In many ways, KhakiKid is the ideal candidate to kick off the highly-anticipated Longitude weekend festivities. The Dublin-based alt-rap newcomer – aka Abdu Huss –looks like he’s perfectly at home on the Heineken stage. And on this showing, he sure knows how to work a crowd!

There’s a flurry of excitement, as the brief rain shower clears from the wonderfully sprawling site, and flocks of teens make their way to the tent, eager to get as close as possible to the emerging star.

“What’s fucking happening Longitude?” he shouts, as the crowd erupts. Making his way onto the stage, alongside Bricknasty, he is sporting a simple pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt, show off his modish tattoos.

KhakiKid by Anthony Oloruntoba.

His 2020 single ‘Late’, naturally, receives the elated response it deserves. This, I can safely say, is proper soul music. Elsewhere, his approach is an impressive blend of hyper-rap and smooth nu-jazz – and when he brings out the man he calls Sexy Tadgh for a dazzling rendition of the Robin S classic ‘Show Me Love’, it’s a kind of nostalgia-heaven.

Taking a drag of his elf bar, he moves into ‘Woodstock’, a favoured track from his hugely anticipated upcoming EP Elevator Music - out later this month. The sax-rich number leaves lots of room for dancing and the crowd obliges.

A brilliantly chaotic stab at ‘STFU’ – a two minute nugget which was released in March of 2021 and featured TrippyThaKid – on this occasion sees KhakiKid getting down with the crowd, inspiring absolute mayhem.

He ends with a cover dedicated to his father. Sexy Tadgh makes his way back to the stage, sporting leather trousers and a lime green blouse. The familiar guitar riff of the Kelly Clarkson hit ‘Since U Been Gone’ begins – and we’re off on one! He throws himself into the crowd for another moment of chaos, his body sprawled on the outstretched hands of the crowd – as fine an example of crowd-surfing as we’ve seen in a long time.

KhakiKid by Anthony Oloruntoba.

Intertwining a powerful flow, real soul and a soupçon of inspired mayhem, KhakiKid proves he is indeed a major star in the making. A great start to Longitude 2022...

READ - KhakiKid: "I want to sell out the 3Olympia Theatre next year. I can absolutely see that happening"

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