This one’s set to go down in history for all the wrong reasons; tonight was the show when Danny Brown fatefully stormed off stage after being pelted with water, but before that things seemed to be going to well.
I previously hadn’t been expecting to review tonight, but a late pull out from a reviewer left me having to throw some words together from the pieced together drunken memories the next day – so apologies if this is a touch on the hazy side.
Earlier in the day Brown had featured in Red Bull Music Academy’s Conversation With series and came across as more an amusing fan than rapping superstar, despite a touch on the drunken side he came across well – this is early afternoon; one assumes he went for a wee nap prior to his early morning slot.
Still no signs of moodiness here as he chats openly about wanting to make music with the most bizarre spectrum of people possible and chats about his Street Fighter action figure collection as a kid and how he “could never get that green Blanka” – cue Nardwaur.
With the chat finishing at 5pm and doors for SWG3 not opening til 11pm it was hard to resist having a few beverages, so we didn’t.
Later on up in a friend’s studios at SWG3 I chance upon wandering past Brown exiting the lift with his entourage, at this point everything seems fine but after wandering past his dressing room, on the way in and out, a few times his people or Red Bull’s people don’t seem to want anyone to meet him and wandering past on the way down to the venue you could hear a raving argument taking place; possibly something was up before he took the stage, who knows?
Downstairs the place is jumping as Astral Black had curated an array of grime talent, which I am completely oblivious to, but thoroughly enjoy.
Myself, like the majority of tonight’s capacity crowd are here to see Danny Brown, potentially the most exciting thing happening in rap music just now.
And he starts the set off without any sign of fatigue, building up an audience who seems to be bouncing to every beat and word.
Then a few songs in some idiot flings a plastic cup of water at Brown and he drops the mic and storms off stage.
By all the accounts the culprit got flung out of the venue, and potentially got a doing, but still a rapper of Brown’s stature should be able to take minor things like this in his stride.
Tonight was a sold out gig of people latching on to his every word, people who love his music, but he decides enough is enough and just leaves, letting down his loyal fans; poor show.
It’s a sad time if Glasgow never sees Danny Brown again, but since the video of him getting hit by water went viral and shamed the Detroit rapper, it’s something that we genuinely hope there’s a apology for and Glasgow sees him again.
Words: Iain Dawson
