Bemz @ SWG3, Glasgow, 28 Apr

Taking to the stage at a sold-out SWG3 Warehouse, Ayrshire rapper Bemz is in a reflective mood: “Glasgow, I can’t believe it, we did this!” The crowd too are happy to be included in his biggest headline gig to date. The hour-long show is a considered piece of work, a culmination of a whirlwind couple of years for the rapper. A very accomplished live band – and in particular a great saxophonist – brings Bemz's songs to life in a way they truly deserve.

Born in Nigeria, Bemz spent a chunk of his childhood in South London, eventually settling in Scotland as a teenager. His musical output is an interesting mix of grime, drill and early 90s hip-hop. There’s more than a nod to his years down south in his lyrical stylings – not that anyone in the room sees it that way. This is very much a hometown gig; Bemz belongs to Scotland, and the Scottish hip-hop scene increasingly belongs to him. Longlisted for The SAY Award in 2021 for Saint of Lost Causes and again in 2022 for M4, Bemz was later named by BBC Introducing as 2022's Scottish Act of the Year.

Image: Bemz live @ SWG3, Glasgow, 28 Apr by Serena Milesi

Bemz pauses mid-set to make way for young Edinburgh rapper Pence – giving him a three-track slot when the audience is at full strength. It's a nice touch from the award-winning rapper, who clearly takes seriously the status that he has achieved in recent years.

Rather than get complacent, Bemz has worked harder than ever in the months that followed his accolades. His latest EP Nova’s Dad – released in April 2023 – represents his best work to date and makes up a chunk of tonight's setlist. The collection is a thoughtful meditation on fatherhood, mental health and being a young man in Scotland today, but it isn’t without its floor-fillers. Fan-favourites Zidane and Raging Bull (featuring a guest appearance from Sean Focus) send an already energised crowd over the edge – the latter resulting in a mosh pit half the size of the room itself.

Tonight's entire show is a joyful celebration, not only for Bemz but for what his success might mean for the wider Scottish hip-hop scene.