Wireless Festival Shines: Ice Spice, Asake & Doja Cat Triumph

This year’s Wireless festival opened amidst controversy as Sunday’s event wrapped up two-and-a-half hours earlier than scheduled. The adjustment aimed to let fans watch the European Championship final, but it soured the weekend’s mood. Many felt the timeline shift was too convenient, especially since acts like Digga D and Tyla, who were expected to cancel due to legal difficulties and injury, had their absences confirmed only on Friday. With no replacement acts announced, the day saw further cancellations from Flo Milli and Veeze, dismantling what looked like a promising lineup.

Despite the setbacks, the fervent crowd of Barbz clad in pink gathered at Finsbury Park were treated to everything they wished for from Friday headliner Nicki Minaj. Making her fourth Wireless appearance, Minaj delivered the full, maximalist production of her Pink Friday 2 world tour. She mesmerized the audience with hits spanning her entire discography, from the uplifting “Moment 4 Life” to her iconic “Monster” verse. With dramatics, rhapsodic delivery, and visual spectacles of assembly-line porcelain cyborg doppelgangers, Minaj’s performance was playful and genuinely entertaining.

Ice Spice, heralded as Minaj’s next-gen successor, also dazzled the crowd with a triumphant set. The Bronx star rapped confidently without a backing track, twerking to audience cheers. A surprise appearance by Central Cee for their new track “Did It First” prompted deafening screams, hinting at a rumored new relationship—whether a stunt or not, the moment was thoroughly enjoyable.

Saturday brought more unexpected turns as Sexyy Red vanished from the lineup with a vague mention of “travel issues.” The day’s most anticipated act was J Hus, making his first live performance in five years. The east London rapper appeared visibly emotional, filled with joy, while running around the stage with MoStack. However, he seemed hesitant at times, relying heavily on the backing track, leading some to wonder if he was truly ready for the big return.

Nigerian star Asake stole the show on Saturday. Accompanied by the infectious melodies of the band Compozers, Asake’s rich, gorgeous voice shone particularly in “Remember” and an a cappella rendition of “Lonely at the Top.” His eccentric and random movements, including pulling his shirt over his head, wielding a flamethrower, and running into the crowd, created thrilling moments, marking him a true maverick in performance.

Despite the frustration over the early closure, Sunday offered some of the festival’s highest points. Nigerian musician Rema brought high-production rockstar aesthetics, with screeching guitars and heavy percussion. His impeccable vocals glided effortlessly through hits like “Soundgasm” and “Holiday,” charming the audience. A surprise appearance by Sexyy Redd during Don Toliver’s set caused fans to rush to the stage to enjoy tracks like “U My Everything” and “Get It Sexyy.”

Closing the festival, Doja Cat delivered the standout performance of the weekend. Sporting red hair and a hand-painted Union Jack corset, reminiscent of a grunge Geri Halliwell, Doja offered a spectacular, sexy, and ferocious masterclass in performance. True to her stance against parasocial fan relations, she spoke to the crowd only to throw a silver football, saying, “I heard there was a game … GO ENGLAND!” She confidently bypassed commercial hits, save for a phenomenal reworking of “Say So” with a thumping disco-funk bassline. Her burlesque dancing seamlessly intertwined with tracks like “Shutcho,” “Acknowledge Me,” and “Demons,” shifting from teasing and provocative to intimidating and dominant. The breath control she exhibited while rapping a verse of “Get Into It (Yuh)” without pause was first-class. Despite performing in broad daylight, Doja transformed what could have been a disappointing day into one where fans left feeling they got more than they bargained for.

Source: The Guardian, Particle News