It has been absolutely thrilling to see live music return to the UK, with the BRIT Awards taking place at the O2 and featuring performances from Dua Lipa and Coldplay. But one of the most powerful moments of the evening has come from Headie One and AJ Tracey, who used their performance to address injustice in the drill genre which, they explained, has come to be associated with racist stereotypes.
Instead, they presented drill as the genre that provides a voice to those who are often ignored, and one loved by society's youth. As they performed, negative quotes from media coverage could be heard, including claims that 'some say it’s a symptom of societal failings', and that drill is 'a form of aggressive rap music.' It was a vitally important message to express to the masses - both at the O2 and at home - and one that Headie in particular delivered in style with the help of Louis Vuitton.
Standing on a box designed by Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton's men's artistic director and general fashion superstar, Headie's custom Louis Vuitton tracksuit - also designed by Virgil - exhibited the colours of the Ghanaian flag, speaking to the artist's heritage.
Headie and AJ performed Ain't It Different, which originally featured BRIT-winning rapper Stormzy. His verse, though, was replaced with current references to Marcus Rashford and COVID-19 key workers, as well as Headie's experience in prison.
'The government is saying eat out to help out but won’t help out Rashford when he’s feeding the youths,' one addition stated.
'What else can a drill youth rap about part from my worst days. You see me on stage but I was in jail for three of my birthdays,' they added, as well as 'two Black Brits stand here at the BRITS but still we ain’t seen as British', a reference to Black people's continuing fight to be seen as British by racists and bigots who see whiteness as a requirement to be seen as native to the UK.
The UK rapper then performed Princess Cuts with Young T and Bugsey.
Naturally, Headie and AJ are not the first artists to use their platform at the BRITs to shine a light on the UK's societal issues. Last year, rapper Dave launched a defence of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and described Prime Minister Boris Johnson as 'real racist.'
Headie was nominated for British Male Solo Artist. Ain’t It Different and Don’t Rush were both nominated in the British Single category.
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