LOS ANGELES, CA- UK elder rap duo Pete & Bas finally brought their long-awaited USA and Canada tour to the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on Saturday night, resulting in a sold-out show that was nothing short of ageless energy. These gruff rappers’ journey in music began almost by accident. In 2017, Pete (Peter Bowden) recorded his first rap verse as a joke after his barber showed him how to use studio equipment, and when the clip hit the internet, it blew up overnight. He then brought in his longtime friend Bas (Basil Bellgrave), and the two leaned into their unlikely talent: two older London geezers spitting over UK drill beats. What began as a cheeky experiment quickly turned into millions of streams, collaborations with younger artists, and respect from the UK rap scene. Their viral rise eventually led to this first international tour, five years in the making, with sold-out shows across North America.
From the moment they stepped on stage, Pete declared, “We have got a surprise for you lot tonight. We’re not allowed to do this in England, but we’re going to do this especially tonight. It will become clear later. Meanwhile, let’s get the party underway!” They opened their set with “Do One” and “Burning.” Their mix of old-school cheekiness and hard UK drill beats filled the room with infectious energy. With the light assistance of backing tracks, Pete & Bas delivered sharp, witty bars that reminded everyone why they’ve become cult icons: age has nothing to do with inherent gangster swagger.
Bas announced, “This is an interactive show, right? That’s a very kind way of saying WE don’t do the work, YOU do the work, and there’s not enough coming from this lot over here!” before launching into their fan-favorite debut single “Shut Ya Mouth.” Rarely standing side by side, Pete and Bas traded spots across the stage, with Bas leaning right into people’s phone cameras and grabbing hands.
The night was as unpredictable as it was entertaining. The promised “surprise” was revealed when Bas cracked a raw egg into a pint of beer, downed it, and then invited up three men to see who could do the same, faster. The temperature in the room rose a few degrees during “Bish Bash Bosh,” and three women were invited up to dance during “Mr. Worldwide.” Pete & Bas even did their own verse of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” before calling another Peter on stage to thank him for making the U.S. tour happen. Between songs, they joked about Scottish embassies being closed and the ease with which they’d gotten their U.S. visas after describing themselves as “a couple of British gangsters.” They went straight into “Get Low,” rapping, “Get low, let the neighbors know! I’m an old-school geezer! I’m an old-school bloke!”
Pete then quipped about how friendly Americans are before Bas added, “Three hundred years ago, we owned all this lot… you’ve had it for 300 years, I think that’s long enough. I think it’s time you give it back. You know how you see those hats that say ‘Make America Great Again’? They should say ‘Make America GREAT BRITAIN Again!’” The remark was met with the DJ’s blaring air horn and maybe a little nervous laughter, considering the “No Kings” protests happening just a block away.
Later, three fans were invited on stage, two of them wearing bald caps and dressed like old men, to rap every word to “T-Pain.” As the night went on, Bas slowly undressed, peeling off his suit jacket and shirt to reveal a Pete & Bas T-shirt printed with his own face. They briefly left the stage before returning in loud red, white, and blue USA shirts, to the delight of the crowd.
Even with backing tracks doing some of the heavy lifting, their delivery and stage presence were undeniable. By the end of the night, Pete & Bas had proven that hip-hop truly has no age limit. Whether you came for the laughs, the drill beats, or the spectacle, everyone left with the same understanding: Pete & Bas aren’t just a viral act. They hold a legendary quality, and their brand of British grime is something that’s been well and truly grandfathered in.
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LIVE CLIPS
