Last night’s concert was one of the most intimate I have ever been to. Hip-hop doesn’t have a reputation for intimacy, yet with such a small venue and a small but devoted crowd, that’s exactly what it was. Hip-hop lovers were blessed last night with an incredibly energetic opening performance from Jaywop. He did a wonderful job at setting the stage for the rest of the artists and foreshadowing the rest of the show for us—a hype one.
Billie Essco, also known as Uptown Chase, followed up Jaywop. He performed several of his hit songs, leading easily to the introduction of Jae Skeese, an artist with whom he has collaborated on several songs. When Jae Skeese came out, you could feel the excitement from the crowd. To make it even better, he came out repping the Arizona Diamondbacks with a shirt and hat! The crowd was completely enthralled as the purple lights lit him up, especially when he ended with his hit song, “Symmetry.”
Then it was time for Sauce Walka, you could tell the audience had been waiting. The phones came out, flashlights went on, and the hands went up. Walka is one artist who knows how to bring energy unlike any other. Smiles and energy were ubiquitous, and it was a special moment. Pure love for music could be seen.
Especially when the king, Conway the Machine, finally made his entrance, just at the 2-hour mark. The tension was building as the lights went dark, all the flashlights turned on, and everyone watched Conway take the stage in a trance. Not only is he a talented artist, but he’s also hilarious. He said things like “Don’t stop the music, I’m a professional” when he stopped to sign shirts and vinyl records mid-performance. Or when he lit up a blunt and said, “I’m going to
smoke some trees; wait I just exposed my age they don’t call it trees anymore.” Conway had a powerful stage presence, and the crowd followed his every move. This small crowd of hip-hop lovers was truly lucky to get to experience this masterpiece of a concert last night at the Crescent Ballroom!
Written by: Kaia Langker
