Wireless festival review: J Hus makes the most of his return to the big stage

Last-minute addition: J Hus
Getty Images for Nike
Thomas Hobbs8 July 2019

With original headliner A$AP Rocky still locked up in Sweden following a street fight, it was down to UK rapper J Hus to step in for the final day of Wireless. And the smiling Stratford lad, who has only been free for three months after serving out a sentence for knife possession, made the most of his return to the big stage.
 
“I’m back, baby!” he joked to the crowd before launching into the catchy “Common Sense”, a track which, like most other J Hus bangers, potently fuses the playful jig of Afro beats with the threatening hi hats of trap. His is music designed to make you bounce on a sticky day.
 
Yet some of the most urgent energy came from Florida rappers Denzel Curry, who is sat in a wheelchair after injuring his leg, and Ski Mask The Slump God. Both opened up mosh pits at will, with their raw distorted synths and clever if slightly demented wordplay stirring sweaty teenagers into a punk-rap frenzy where drinks were launched into the air.
 
Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s energetic set was also a lot of fun, with in-your-face anthems like Cash S*** and Freak Nasty making her feel like a resurrection of Lil Kim at her bawdiest.

But even though there’s plenty of good music, there’s no turning away from the fact Wireless is poorly managed. The site felt vastly oversold and with just two stages, it’s a nightmare getting into a position to actually see something. Wireless has a lot of work to do if it’s to turn into a must-see experience, and it would be wise to add more stages and breakout areas so people don’t feel squashed like sardines. Booking a few more female rappers wouldn't hurt either: the energy here still feels far too male-centric.

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