Danny Brown @ The Arches, 15 June

Danny Brown's hyper-exaggerated caricature is in full effect tonight. From his mad-haired, gap-toothed appearance to his comically high-pitched voice, it's all there in plain sight. With partner-in-crime producer Skywlkr stood comfortably behind the decks, the Detroit-born rapper begins by spitting satirically self-aware, ultra-misogynistic boasts over The Purist's sinister Jealousy beat.

 

This instantly sets the crowd off, transforming The Arches' atmosphere from one of a static, unsuccessful club night to an all-out shindig. Brown's enthusiasm can't be faulted; he struts up and down the stage, pulling devil horns and sticking out his tongue. He draws surprisingly lightly from his breakthrough mixtape; tracks which should have been live staples (Die Like a Rockstar, XXX) are strangely absent in favour of standalone singles, upcoming material and lesser known cuts (Dope Song, Piss Test, Molly Ringwald).

 

Live hip-hop often relies on the strength of the performer; luckily, the collective enthusiasm on display gives Brown the boost he needs to deliver a highly hyperactive set that will lodge itself in memory for some time to come.