British rapper Lady Sovereign has been opening for Gwen Stefani and Akon and their tour came through the New York area this past weekend. Friday night, after a New Jersey performance, she was scheduled to stop by Brooklyn club Studio B for a special late-night mini-set of at least three songs. The set did not go as planned.
In the video, below, you’ll find her cite depression, scars on her arms, the fact that she did not want to schedule this event, that she was broke, to be evicted in two months, and that “America f***’s you up — f*** America… sorry!”
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO (More Commentary Below)
After her DJ and crew tinkered with their setup for about an hour, she arrived on stage at 3:30 a.m. She had kept the crowd waiting for two hours after the previous act. The club had thinned out somewhat. She noted that it was the “smallest crowd I’ve played for in a while” and that it looked like a wedding party.
“Sov” opened with her well-known track, Love Me Or Hate Me, before discussing her lack of enthusiasm about repeatedly performing the same songs. She then launched into the song Cha-Ching and performed it with an intentionally unenthusiastic tone. She spent the last verse standing next to her DJ and shrugging before launching into the monologue in the above video and leaving the show after just two songs.
It’s understandable that she’s bored with touring and would like to write more music and see some revenue. These complaints from major-label artists are not new. But it’s uncommon that an artist divulges all of these concerns on stage and leaves so abruptly. It’s hard to imagine her completing the six more weeks of American tour dates she has ahead. This girl needs at least a therapist, and maybe a better agent.
But it’s hard to claim that the crowd didn’t get their money’s worth. The Glass and Professor Murder put on a great show, and the house DJs deserve praise for their relentless electro sets.
Here are some photos (Sovereign is in her purple shirt near the end) and the photographer’s account. Some more photos and commentary here.
