Pete & Bas Bring Grandfather Rap to Amsterdam
‘Rap is a young man’s game’, people often say. Yet, we’ve increasingly seen older rappers, but none quite like Pete & Bas. Two seniors took the British drill scene by surprise with their eccentric tracks. Last night, they performed at a sold-out Amsterdam Melkweg for their very first international tour. Were the grandfathers of Grime ready to conquer Europe? With a pint in hand, they managed to captivate the audience completely.
DJ veteran Queenie from England kicked off the night, and within a tight 15 minutes, she had the room warmed up. The woman with grey dreadlocks visibly enjoyed her moment as she blasted one British bass track after another. There was even a brief detour into Drum & Bass, a nod to the roots of the main act.
‘Are you ready for Pete & Bas?’, Queenie called out before the two men took the stage. True to form, Pete wore a smart suit, while Bas looked like a retired criminal. The contrast worked perfectly for the act that both gentlemen energetically delivered. They seemed surprised by the loud cheers that immediately bounced back from the crowd. ‘Bloody hell, you’re loud! This must be why they call you Holla-land,’ Bas joked before the DJ launched into the first track.
To the sound of “Do One,” Bas moved like a 20-year-old across the stage, while Pete took charge from the centre. It was immediately noticeable that both men’s voices were a bit higher than on the record, but it must be said: that they rapped live along with their tracks. The crowd loved it, eagerly chanting along with the choruses.
When Bas later got on his knees to address a woman in the front row, he asked her why she wasn’t wearing clogs. Pete replied that his wife was Dutch and that clogs were ‘out of fashion,’ which drew cheers from the audience. That kind of humour was characteristic of their act, and really, the whole show was meant to be taken with a wink. Everyone who experienced them live felt there was a bigger team behind them. But that didn’t matter – the live experience was fantastic and genuine!
With songs like “Burning” and “Gangster Sh**,” both artists showcased their rap talent. Although the men didn’t always execute their raps flawlessly, they exuded much more charisma than the average drill rapper. Their outrageous street lyrics, full of braggadocio and violence, stood in stark contrast to their appearance, and that’s exactly why both young and old embraced them.
When Pete & Bas pulled people up on stage in the final part of the show, the audience went wild. Pete asked why there were no ‘birds’ at the front, and within moments, a row of women was on stage. In both instances, “Mr. Worldwide” was rapped, and the venue erupted at the first ‘Hasta Luego’. Pete & Bas had proven their success wasn’t limited to the UK.
When the two retired drill rappers handed out beers and signed autographs, taking selfies for over half an hour after the concert, fans couldn’t believe their luck. There was room for a unique act like Pete & Bas in the British drill scene, who managed to surprise just as much live as they did on their tracks.
Photos (c) Tyron Rosheuvel
