US rap superstar The Game rocks the crowd at Rainton Arena

US rap superstar The Game thrilled the crowds at a sell-out gig at an unlikely Wearside venue.
The Game thrills the sell-out crowdThe Game thrills the sell-out crowd
The Game thrills the sell-out crowd

The multi-platinum selling star of the West Coast hip hop scene took to the stage at Rainton Arena with support from a number of up and coiming North East talents.

Bournmoor-based DJ and presenter Ryan Swain was invited to introduce the star.

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“His management had heard of me and that kind of helped,” he said.

Ryan with The GameRyan with The Game
Ryan with The Game

“They got me back stage, asked me a few questions and then he said ‘I want you on stage’.”

Rumours had been circulating that The Game would be a no-show, but the concert had been a runaway success, said Ryan.

”There was a lot of speculation around,” he said.

“The Game was booked to do a show in Middlesbrough when he was promoting his eighth album – the show sold out but he did not turn up, so there was a lot of speculation about whether he would turn up or not this time.

The Game on stageThe Game on stage
The Game on stage

“But it is just a really amazing night.”

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The star has enjoyed playing what was one of the smaller venues on his tour.

“Rainton Meadows is a really nice arena, but Houghton is not somewhere you would expect to see somebody of that calibre – you just would not expect that – but he actually really enjoyed the show.

“He is used to playing big arenas and concert halls, so I think it was quite an intimate show for him and he enjoyed it a lot.”

Ryan was delighted to get the chance to hang out with one of his musical heroes.

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“I was invited to his dressing room after the show and we had a bit of a chat,” he said.

“I was one of only three people he had a photo taken with.”

The arena might be a smaller venue than The Game is used to but there was nothing small about the star’s team.

“He had a massive entourage,” said Ryan.

“When he was escorted out at the end, there were loads of people trying to get selfies. It was carnage.”