Osheaga, Day 3 | Hamza, from Belgium to Montréal

“Saucegod, Saucegod, Saucegod!” shouted the many festival-goers as Hamza arrived on stage. For several years, the Belgian rapper has had a wonderful relationship with Montrealers; another chapter in this beautiful story was written Sunday night at Osheaga.

Last year, Hamza earned a special place in our top 100 albums with Sincérement , a superb offering combining trap and R&B. It was with a string of tracks from this project that the Belgian began his set, starting with the excellent Codéine 19 . Although he started with his most recent material, he didn’t hesitate to dip into his classics such as Gasolina and FADE UP . There’s nothing wrong with the selection of tracks, a good mix highlighting the diversity of his discography.

Where the shoe pinches is in what is offered on stage. What is played is mostly pre-recorded soundtracks to which Hamza adds his grain of salt, autotune of course at the rendezvous. Don’t get me wrong, the eternal lover still offers a good show, but without artifice.

Regardless, the style of performance offered by the rapper did nothing to dampen the crowd, who were jumping from start to finish. The 30-year-old artist’s honeyed flow and catchy choruses are in a class of their own, here is another demonstration.

Crédit photo: Benoit Rousseau