It was eight years ago when Skepta unforgettably shutdown Shoreditch, and to this day it has remained a defining moment in his career. Just four days after dropping his hit single “Shutdown,” the rapper took to Twitter to inform his fans of a spontaneous gathering at Holywell Lane Car Park later that evening.
With no official planning or permits, the impromptu show was entirely illegal. Skepta made it clear to the crowd that they would continue playing until the police intervened. Word spread exponentially, and by 8 pm hundreds of enthusiastic fans had flooded the location. Supposedly, the queue that formed had an hour-long wait time, something that isn’t surprising when seeing it loop around the block.
Skepta, accompanied by his fellow Boy Better Know associates, arrived in a sound system truck provided by Red Bull, ready to reload. Fans experienced a historic event, with the setlist consisting of tracks like “That’s Not Me,” “It Ain’t Safe,” and “Shutdown.”
The spectacle was a true manifestation of the song’s title, as crowds overflowed into the streets, spectators watched from rooftops, and even a passing Number 8 bus was brought to a halt. After approximately 40 minutes, the event concluded with a second rendition of “Shutdown.” With no official security or exit plan, Skepta had to wade through the crowd to leave, causing frenzied fans to scramble to get a closer look at him. Although the set lasted for just 40 minutes, it left a lasting mark on the scene, with videos of the event consistently doing the rounds on Social media platforms ever since.
However, this seemingly spontaneous antic didn’t just happen. It was part of a grand plan that Skepta had started envisioning in 2010, five years prior. Specifically, the Grime mogul tweeted about hosting a free party in a car park for his supporters, and it was clear that his vision had finally come to fruition:
I love EVERY #Skepta Supporter. One day I'm gonna have a Party in a Car Park and you can all come for free. It's gonna be a Serious #MOESH
— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) April 14, 2010
Looking back, this era of Skepta’s career remains one of the most significant periods of time for underground music in the UK. The car park takeover will forever be cherished as a testament to Skepta’s unwavering talent and ability to connect with his fans in unexpected ways.
