THE organisers of a Colchester event which saw a famous rapper take to the stage say they are over the moon at how it was received.
The second Art of the Roadz event took place at The Minories, in High Street, Colchester.
It was a joint event organised by Colchester musician, DJ, and podcaster Owen Louis who is also known as Project Lando, Sir Gassed of Gassed Clothing Co, and it was hosted by the art gallery.
The series of events kicked off with its debut in April, and part two featured a whole host of talented local MCs, artists that travelled for the event, and the headliner, popular rapper Big Narstie.
Throughout the event, there was a Gassed Clothing Co pop-up shop and three exceptional dancers who would perform amazing breakdancing feats in front of the audience.
Local musicians included the likes of 16-year-old Young Rebellionaire, 17-year-old rapper Felc, Clacton artist Jiim, fellow MC Drayco and Oney, who all performed a few songs each.
Artists which travelled for the gig included Playboy Richmond, an R&B artist from Italy who enjoyed performing in the UK for the first time, and the energetic artist, Base Wooly.
Rapper, author, and television presenter Big Narstie concluded the triumphant event with a crowd-engaging show, where he also created the dance move, the Colchester wave.
To finish off the night, Big Narstie invited local MCs and artists onto the stage, allowing everyone to take a turn on the mic.
It was a triumphant event and Project Lando, who also performed as a DJ during many points of the night, thought it was “really exciting”.
He said: “I loved every minute of it.
DJ - Owen Louis AKA Project Lando (Image: Newsquest)
“All the hard work that we’ve put in, to put this together for the community, has paid off.
“We’ve had a really good night, I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
Emma Howe, the director of The Minories, knew it was “a bit” out of her “comfort zone” having not hosted an event like it before but was delighted with how it turned out.
She said: “It is so exciting to see so many different people that have never been in this gallery before and might not have any relationship with a place like this.
“For me, part of our responsibility as a gallery is to open it up to as many people as we can.
“So, it has been a great success here tonight.”
The mysterious, balaclava-wearing owner of Gassed Clothing Co, who goes by the name of Sir Gassed, was very pleased with the event.
He said: “I’m still buzzing, I’m in the clouds.
“These things never go to plan; it can be a difficulty to keep to your schedule but everything has gone as well as it could have.
“Everybody has had a great time, and I think that was the main aim of the event really.”
For Sir Gassed, seeing a very young fan dance with Big Narstie was a fantastic moment and highlighted the core principal of the event – to help inspire the younger generations.
He said: “Just to see somebody so young, it’s going to be an inspiration throughout his life, he’s got to meet one of his idols and that’s what we’re about.
“We’re trying to bring people together so they can have an experience that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
Another Art Of The Roadz event is being planned for the future.
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