Bawo Tickets

Bawo has swiftly established himself as a superb lyricist with a nonchalant knack for genre-blending soundscapes, boundless production and languid beats.

Raised in a traditional Nigerian household, Bawo was deeply influenced by the eclectic array of music played by his parents; from Nigerian tribal music and Itsekiri worship songs, to Alexandra Burke’s X Factor catalogue and Akon. This ‘anything-goes’ philosophy to genre shaped Bawo’s own approach to music, instilling a keenness to value artistry across boundaries and incorporate different influences within his own material.

Bawo began crafting his sound in his teens and uploading formative efforts to Soundcloud, inspired by both sides of the Atlantic in listening to Kanye West, 50 Cent, Skepta, J Hus and Mike Skinner (The Streets). Finding himself especially taken with the raw energy of the UK grime scene and the effortlessly cadent lyricism it demanded, Bawo worked hard to hone his skills in writing and recording from a place of authenticity and self-expression. Bawo’s garage-inflected debut single ‘Give Me A Sec’ arrived in 2019, swiftly followed by the boom-bap refrains of ‘Bag To Get’.

Wary of being pigeonholed as a ‘conscious rapper’, Bawo leant into hip-hop and rap influences for his 2021 follow-up singles ‘You Get It’ and ‘No Sleep’, before releasing his self-assured debut EP Live & Let Thrive later that year. Showcasing his innate ability to blend diverse influences into an organic and cohesive sound, the EP features introspective love songs and explorations of identity, all underscored by Bawo’s signature experimental beats. In November 2021, Bawo played his first sold-out show (a 150-strong audience at The Social), before clocking in for his 7:00 AM shift at Waitrose the next morning. 

Bawo soon began to enjoy some well-deserved critical acclaim, as well as welcomed comparisons to contemporaries like Kadiata and Knucks. Clocking up millions of Spotify streams for popular tracks like ‘Mazzalean’ and ‘SKATE’, Bawo went on to release his standout EP Legitimate Cause; a heady snapshot of city life spent juggling relationships, work and endless responsibility. The project was praised for its masterful hooks and clever wordplay by BBC Radio 1Xtra and The Guardian, with the latter including it in a 2023 ‘best albums’ round-up, praising Bawo’s use of “crisp trap, R&B and garage backings but whose doleful delivery casts them under grey weather”. This success paved the way for an ensuing sold-out show at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. 

The last 12 months have seen Bawo enjoy countless milestone moments, from a moving COLORS performance that premiered his new track ‘Hope You’re Listening’, to a packed out show in Tokyo, and collaborations with Oscar #Worldpeace, Ashbeck, tn_490, Deema, Sam Wise and ATRIP. His ten-track 'tape' It Means Hope Where I’m From arrived in October 2024 via his label Say Nothing Records. Featuring singles ‘Belly Like Homer’ and ‘Hope You’re Listening’, the EP offers up a more spiritual sensibility, while retaining Bawo’s London-centric storytelling, thoughtful flows and hip-hop beats.