J Hus's one-night-only performance at the Royal Albert Hall marked the five-year anniversary of his impactful album Big Conspiracy. The show began with his sister reciting a poetic question regarding the album's themes and was accompanied by a small symphony orchestra with the live band the Compozers. Despite an electrifying start, the concert faced sound-balancing issues and a lack of engagement from Hus, leaving audiences with diminished energy during slower moments. While there were highlights, such as the title track's performance, the overall execution raised unanswered questions about the fusion of classical elements.
Even looking up towards the gallery, the venue's grandeur feels entirely fitting for commemorating such a heavy-hitting UK No 1 album, which has become embedded in British rap, Afrobeats, dancehall, and general culture over the past five years.
Sound-balancing issues persist throughout. The orchestra is barely audible and placing them behind Hus, while logical for crowd interaction, doesn't seem to have been accounted for in the mixing.
Even the orchestra members, idle, begin filming on their phones. So when Play Play finally drops, its impact is dulled: a disappointing moment for Big Conspiracy's biggest song.
But sound-balancing issues persist throughout. The orchestra is barely audible, and Hus offers no insight into his decision to introduce classical elements and hardly speaks throughout.
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