Central London descended into gridlock over the Black Friday weekend as British rap icon Giggs staged a completely unexpected live show. The surprise performance brought one of the world's busiest shopping streets to a complete standstill.
Chaos on Oxford Circus
The Peckham-born artist, famed for tracks like "Incredible Sauce" and "Peligro", turned up outside the John Lewis store on Oxford Street on Sunday. In a scene that captivated passers-by, Giggs delivered a set of his signature hits from an unconventional stage: the back of a black taxi.
The timing could not have been more dramatic, with the area already packed to the brim with festive shoppers hunting for Black Friday deals. The resulting crowds created a bottleneck of epic proportions, with many unable to move through the throng.
Social Media Erupts as Fans Share Experience
The event instantly went viral, with stunned fans flooding social media platforms to share videos and reactions. Clips posted on Instagram and TikTok quickly amassed hundreds of likes and comments.
One incredibly lucky fan managed to secure a taxi ride with the rapper himself, posting online: "Wow. Wow. Just chatted to Giggs casually. I don’t know what I’m even talking about, it feels like a dream."
Other social media users highlighted the sheer scale of the disruption. User Stephkurke posted a TikTok video warning others to avoid Oxford Circus. Another commented: "I saw Giggs doing a performance outside John Lewis and MY GOD the whole place was at a standstill."
The congestion was so severe that some resorted to dark humour. User Gaastlygab remarked: "I’m pretty sure I would have had a better chance fighting in the trenches during WW1" than navigating the crowds that day.
Long-time London visitor Keely summed it up, stating: "As someone who has been to London close to 50 times... that was the worst I’ve ever seen it." Winsome Yuen described having to abandon public transport and walk for 40 minutes due to the overwhelming numbers.
A Launch for Luxury Jewellery Brand CRAFTD
The impromptu concert was not just a random act. It was orchestrated to mark the launch of the new CRAFTD Melted collection, a men's jewellery line that Giggs is known to favour.
Alex Cannon, Founder and Creative Director of CRAFTD, said: "As if Oxford Circus wasn't chaotic enough in the run up to Christmas - we thought we'd drop rap royalty, Giggs, into the heart of the action." He added that seeing the legend in the new collection was a "proud moment" for the brand.
The stunt, which successfully fused music, fashion, and urban spectacle, proved that even on one of the year's busiest retail days, the power of a surprise performance by a homegrown star can stop an entire city in its tracks.
