeekid’s appeal. The way his Liverpool Scouse accent sludges across the track with a kind of soccer hooligan attitude could convert the most red-blooded NFL fan into a Champions League lifer.

Rico Ace, another Liverpool MC featured on a number of songs with Esdeekid, came out second, somewhat eschewing the typical opener-to-headliner sequence, and a testament to the rapper’s commitment to putting the people around him on. After running through a set of his own songs, he brought Esdeekid back out for their song “Phantom,” which features a menacing horn melody that gives all of Esdeekid’s songs a spooky aura.

Then, he launched into “LV Sandals,” his song with fellow UK rap superstar Fakemink, who performed on this very stage last year to similarly raucous fanfare. By now, the crowd was easily satisfied with the experience. Esdeekid has only released a handful of songs up to now, and you got the sense that everyone in the crowd figured he’d played everything he had. So, naturally, he launched into “4 Raws” again…and again once more for good measure. Where it might’ve felt like a gimmicky play at virality, the energy in the room was undeniable. The British are indeed coming, and the kids’ll be rapping along every word when they arrive.