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Tattoo artist turned beloved rapper sells out first UK show as fans dance through heatwave

She started out tattooing in Puerto Rico to fund her music dreams - now Young Miko is a GRAMMY-nominated global name, and her sweat-soaked, sold-out first UK show proved Londons fallen hard for her

[Young Mikos hunger for the art is nothing short of impressive]

Young Mikos hunger for the art is nothing short of impressive

From a Puerto Rican tattoo artist who inked clients to pay for studio time, to an international music star now packing out venues abroad - Young Mikos hunger for the art is nothing short of impressive.

Judging by the sold-out London date on her Late Checkout Tour, shes not just a big deal over there anymore.

Shes got a seriously devoted following here in the UK too. I walked into HERE at Outernet on Denmark Street in London on Thursday (July 10), expecting a big first UK show spectacle. Instead got something better: an artist proving she doesnt need a mountain of props or an army of dancers to own a room.

[Young Miko sold out London]

Young Miko sold out London(Image: Joshua Rivera)

The all-standing setup made total sense the second she came on. Were in a heatwave, it was packed, and yet nobody was standing still.

Nobody could resist those sexy beats. Young Mikos presence is the production.

Shes got that heartthrob energy that turns women and girls into a chorus, and she knows it. But what impressed me most wasnt just the star power - it was how naturally she moved between languages, flipping between Spanish and English like she was chatting to mates.

[She performed at HERE at Outernet on Denmark Street in London on Thursday (July 10)]

She performed at HERE at Outernet on Denmark Street in London on Thursday (July 10)(Image: Joshua Rivera)

That bilingual back-and-forth with the crowd was genuinely striking, and it kept everyone locked in, whether they understood every word or not (her songs are in Spanish). That doesnt mean the music didnt have muscle.

The band added a proper rock edge - especially the electric guitar - that gave her hip hop, Latin trap and reggaeton sound extra bite live. It took tracks that already hit hard and made them feel bigger, louder, and more raw in the best way.

Theres a reason women make up such a huge part of her audience, and you could see it all around me. Young Mikos gigs are known for feeling like safe, welcoming spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community - particularly queer women - because she openly raps about dating women and doesnt water it down.

[Shes got that heartthrob energy]

Shes got that heartthrob energy(Image: Joshua Rivera)

In a genre still dominated by men, that kind of unapologetic representation is rare. Now shes a GRAMMY-nominated and two-time Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist with more than 22 million monthly Spotify listeners, carving out her own lane with sharp Spanglish lyricism and a genre-defying sound.

The Late Checkout Tour is the live celebration of her deluxe album Do Not Disturb: Late Checkout, which delivered the biggest US streaming debut of her career - and its also her first global arena tour, spanning 31 dates across 11 countries.

London was her first-ever UK performance. It sold out.

And in that sweat-soaked, all-standing room, with everyone dancing through the heat, it was obvious: Young Mikos not a niche name anymore - shes on her way to being a mainstream one.

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[Andra Oldereide]

Andra Oldereide

Andra is a seasoned journalist who joined Reach plcs General Assignment Unit as a Content Editor in January 2025. In October 2025, she became a Senior Reporter for the Daily Star. Andra previously worked as a reporter internationally, including in Luxembourg and Switzerland. Andra is particularly interested in voices from marginalised communities.

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