Live Review: Lady Leshurr, Manu Crook$

Sydney-based Manu Crook$ scores himself another prime-time opening spot and once again delivers the goods. Influenced by modern Southern hip hop trends, Crook$ aims for pumping, turn-up jams sure to have any dancefloor heaving. Blowin' Up samples Ultra Nate's huge 1997 club banger Free, Assumptions channels Migos and Everyday is the ideal showcase for Crook$' lyrical prowess. Legendary Sydney group Konnected As One (B Wise, Young Glove and Egasm) are in attendance and Crook$ invites them on stage for a mini-reunion before ending his well-received set.

Grime music experienced a renaissance during 2016. Exploding back into the cultural mainstream, the UK's Lady Leshurr is one of many talent MCs taking advantage of the genre's cross-over success. Marking her Australian tour debut with a sold out performance at Howler, the diminutive Leshurr is a whirlwind of activity. Sporting a black New York Yankees baseball cap and black crop top with the word "Queen" emblazoned across it in white, Leshurr resembles a pint-sized prize fighter as she stalks the stage spitting rapid-fire raps, each humorous punchline or poignant lyrical tale a knockout blow to the senses. At times the applause and cheers from her boisterous supporters is deafening, visibly overwhelming Leshurr. Throughout the night she takes time to thank those in attendance, shaking hands with those in the front rows and continually referencing how wild the energy is. Leshurr appears genuinely amazed that a young girl from Birmingham could be this well-known in the land Down Under.

Look At Me Now, the viral freestyle that helped kick off her career, finds Leshurr joined by two fantastic back-up dancers before she previews a new song from her forthcoming #MODE EP. After trying out her Australian accent (it's not great) Leshurr disappears off stage before returning to the strains of God Save The Queen, dropping the opening salvo from her 2016 EP Queen's Speech. She follows up with a number of Queen's Speech cuts, handing out "crizzpy bacon" lip gloss before Queen's Speech 5 and acknowledging the toothbrushes raised in the air during Queen's Speech 4.

Where Are You Now? ends Leshurr's set, but as cries of "encore" echo throughout the venue, she feels obliged to return. Grateful for the support and continuing to give thanks, Leshurr finishes with #LUKATAR and a mini crowd-surf. Personable, energetic, talented and, above all, humble, Leshurr is everything that's right with grime and she nails her performance.