REVIEW | HIP-HOP SHOWED UP FOR THE JAZZ CAFE FESTIVAL

Photo credit : Sebastian Gardner

Westside Gunn delivered a phenomenal debut UK performance at the Jazz Café Festival in Burgess Park on Sunday, August 3^rd, 2025. Taking the stage just as the sun dipped behind the London skyline, the Buffalo native transformed the open-air venue into a gritty, high-energy haven of raw lyricism and high fashion flair.

From the moment he emerged, draped in his signature designer gear, the crowd erupted in anticipation. Gunn wasted no time diving into crowd favorites like “Elizabeth” and “God Is the Greatest,” his ad-libs ricocheting through the summer air with hypnotic power. His charisma was magnetic, commanding the stage with both swagger and humility, clearly moved by the reception from his UK fans.

The set was a perfect blend of Griselda classics and recent solo work, all delivered with razor-sharp precision and theatrical flair. Backed by minimalist beats and DJ Boogie’s tight transitions, Gunn’s voice cut through with raw emotion and streetwise bravado. Between tracks, he shared heartfelt moments, reflecting on his journey and expressing deep gratitude for finally performing overseas.

What truly elevated the show was the seamless fusion of gritty East Coast rap with the Jazz Café Festival’s more soulful atmosphere — an unexpected but thrilling contrast that worked to perfection. The crowd, a mix of longtime fans and curious newcomers, hung onto every bar.

This was the Jazz Café Festival’s second year in its temporary home of Burgess Park, and it felt like a day for real music fans. There were no flashy brand activations or overcrowded, chaotic pits — just four well-curated stages, two of them DJ-only, and a site small enough to wander between sets without missing a beat. It was a celebration of music in all its forms: contemporary jazz, old-school hip hop, alternative rap, and global dance grooves.

Over at the Plant Shed — a packed, greenhouse-style stage buzzing with underground energy — Griselda’s own Benny the Butcher had the crowd locked in, his set thick with streetwise precision. Earlier, Queens rapper Lexa Gates proved a revelation. Prolific and “locked in,” she glided effortlessly between tracks, her sharp lyricism punctuated by dry humour that won over even those who had wandered in out of curiosity. By the end, London was firmly in the palm of her hand.

Across the park, the Four Corners stage brought a global spin to the day, with Juls infusing Afrobeats warmth and Young Franco and Guts delivering sample-rich DJ sets that kept the crowd moving. And as the sun set, main stage headliner Masego closed the night with pure showmanship — switching between vocals, saxophone solos, and live beat-making, his festival-ready charisma a perfect counterpoint to Westside Gunn’s raw, street-honed presence.

Festivalgoers also experienced a moment of cultural fusion when Raf-Saperra hit the mic. With his genre-bending blend of Punjabi folk, UK garage, hip-hop, and Qawwali, he brought a distinctive vibrancy to the lineup that stood out as both fresh and rooted in heritage. Raf is no stranger to the music scene, but this performance probably gained him some new ears and now some new fans.

By night’s end, Burgess Park felt like more than just a festival site — it was a cultural snapshot of 2025 London. From Westside Gunn’s landmark UK debut to Lexa Gates’ rising-star takeover and the cross-continental sounds spilling from every corner, the Jazz Café Festival once again proved itself as one of the city’s most exciting celebrations of music and culture. London won’t forget this one anytime.