December 31st: 4,000 partygoers, plus some of the UK’s finest DJs, and you have pretty decent New Year’s Eve plans. Add Pretty Ricky, Bobby Valentino, Raghav and Fun*dmental to the bill and you’re good to go!
The super-size club night kicked off at Wembley’s Exhibition Hall at 8pm with the DJ spinning some of hip hop’s biggest tunes from over the years. The capacity regulations on the night meant the hall looked half empty, but those that were there made up for the lack of numbers.
Nathan, Raghav and Fun*dmental were performing before the midnight countdown, the latter of which didn’t disappoint as they wowed everyone with their sparkly dance moves, slick vocals and undeniable stage charisma. The trio looked the part too, sporting matching military outfits. “We’re on a mission! ‘06 is going to be a big year for us,” said group member Kyle, after their performance of ‘Playground’ and ‘Jump’. Having already created a huge buzz on the underground R&B level, the group – whose new year resolutions are to get a top 10 hit in the charts – plan to release their double-sided single in March with an album following in the summertime.
Bobby Valentino took to the stage just before the 12 o’clock mark and launched into the Timbaland-produced ‘Tell Me’. The 23-year-old performed his hit singles – the debut ‘Slow Down’ and the Luda collabo, ‘Pimpin All Over The World’ – as well as tracks from his self-titled debut album, including ‘Gangsta Love’ and ‘My Angel’. Bobby was onstage to count down into the New Year with fans, while Pretty Ricky celebrated in the VIP lounge with Fun*dmental and bottles of champagne.
Bobby V had to quickly rush off to a Nottingham nightclub for another performance, but Raghav, Fun*dmental and Pretty Ricky spent the night chatting to fans (and the obligatory half-naked female dancers) in VIP. “We’ve just been busy grindin,” Pretty Ricky’s Pleasure explained. The group, looking smooth in black suits and mouths custom-fitted with diamond grills, release ‘Your Body’ here in the UK on January 30, but have also just shot a video for ‘Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number’ in America. After tonight they’re up in Manchester for a 1Xtra tour date, before flying straight back to the States for more work. “We’re gonna give people a performance!” Spectacular promised. And that’s exactly what they did.
The night ended with a full-on routine from the Miami boys. Slick ‘Em, Baby Blue and Spectacular bounded onto the stage doing all sorts of crazy flips, spins and worms, while Pleasure provided the vocals from the side of the stage, having hurt his leg earlier in the day. The sexed-up quartet performed their second UK single ‘Your Body’, as well as album cuts including ‘Get A Little Closer’, ‘Shorty Be Mine’, ‘Juicy’, ‘Get You Right’ and ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number’. And as if air-grinding wasn’t sexual enough, they then pulled a girl onstage and had a competition between themselves as to who could be the freakiest with her. After Slick had sat her down on a chair and pushed up on her – so much so that the chair fell backwards – Spec lay her down on the stage floor before grinding on her and simulating sex. The boys ended with the summer hit single, ‘Grind On Me’.
They finished their set just before the 3am mark, and the DJ span a few more tunes before everyone left for bed, ready to deal with their New Year hangovers the next morning!
