Slaughter gang enthusiasts were vigorously muscling their way through the venue trying to get as close to the stage as possible – before they could even grab an energy drink.
Monster Energy’s spring #OutbreakTour was Issa Tour. Fans from all over poured in for one of the biggest shows of the 21 Savage excursion. Tee Grizzley traveled from the West Side of Detroit, Michigan to open the NYC show. His singles “First Day Out,” and “From the D to the A” earned a few head nods, as most of the New Yorkers present were just becoming familiar with his music.
Young Nudy has been actively promoting his BGUM trap songs on the Slime Balls mixtapes. He ran across the stage following Grizzley, and prepared the audience for the movie to come. Singles “Yeah Yeah,” and “Trapaholic” kept bodies at the show shaking. But New York City was buzzing for the hometown hero of the evening – Young M.A.
Her raspy voice came over the mic and the crowd went spastic. This was what they were waiting for! Paying homage to her borough, the words “Brooklyn, New York” began flashing on the stage, and the audience co-signed. Her mixtape SleepWalkin has received much praise, meaning “HennyNHoes,” and “Get This Money,” put fans where they needed to be – hype AF!
She kept thoughts of her slew of the unexpected guest, quietly tucked under her fitted cap. As soon as G-Unit’s Uncle Murda walked out, “Thot” blasted, and the girls that fit the description made themselves seen. Still, his single “Right Now” was the crowd favorite, and he even made mention of Young M.A.’s Herstory mixtape, “hitting the streets soon.”
In an effort to keep the women going, Young M.A. screamed: “Shout out to all my ladies, my bitches that are down to ride for their bitches.” The women in the audience roared and the Bronx-bred Cardi B jumped into the spotlight with her long red weave swinging. If you were uppity, this wasn’t for you.
The beat dropped and the entire mass recited “ran down on that bitch twice,” with Cardi B. As per usual, Cardi was with whatever, because if you beef with her, you “gon’ beef foreva!” This was a New York highlight because the two raptresses making the most noise are hailing from the city. Cardi B persisted with “Lick,” and she didn’t need Offset’s feature. New York danced through the sounds of Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 2 with ease.
Still, it’s not a real lituation unless Fabolous is present – and he was. “Goyard Bag,” his latest single featuring Lil Uzi Vert is spinning on Hot 97 heavily, and so were the women – as soon as he hugged Young M.A. The soon-to-be summer anthem has everyone feeling like they’re “either Barney’s, Niemen Marcus or Saks Fifthin’.” Young M.A. was beaming as she watched one of her Brooklyn heroes swag across the stage for her. Standing under Fab’s arm she yelled, “This is the only crowd that throws shots at you. I’m the king and the queen motherfuckas!”
With that said, she had a point to prove and went on to voraciously freestyle acapella – right before Jadakiss joined her for the “OOOUUU” remix. At this point, she had no choice but to dropped the mic. All of Irving Plaza was winded as they schmoney danced harder than Bobby Shmurda. Young M.A. was an impossible act to follow.
Nonetheless, 21 Savage was headlining. As concert-goers downed their much-needed Monster Energy drinks and collected themselves, the Atlanta trap mixtape favorite prepared backstage. Soon, he, his ski mask and notorious jumpsuit surfaced. A couple blatantly white women crowd surfed with Slaughter Gang-induced eagerness. 21 Savage’s rough street-tales changed the vibe of the venue – samurai looking knife included.
All of sudden, the New York listeners were pretend hardbody. The Slaughter Gang brought us hits from The Slaughter Tape, Slaughter King, and Savage Mode. His crucifix tattooed face appeared from behind his ski mask and fans yelled, “21, 21, 21, 21!” One thing is clear, 21 Savage is developing a colt-like following, and he hasn’t released his first official album. With his Metro Boomin trap anthems and Free Guwop extended plays, he was a force on his own before signing to Epic Records, earlier this year.
“Dip Dip,” “Savage Mode,” “Red Opps,” and “No Heart,” made his devotees nutty. But all present waited to stunt once we heard 21 Savage rap “10 bad bitches in a mansion.” With the exception of the label heads – the multitudes’ wrists weren’t on Milly Rock, but them diamonds were still (imaginarily) dancing. 21 Savage’s elaborately detailed chronicles of his upbringing in the hood are valuable, but this was the record that changed it all for him.
Future wasn’t in attendance, but “X” was undeniably the perfect song to close Issa Tour. The trap track hypnotically takes over, because everyone has an ex that they are dying to flex on. Issa Tour allowed upcoming indie acts to ride their first real wave, and effortlessly branded 21 Savage and Young M.A.
