How Ghetts rocked Limitless Live, a party with a social conscience

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“At this moment, we’re all together – we’re gonna have a good time,” Ghetts assured the wildly enthusiastic audience at London’s Roundhouse last Sunday (May 4), summing up the inclusive spirit of Limitless Live. A music festival with a social purpose at its core, the event this year boasted blistering performances from slick trap star Nafe Smallz and Afroswing party starters Young T and Bugsey, as well as a roof-raising headline set from the aforementioned UK rap legend Ghetts.

This was the fourth Limitless Live, with the charity having been founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Tolu Farinto. Last year, he told NME that the enterprise came about because he’d noticed that companies such as viagogo – a show partner since its inception – wanted to work with underrepresented young people.

“I knew that if I created something grounded in music,” he said, “it would want to attract brands and organisations because music is amazing. It will attract under-represented young people, and through that, I can connect them, give them an incredible experience and signpost them into opportunities available within those organisations.”

Indeed, Limitless Live 2025 followed the Limitless Black Influence Awards, which championed the outstanding contributions of Black influencers and change-makers across 10 industries. With categories as varied as Health & Fitness (won by David Zakwan, who documents his life in running via TikTok) and Fashion (the modern British African brand LABRUM LONDON), it was an endlessly inspiring representation of the wealth of Black talent that makes Britain great.

Limitless Live, then, was a huge party that celebrated the Awards; all tickets were free and distributed via the charity itself (with a little help from viagogo via financial support and, this year, providing free transport to young attendees travelling from places including Manchester and Birmingham). In true Limitless style, every aspect of the event was rooted in social consciousness, as the organisation also announced a partnership with ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust), a charity dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent need for blood, stem cell and organ donors within the Black community.

The night kicked off with a feel-good set from the upcoming DJ Sura, an opportunity provided by Idris Elba’s anti-knife crime charity Don’t Stop Your Future, and performances by emerging R&B star Norika and hotly tipped rapper Wohdee. These sensational shows were concrete proof, if any were needed, that Limitless is dedicated to backing fresh talent. Here’s what else went down at the party of a lifetime.

Nafe Smallz enjoyed the love-in

By the time Luton trap star Nafe Smallz took to the stage in the rockstar regulation uniform of leather jacket and shades, the crowd was well and truly warmed up. “Appreciate the love,” he purred as he soaked in the rapturous applause. Highlights included a tear through the Skepta collab ‘Greaze Mode’ and the blown-out beats of the Plug link-up ‘Broken Homes’.

It was ‘Bad to The Bone’ (“I know them haters, they be mad that I’m on / ‘Cause I just keep winnin’ and all these bands gettin’ long”), though, which showcased Smallz at his most reflective and determined to overcome the obstacles in his path. Channelling the loved-up atmosphere in the Roundhouse, he parried the raucous response by insisting that the audience “make some noise for yourselves”.

It was smiles all around for Young T & Bugsey

The Nottingham duo bounded onstage in a flurry of good vibes. Tropical bop ‘Ay Carumba’ set the sunny tone of their set, which they immediately undercut with the icy ‘Gangland’; it’s this multifaceted creativity that helped them graduate from TikTok stardom to mainstream success a few years ago.

For the most part, though, the Limitless Live set found Young T & Bugsey at their most upbeat and celebratory. They criss crossed over each other’s paths onstage during the glorious kiss-off ‘4X4’ (“Go ghost if you like – make sure the door don’t hit ya”) and suggested the crowd “get the party started” during the Day-Glo Aitch collab ‘Strike A Pose’, as if that particular mission hadn’t already been accomplished.

Here was a set that couldn’t fail to raise a smile – especially when Young T & Bugsey accepted phones from members of the audience, grinning into the cameras as they whirled to the music, before handing the devices back to their delighted owners.

Ghetts proved why he’s headline material

The Newham star, too, showcased his versatility with a headline set that swung from chest-out self-celebration to clear-eyed introspection. He charted his journey from grind to grime stardom on opening track ‘Fine Wine’ (“The mic is my therapist / I’m just having a session…”), before leading the audience through an uproarious chant of underground fave ‘Celine & Chanel’, a collaboration with London producer Rude Kid.

If 2015 grime classic ‘Who’s Got A Problem’, another Rude Kid collab, drew perhaps the biggest response of the night (“If I say I’m the best in a room full of MCs…” Ghetts began before the audience roared back, “WHO’S GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?”), the gargantuan 2021 Stormzy team-up ‘Skengman’ wasn’t far behind.

It’s notable, though, that Ghett’s newest material – such as woozy ‘Laps’, taken from his 2024 album ‘On Purpose, With Purpose’ – was just as well received as the classics, a fact that seemed to epitomise the boundless creativity at the heart of Limitless Live. “Today we came together for a good cause,” he concluded at the end of this unifying set, “and that’s always a great feeling.”

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