Ab Soul performs alongside former TDE members, Joey Bada$, A$AP Rocky, Smoke DZA & More.
Ab-Soul knows how to work a crowd, like: “When I say ‘Hiii,” you say ‘Power!'” “Hiii!” “POWER!”; “When I say “TD,” you say “E.” He kills his live sets as much as he does on record. Soulo did a lot of 2012’s Control the System (The Source’s 2012 Independent Album Of The Year) but also reached back for some earlier cuts, like “Gone Insane.” The show opened with sets from G.R.A.M.Z., Rikki Blu, an unbilled set from the Ryder Gang, and the young talent Bishop Nehru, he’s only 16! He’s still a promising young artist, and ended his set by cutting the beat and delivering a rapid fast verse acapella.
Depending on where you were standing, you knew who was about to hit the stage, but maybe seeing them walk right past you was even more exciting. First out was Black Hippy comrade Jay Rock for their track “Lust Demons.” After that, Schoolboy Q, came out to “Druggys Wit Hoes Again,” working the crowd and them faithfully shouting the chorus. Then NYC rappers, like Smoke DZA, Joey Bada$ joined in. A$AP Rocky came in with a rendition of “Angels.”
“Illuminate” let the crowd know that Kendrick Lamar would appear, making his 3rd appearance in two nights in New York City. Shortly after, Kendrick makes his appearance asking the crowd, “Can I do one of my own?” The crowd screaming “Martin had a dream!”, delivered by the beat to “Backstreet Freestyle” Then he stuck around for yet another of his own cuts, “m.A.A.d. City.” It was an intense night in NYC, one of 2013’s most exciting shows thus far.
– Virgilio Mendez (@YouWantMoreV)
