Live review: NYC rappers Le1f and Junglepussy threw a hell of a party at the Belmont

Le1f with Junglepussy and GrandBuda
Belmont
April 9, 2016

Saturday night at the Belmont was one hell of a party, with New York rappers Le1f (Khalif Diouf) and Junglepussy (Shayna McHale) delivering energetic, exciting sets after an opening by Montreal’s own GrandBuda.

Le1f is a powerhouse: a producer as well as a rapper and a pillar of New York’s QTPOC scene, Le1f also has a background in ballet and modern dance with a degree from Wesleyan. And he already had three mixtapes and two EPs to his name before he released his debut studio album Riot Boi last year. One track from that album – “Swirl” – features Junglepussy, and the two have been on tour together since the beginning of March to promote Riot Boi.

Junglepussy also put out her first studio album last year – Pregnant with Success – although like Le1f, she’d been releasing material (both music and videos) for years. No doubt about it, Junglepussy’s success seemed assured from the first: her first track (“Cream Team,” 2013) was endorsed by Erykah Badu via Twitter, and the next year she performed with Lil’ Kim. Before she even had a budget, Junglepussy’s videos were impressive, showcasing a real emphasis on self-love and a humorous yet thoughtful take on issues of love and loyalty. Her recent video “Spicy 103 FM,” is a case in point – she plays three different roles, male and female, pretty damn perfectly. If you’ve never watched “Spicy,” go do that now.

Given all this excellence, my expectations for Saturday’s show were epically high – and I didn’t leave disappointed. GrandBuda warmed everyone up with his liberal use of samples from southern hip hop heavyweights like 2 Chainz, Future, and Waka Flocka Flame, then Junglepussy emerged and kept the heat on with “Spicy 103 FM,” as her opener. Engaging the crowd with compliments (“Look at all these beautiful bodies!” she yelled to the audience while waving her hands back and forth appreciatively over the outstretched arms of eager fans) and fluid physicality, Junglepussy delivered a set that was short but comprehensive. She included tracks from her 2014 mixtape Satisfaction Guaranteed as well as more recent songs from Pregnant with Success.

Le1f has a potent presence, and his performance was mesmerizing. Opening with “Koi,” the single from his new album, he kept the energy way up with audience interaction, twerking, and backup dancers in co-ordinated ensembles. Le1f’s music is memorably diverse, a compelling combination of pop and industrial electronic elements. His song “Boom,” from his 2014 EP Hey, has a dark dancehall feel, and Le1f has described his 2013 mixtape Tree House as love songs over experimental trap beats – so his use of more samples from Waka plus bits of Rihanna’s “Work,” felt perfectly on point and drove the crowd even wilder. It was a hot, hot night – enough to keep me warm until spring finally arrives … someday.