Written by Cameron Wyatt

Following the release of his much anticipated EP, Girl Bites Dog, KhakiKid, one of Ireland’s most exciting rising artists in the alternative hip-hop scene, held an intimate show at Bread and Butter Lounge in Shoreditch. Going into it, we knew it’d be a fun concert with how strong the EP landed, and we were proven right! We were greeted by KhakiKid as we came in and offered a selection of free food, courtesy of Nando’s, before settling in with a pint ahead of the performance.

It was an energetic set from KhakiKid, who brought along F3miii, Kojaque & Chameleon, performing a mix of songs from his new EP like Moved On, Favela & Rude, alongside older favourites like Date Nite & Germ. The latter drew one of the biggest reactions of the night as KhakiKid and F3miii jumped into the crowd to perform together. The new EP itself represents a real development in KhakiKids sound, and shows how much he has grown into the music he makes.

The lyricism is still as playful & entertaining as ever, and this carried into the high energy performance, while also touching on some deeper elements, particularly his romantic life and the complications around it. Whilst this was a major theme throughout the EP, he leans heavily into adoration and yearning, wrapping those feelings in lighthearted instrumentals and cheeky lyricism.

Most noticeable was the loyal fanbase KhakiKid has crafted from his rise, with the small venue packed with dedicated fans, who knew a seriously impressive amount of lyrics, considering how soon after the EP’s release the show was. If anything highlights how quickly KhakiKid is developing as a rising artist, it’s this.

All in all, Girl Bites Dog marks a clear step forward in his sound, and even though the music may be playful at a glance, it’s clear that he’s taking his sound more seriously, moving further into the alternative hip-hop space, and continuing to build a devoted fanbase along the way.

 

You can now listen to Girl Bites Dog over on Spotify.