Theophilus London Announces New Album 'Musa' After Show in LA: StereoVision Concert Vlogs

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Theophilus London Live at the 1720 Warehouse in LA // Photo by Jeff Yumi

Theophilus London Live at the 1720 Warehouse in LA // Photo by Jeff Yumi

On Wednesday, September 15th, I stood with fellow StereoVision co-founder Miles Hagan and our photographer Jeff Yumi behind 1720 Warehouse, a hidden treasure in the LA nightlife scene. Theophilus London had just concluded an electric performance and the three of us were still riding the live music high that we had been removed from for so long. We were waiting to talk to London, excited to pick the brain of someone who has been a part of so many great records, but he was nowhere to be found. After ten more minutes, we began to slowly accept the fact that he had cut early and wandered out to the venue’s floor. That’s where we found Theo, hiding in plain sight, making sure that every fan had a chance to talk to him before leaving the venue. This simple act of appreciation embodied the palpable connection that Theo builds with his fans, a connection that fueled his performance and made his show in LA one I won’t forget.

Theophilus London, prolific tastemaker, producer, songwriter, and performing artist is surrounded by extreme “if you know you know” energy. While the average music fan might not be familiar with his work, his name is mentioned in the same breath as Pharrell Williams, Devonte Hynes, and Kanye West amongst music heads everywhere due to his impressive songwriting catalog and unique sound that he’s pioneered in his own solo music. While waiting for the show to start we talked with people in the crowd about when they first started listening to London and their favorite tracks of his. To no surprise, the majority of those we talked to have been supporting Theo for seven or more years (2014 marked the release of his sophomore album Vibes) and nearly every person had different favorite songs - a trait that speaks volumes about the depth of his catalog and the overall quality of his work.

The show started around 9:30 with Parks, a multi-faceted creative with a smooth style kicking off the night with some hypnotizing bass solos and silky vocal accompaniment. Next to the stage came Annahstasia, a Nigerian-American singer-songwriter who captivated the audience for her entire set with just her beautiful voice and simple guitar strums. Her extremely powerful voice was only outdone by her songwriting which communicated complex and confusing emotions through easy-to-follow stories and intuitive realizations. We caught up with Annahstasia after her performance to ask her where she drew inspiration from for her impactful songwriting:

“Lately, I’ve been inspired by watching the outside from inside. Having a moment to step back and observe human behavior and (ask myself) why we do things. Everything’s just a big why right now.”
— Annahstasia
Theophilus London Live at the 1720 Warehouse in LA // Photo by Jeff Yumi

Theophilus London Live at the 1720 Warehouse in LA // Photo by Jeff Yumi

We were also happy to hear Annahstasia say that she’ll be dropping more music very soon, make sure to be on the lookout for that as it’s sure to be special.

Theophilus London arrived on stage just before 11PM walking out to his smash hit “Can’t Stop” which features Kanye West. From the moment he stepped on stage in his striking cowboy hat, he had the audience in the palm of his hand through his strong singing, infectious dancing, and brief stints where he managed to do both while DJing. After starting the show with a couple of his older fan favorites, London got into his excellent 2020 album Bebey with the fun, new-wave Caribbean sounds of “Only You,” “Marchin,” & “Cuba.” It was clear to me that old and new fans alike loved the new album as the entire crowd sang along in unison to most of the songs performed.

Around midnight Theo seemed to finish his setlist, but with everyone in the room having such a good time (including himself) he decided to continue playing and began taking crowd requests. Wedged in between these fan picks, London played some unreleased songs that have us extremely excited for the artist’s next release, a project titled Musa that we can expect in May.

All-in-all Theophilus London’s show in LA was the perfect reintroduction to live music - an inspiring performance in a spacious venue. While speaking with Theo after the show, he related the concert to a basketball player’s first game back after an injury saying that while he felt a little rusty, there’s no comparable feeling to getting to do what you love especially when it’s been taken away from you for so long.

Thanks for reading! Make sure to watch our vlog from the concert linked above and check out photos from the event below. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram to stay up on the hottest new music.

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Performing in a Parking Lot: Thundercat and Hannibal Buress Live in Los Angeles

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08-hannibal-buress-portrait.w750.h560.2x.jpg

Last weekend in Pasadena, fans of comedy and music flocked to the suburbs to watch Thundercat and comedian Hannibal Buress play a drive-in show in the Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot. Though this was certainly not the ideal way to see the two performers, attendees were respectful and responsible - following the COVID guidelines and mask requirement. As the LA sun set on the large patch of grass, a stage was illuminated while guests did their best to hide their drinks under their blankets and LA Dodgers afghans. 

Taking the stage first was Thundercat, whose performance was lively and upbeat - definitely a much-needed dose of fun for fans during the pandemic. Wielding a massive bass guitar, the LA musician offered fans a heartfelt ‘thanks for coming’ before playing a litany of tracks from his newest record It Is What It Is. To fans’ surprise, Thundercat even brought out Ty Dolla $ign to perform their track ‘Fair Chance’ - a chill moment that was far from a harbinger of what was to come. As quickly as it started, Thundercat ended his set with ‘Funny Thing’, and fans were treated to a brief pre-recorded video of the two discussing topics like video games, Cowboy Bebop, to backstage fights at music festivals. After about 30 minutes, Hannibal graced the stage.

Hannibal’s set was not as straightforward. Though it is unclear whether or not he was unprepared, or under the influence, or both, the Chicago comedian stumbled through a mixture of old bits, awkward banter, and personal songs. It wasn’t all bad - at one point he brought out Open Mike Eagle, and it was fun watching the band members behind him cringe as he tried to play off poorly timed jokes about Chadwick Boseman. While it would have been more enjoyable if his set was better, or if he bombed harder, attendees seemed to be having a good time, if not a little confused as to what was going on. Selena Kuikahi, an attendee at Saturday’s show, noted that Hannibal looked like he “didn’t try”, but the performance was not without its moments. Another highlight was when Hannibal made his way through the parking lot in a UFO, asking fans what their biggest regrets in life were. Though the bit didn’t last long, it was still great to watch a grown man talk about VR porn for an hour. 

Though the pandemic has hit the live performance industry hard, and many fans are ravenous to go out and live their lives again, shows like these are a solid way to get out of the house safely, and to forget about present anxieties for a few hours. The audio quality was surprisingly good, especially compared to when I watched Tenet in Sparks Nevada at another drive-in. Unlike that one, the audio did not sound like it was being played through a walkie-talkie, and we did not hear gunshots within 15 minutes of the performance. Parking was easy and it didn’t take long to leave the stadium, so I would highly recommend performances like these as a great way to revitalize both your mental health and a suffering industry right now. Thundercat and Hannibal put on a great show, given the circumstances, and I look forward to eventually seeing the two of them at a show in the future. 

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KANYE WEST ALBUM TOURNEY 🔥👊🏼 . . . Welcome to StereoVision Madness! This week we’re running a tournament to find out what our followers think is the best Kanye West album of all time. Everyday matchups will be posted on our Instagram story a
According to our followers, the best Mac Miller song of all time is Self Care! Thanks to everyone for voting, check back tomorrow for a brand new bracket. Let us know who you wanna see next ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Coronavirus won’t stop Sway from making freestyle videos 💪🏽 G Herbo and Black Thought give us some raps on Sway’s live series “Bedroom Bars”💯 . . . Who had the better freestyle? . . . #hiphop #rap #gherbo #juicewrld #ptsd #
Duality Takes Center Stage in Thundercat’s Fantastic New Record ‘It Is What It Is’ . Favorite Tracks: . Lost In Space / Great Scott / 22-26 Black Qualls (Ft. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, & Childish Gambino) It Is What It Is (Ft.
Dr. Dre’s classic record ‘The Chronic’ will be coming to streaming services this 4/20 🔥🌴 . . . What’s the first song off the album your streaming? . . . #drdre #thechronic #snoopdogg #deathrowrecords #deathrow #weed #420 #ma
42 Dugg Shows Why He’s Detroit’s Next Big Thing on ‘Young & Turnt Vol. 2’ . Favorite Tracks: . Hard Times Turnt Bitch One of One (Ft. Babyface Ray) . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! .
Welcome To A New Party - “PARTYMOBILE” by PARTYNEXTDOOR Album Review . Favorite Tracks: . NOTHING LESS ANOTHER DAY SAVAGE ANTHEM . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! . . . #hiphop #rap #albumreview #drak

Lil Tjay Perfomrs His Debut Album "True 2 Myself" at the Novo in Downtown Los Angeles

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Photo by Owen Markham

Photo by Owen Markham

Confetti rained down as Lil Tjay looped the chorus to his smash hit “F.N” one last time for a rowdy crowd of screaming fans. As the 18-year-old finished, he took a moment, looked at his fans with admiration, and smiled. The moment felt grand and triumphant and at that moment it was impossible to not feel overwhelmingly happy for the young artist.

While this moment was incredibly special, his whole performance on Friday, February 7th was inspired. The show was part of the True 2 Myself Tour and took place at the Novo in Downtown Los Angeles. Tjay is currently on the road with Big Havi and Kid Laroi who both did a great job at getting the crowd loose, excited, and ready to turn up for the New York rapper.

Photo by Owen Markham

Photo by Owen Markham

When Tjay finally came on stage after an hour-long DJ set the crowd absolutely lost it. He was wearing a custom Kobe Bryant jersey and later paid tribute with a 24-second moment of silence. Opening with “Goat,” Lil Tjay had the Novo jumping from the start. After the intro, his vocals cut through the instrumental showcasing the Novo’s perfect sound mixing as he sang “No one can stop me I feel like the greatest.” As an 18-year-old playing for a packed crowd of screaming fans in downtown LA, I don’t doubt for one second that Tjay really did feel like the greatest in that moment and time.

The rest of the show kept the same energy as he played more than half of the songs off his debut album True 2 Myself as well as a couple old songs and all the songs he’s released since the album. Fans sang and danced along with unparalleled spirit motivating Tjay to continue to sing every line even when it was apparent that he was out of breath and needed a break.

Everything about the show was magical until a rude fan threw something at Tjay during his  performance of “Go In” during the encore. Tjay stopped the song, pointed out the unwanted fan, and sent a member of his team into the crowd to remove him and rough him up a little. The fan tried to escape at which point Tjay said to let him go but continued to mock him until he was out of the venue. The altercation was uncomfortable and was a strange ending to what otherwise was an excellent show. Concert goers, DON’T BE STUPID AND PISS THE ARTIST OFF, NO ONE WINS IN THAT SITUATION.

All-in-all, the 18-year-old hit maker put on a killer performance at the Novo in LA giving fans everything they could’ve asked for and more. He sang, rapped, and danced his heart without ever having to sacrifice quality for energy. If you get a chance, go see Lil Tjay on the True 2 Myself tour, you won’t regret it!

Photo Gallery by Owen markham:

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View fullsize KANYE WEST ALBUM TOURNEY 🔥👊🏼 . . . Welcome to StereoVision Madness! This week we’re running a tournament to find out what our followers think is the best Kanye West album of all time. Everyday matchups will be posted on our Instagram story a
View fullsize According to our followers, the best Mac Miller song of all time is Self Care! Thanks to everyone for voting, check back tomorrow for a brand new bracket. Let us know who you wanna see next ⬇️⬇️⬇️
View fullsize
View fullsize Coronavirus won’t stop Sway from making freestyle videos 💪🏽 G Herbo and Black Thought give us some raps on Sway’s live series “Bedroom Bars”💯 . . . Who had the better freestyle? . . . #hiphop #rap #gherbo #juicewrld #ptsd #
View fullsize Duality Takes Center Stage in Thundercat’s Fantastic New Record ‘It Is What It Is’ . Favorite Tracks: . Lost In Space / Great Scott / 22-26 Black Qualls (Ft. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, & Childish Gambino) It Is What It Is (Ft.
View fullsize Dr. Dre’s classic record ‘The Chronic’ will be coming to streaming services this 4/20 🔥🌴 . . . What’s the first song off the album your streaming? . . . #drdre #thechronic #snoopdogg #deathrowrecords #deathrow #weed #420 #ma
View fullsize 42 Dugg Shows Why He’s Detroit’s Next Big Thing on ‘Young & Turnt Vol. 2’ . Favorite Tracks: . Hard Times Turnt Bitch One of One (Ft. Babyface Ray) . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! .
View fullsize Welcome To A New Party - “PARTYMOBILE” by PARTYNEXTDOOR Album Review . Favorite Tracks: . NOTHING LESS ANOTHER DAY SAVAGE ANTHEM . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! . . . #hiphop #rap #albumreview #drak

YBN Cordae Kicks Off "The Lost Boy Tour" at the Fonda Theater in LA

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Photo by Owen Markham

Photo by Owen Markham

Last June, YBN Cordae put on the show of a lifetime to around 150 people at the Crocodile in Seattle, Washington. I was lucky enough to have been in the small crowd as the emerging rapper performed the handful of songs he had out, multiple freestyles, and even some unreleased songs that were set to be on the rapper’s debut album (“Broke As Fuck” & “Thousand Words”). Cordae was personal, passionate, and connected with every person in the room that night. Last Monday (January 13th) I found myself at my second YBN Cordae concert but this one felt a little different. In contrast to the 150 people at the Crocodile, on this special night the young artist entertained a sold out crowd at the Fonda Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. Instead of performing a handful of singles, Cordae played the hits off his Grammy nominated debut album The Lost Boy. While much has changed over the past half year for Cordae, the passion that the kid from Raleigh performs with is as present as ever.

Photo by Owen Markham

Photo by Owen Markham

The show got off to a good start with a performance from the elusive and somewhat mysterious emerging artist Lonr. While Lonr only has two songs out on streaming platforms, he managed to keep the crowd engaged while performing songs nobody had ever heard which is exceptionally hard to do.

The energy really picked up when 24kGoldn began to perform. Accompanied on stage by a sole guitarist, 24k’s set felt more like a rock show then a rap performance. On that night at the Fonda Theater the USC student didn’t appear to be a college kid at all, but rather an emerging star primed to blow. Frequent beat cuts on his guitar driven cut “City Of Angels” showcased Goldn’s  excellent singing voice and nailed home the fact that the kid’s a star.

Thanks to spirited performances from both openers, when Cordae finally did emerge from backstage, the whole place lost it. Right from the jump it was obvious that the young man’s allure and stage presence wasn’t a fluke last June but rather an authentic gift that will continue to serve him throughout his career.

Nearly every song was captivating as Cordae seamlessly rapped every word without a vocal track. He was aided by an awesome band consisting of a bassist, DJ, keyboard player, and drummer. The live arrangements of each track made the concert so much more engaging and made Cordae’s already exceptionally sharp pen appear that much more impressive.

Cordae effortlessly controlled the energy all night giving his fans a little of everything. The room would spend three minutes appreciating his excellent lyricism and vibing to a track like “Bad Idea” only to pivot on a dime and open some of the largest mosh pits I’ve ever seen for hype cuts like “Broke As Fuck”.

Although the concert was frequently referred to as “The Lost Boy Experience,” Cordae showed he didn’t forget about his day one fans by playing older cuts like his addicting “My Name Is” remix or his J. Cole response “Old Niggas” which ended up launching his career.

The show ended after Cordae brought up two separate fans to rap Anderson .Paak’s part in his hit “RNP”. While the second girl brought on stage clearly had more flow and stage presence than the guy that preceded her, both fans hit every bar resulting in a fun finale.

The performance YBN Cordae delivered at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles was easily worth twice the price of admission. Everything from the staging to the setlist was captivating and exactly what it needed to be. Keep in mind that this was also the first stop on the entire “Lost Boy Tour” meaning that we should only expect the show to get even tighter. Go see YBN Cordae now before you have to take out a second mortgage just to grab a nosebleed seat at the closest arena. 

Photo gallery by Owen markham:

King Dre Brings the Energy in Spokane, Washington

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It was a cold Saturday night in Washington as a crowd of local hip-hop fans packed into the Cracker Building, a small venue near downtown Spokane. Local promoter Young Neves was throwing a show that featured some of the best emerging artists in Eastern Washington and the line up was full of exciting names such as Wanderers, Jiggy Jared, and Roley Ratchet. While everyone that performed is currently making waves in the local hip-hop scene in Washington, no artist is hotter than the charismatic King Dre. Dre recently dropped the knocking single “Off the Boat (Freestyle)” and is still riding momentum from his summertime hit “This Ain’t A Swisher” with 02 Huncho. With two tapes in the near future and a patented sound, KD seems primed to blow and everyone in the Cracker Building that night knew it.

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While all performers that night were greeted by applause, you could tell who everyone really bought a ticket for by the eruption that followed the first three piano notes to Dre’s opening song “Scuba”. As his homies filed on stage to dance and generate energy, Dre spit the menacing hook to one of the more popular songs off his 2019 mixtape Phase 2. As the room swung back and forth with each knock of the bass, Dre paused and admired the crowd he was largely responsible for. “I don’t make music for other people,” Dre told me after the show concluded. “It definitely helps when they like it though,” he said with a smile.

With lots of new music on the way, it’s impossible to not be excited to see what 2020 holds for King Dre. “Man oh man boy, I got like 50 songs in the vault that y’all need to hear!” The first of the three scheduled releases came earlier today, December 30th, in the form of the four song EP ACTIVATED which you can stream on Dre’s Soundcloud here. The Turn Me Up tape can be expected during the first few weeks of the new decade and is filled with strictly bangers to throw on at the next function. After that, Dre plans to release a more lyrical, introspective tape called Deep End which will feature rising rapper CFN Trezzy who also made an appearance at the Cracker Building during Dre’s set.

King Dre is THE artist to watch out for on the east side of Washington. Motivated by his brother who use to rap before being killed in Northern California, Dre is determined to make a name for himself in 2020. After watching KD grow all of 2019, it’s clear he’s a remarkably fast learner. Combine that with all the time he’s recently spent in the studio and performing and you have a recipe for an artist with a high chance of having a very successful 2020.

Check out some photos from the show below (Photos by Spencer Lobdell):

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KANYE WEST ALBUM TOURNEY 🔥👊🏼 . . . Welcome to StereoVision Madness! This week we’re running a tournament to find out what our followers think is the best Kanye West album of all time. Everyday matchups will be posted on our Instagram story a
According to our followers, the best Mac Miller song of all time is Self Care! Thanks to everyone for voting, check back tomorrow for a brand new bracket. Let us know who you wanna see next ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Coronavirus won’t stop Sway from making freestyle videos 💪🏽 G Herbo and Black Thought give us some raps on Sway’s live series “Bedroom Bars”💯 . . . Who had the better freestyle? . . . #hiphop #rap #gherbo #juicewrld #ptsd #
Duality Takes Center Stage in Thundercat’s Fantastic New Record ‘It Is What It Is’ . Favorite Tracks: . Lost In Space / Great Scott / 22-26 Black Qualls (Ft. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, & Childish Gambino) It Is What It Is (Ft.
Dr. Dre’s classic record ‘The Chronic’ will be coming to streaming services this 4/20 🔥🌴 . . . What’s the first song off the album your streaming? . . . #drdre #thechronic #snoopdogg #deathrowrecords #deathrow #weed #420 #ma
42 Dugg Shows Why He’s Detroit’s Next Big Thing on ‘Young & Turnt Vol. 2’ . Favorite Tracks: . Hard Times Turnt Bitch One of One (Ft. Babyface Ray) . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! .
Welcome To A New Party - “PARTYMOBILE” by PARTYNEXTDOOR Album Review . Favorite Tracks: . NOTHING LESS ANOTHER DAY SAVAGE ANTHEM . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! . . . #hiphop #rap #albumreview #drak

Live Performance Review: ILLENIUMS's Electric, Sold-Out, Staples Center Show

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By Spencer Lobdell

Illenium 4.jpg

There wasn’t an open seat in LA’s Staples Center on December 7th. The energy and excitement were palpable as 20,000 people anxiously awaited for a performance from their shared idol. In contrast to normal rave attire, the majority of the concert-goers wore different styles of baseball jerseys, all of which read “ILLENIUM” in big letters on the back, a trend that has become a staple to the San Francisco DJ’s fan base. The anxious excitement instantly turned to pure joy and the lights dimmed and a slow guitar riff echoed eloquently through the stadium. As the spotlight turned on revealing ILLENIUM standing center stage with his beautiful Fender Telecaster, the building erupted with screams which powerfully communicated that he was far more than just a DJ to majority of the people in attendance.

Photo By Jeff Yumi

Photo By Jeff Yumi

Nicholas Miller, more commonly known as ILLENIUM, began taking music seriously in 2012 after seeing Bassnectar perform at Red Rocks. In 2013, he moved to Colorado and began releasing free projects full of exciting remixes and promising singles. In 2016 he released his debut album Ashes and began to establish himself as one of the most prolific EDM DJs of the decade. Last August, ILLENIUM delighted fans with the release of his third studio album Ascend. Due to bangers like “In Your Arms (With X Ambassadors)’ and “Good Things Fall Apart (With Jon Bellion)” Ascend became the DJs first record to reach number one on the Billboard top dance/electronic album chart. Through releasing compelling music, cool merch, and maintaining a personal relationship with fans, ILLENIUM slowly built an army of dedicated listeners who will always have his back.

ILLENIUM’s live performance for a sold-out Staples Center was nothing short of electric. The charismatic DJ performed for nearly two hours playing all of his hits without ever missing a beat making it nearly impossible to stop dancing. While I expected excellent lighting, I was far from prepared for the hundreds of lasers and epileptic strobe lights that turned the area into the best party I have ever attended. This all goes without mentioning the fire cannons that were used multiple times during the show. The massive flames were equally cool and terrifying delivering a wave of heat throughout the area upon use.

The visuals that ILLENIUM had projected on the three giant screens were mesmerizing and kept the audience 100 percent engaged the entire time. From stunning landscapes to beautifully detailed rotating objects, the awe-inspiring visuals made it so a deaf person would’ve left the venue satisfied.

Overall, ILLENIUM put on one of the most exciting EDM shows I’ve ever been to and exposed me to one of the most dedicated fan bases I’ve seen in action. While his recordings are special, listeners cannot fully understand the sheer power of his music until it is experienced live. ILLENIUM looks so natural on stage and every one of his songs sounds better when it’s backed by the thousands of screaming fans proving that he was truly born to perform.

Photo Gallery By Jeff Yumi:

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter to get notified whenever we post!

KANYE WEST ALBUM TOURNEY 🔥👊🏼 . . . Welcome to StereoVision Madness! This week we’re running a tournament to find out what our followers think is the best Kanye West album of all time. Everyday matchups will be posted on our Instagram story a
According to our followers, the best Mac Miller song of all time is Self Care! Thanks to everyone for voting, check back tomorrow for a brand new bracket. Let us know who you wanna see next ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Coronavirus won’t stop Sway from making freestyle videos 💪🏽 G Herbo and Black Thought give us some raps on Sway’s live series “Bedroom Bars”💯 . . . Who had the better freestyle? . . . #hiphop #rap #gherbo #juicewrld #ptsd #
Duality Takes Center Stage in Thundercat’s Fantastic New Record ‘It Is What It Is’ . Favorite Tracks: . Lost In Space / Great Scott / 22-26 Black Qualls (Ft. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, & Childish Gambino) It Is What It Is (Ft.
Dr. Dre’s classic record ‘The Chronic’ will be coming to streaming services this 4/20 🔥🌴 . . . What’s the first song off the album your streaming? . . . #drdre #thechronic #snoopdogg #deathrowrecords #deathrow #weed #420 #ma
42 Dugg Shows Why He’s Detroit’s Next Big Thing on ‘Young & Turnt Vol. 2’ . Favorite Tracks: . Hard Times Turnt Bitch One of One (Ft. Babyface Ray) . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! .
Welcome To A New Party - “PARTYMOBILE” by PARTYNEXTDOOR Album Review . Favorite Tracks: . NOTHING LESS ANOTHER DAY SAVAGE ANTHEM . Hit the link in our bio to read the full review and stream the album! . . . #hiphop #rap #albumreview #drak

Kanye West’s Powerful Sunday Service at The Forum in Los Angeles

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Last Sunday Kanye West provided Los Angeles with its very own Sunday Service event, the first since the release of his ninth solo studio album Jesus Is King. Hosted by The Forum, the faded gloss of the vermillion floors was obstructed by a multitude of different flora and in its center: a large grassy circular platform surrounded by lush and colorful flowers, all directly underneath a rounded screen. Astounding scenery aside, it was as if the diverse crowd of hypebeasts and older LA natives had accidentally come upon a secret oasis in the middle of Inglewood. 

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This event was the first time West had performed many of the tracks off Jesus Is King live, and after following the rocky release schedule over the past year, there seemed to be an air of relief in the venue. Since West announced the release date for his latest project (then called YANDHI) in September 2018, the album went through multiple delays and transformations, many of which were attributed to West not feeling satisfied with the sound or progress of the record. As the year ended, many fans speculated that YANDHI had been scrapped, but feelings of hope began to rise when in January 2019 West began to privately host “Sunday Service” events, where he and a choir would dress in similar white garb and perform soulful gospel tracks for a select audience of the industry’s elite. Many of these tracks were softer and more religious interpolations of West’s previous work, which made these private events a joy for fans to track. After bringing his Sunday Service to Coachella, and a summer full of YANDHI leaks trickling out of the G.O.O.D music camp, West would later announce a tentative release date and tracklist for his new album Jesus Is King in the fall of 2019. 

Despite having Sunday Service / listening session hybrid events in Detroit, Salt Lake City, New York, Chicago, and even Kingston Jamaica, the album failed to arrive when West promised, and fans’ hopes were dashed again. At these events West also premiered portions of Jesus Is King: A Kanye West Film, an IMAX film created at the Roden Crater featuring performances from the Sunday Service choir, which received mixed reviews from attendees. A month later, ticket sales for the IMAX film appeared seemingly out of nowhere, West tweeted a new tracklist and release date for the record along with its new cover art, and as quickly as the promotion started, it ended Friday morning when Jesus is King released on streaming services. 

Sunday’s event was in part a spiritual successor to the events that preceded it: Sunday Service at the forum was part sermon, part Sunday Service choir performance, and part Kanye West show. Merchandise was available for purchase, including a garment that was designed in collaboration with AWGE, and a multitude of expensive garments that made some cry sacrilege. What set this event apart, however, was the sheer cinematic power that West’s performance had on its attendees. This was not a private gathering of Hollywood’s elite witnessing a shotty mess of hardware and plastic chairs, this was a public multimedia event that was West’s first show of the JIK era, complete with elaborate costuming, sound and stage design, guest artists and a setlist that had a little bit for everyone.

To put it lightly: the event did not disappoint.

Surrounded by around 50 performers including vocalists, percussionists, keyboard and brass players, West performed powerful renditions of his newest material, including beginning the event with an incredible performance of ‘Closed On Sunday’. Since Jesus is King’s release, this track has been under a large amount of scrutiny from critics and fans alike for the seemingly vapid hooks about Chick Fil-A and lemonade. While lyrically the humor in the song may be at odds with its other layers, there is no denying that this song has some powerful melodies that are accentuated heavily by the presence of a choir. The harmonic conversations created by West’s impassioned singing juxtaposed against the choir’s haunting aural register made my jaw drop, as before then I had given little attention to this song. 

This was not the only moment that West’s coordination of choir, instruments, and song choice captivated the crowd, as over the course of the two hour performance fans were treated to rare performances of church classics like “How Excellent”, improvised beat sampling by Kanye West, and even a religious themed rendition of Damian Marley’s legendary reggae anthem “Welcome to Jamrock”. This Sunday Service also featured the first live performance of “Saint Pablo”, guest appearances from Francis and the Lights (performing “Take Me To The Light”), and perhaps most notably, an unforgettable reunion of Clipse on “Use This Gospel” which also featured two solos from the legendary Kenny G on his soprano saxophone. 

Clipse and Kenny G join Kanye on stage for an awe-inspiring performance of “Use This Gospel”

Sunday Service at the Forum was visually striking as well, with each member of the choir being draped in bone-colored garments that featured the occasional splash of faded pastel coloring. Women danced in unison with long and beautifully decorated braids underneath a circular screen that projected different colored lights, and even a cloudy sky at various moments in the show. It was refreshing to see a stage that was in many ways an inverse of Kanye West’s stage design on 2016’s Saint Pablo tour. Before, West stood alone on the panopticon stage, hovering above his fans performing to them. On Sunday, West was under his fans performing for them, and aside from his performances of the tracks, there were many moments in the production where West was far from the focal point. Jason White, the service’s choir director, took the spotlight for the majority of the show while West would simply blend in with the performers. 

Whether or not one believes Kanye West to be a ‘true christian’, or a real supporter of the conservative party, or whether or not one boxes West to a caricature of a misguided celebrity plagued by mental illness and a growing distance between himself and reality, there is no denying that this event was powerful. Though the merchandise was expensive (LA Apparel / Yeezy Blanks cost far more to produce than Gildan Tees), entry to the event was only 15$ a person, as it was clearly designed to be a spectacle for the public to not only consume, but to be a part of as well. Audience participation was encouraged and never before have I been to a show where there had been such a tangible sense of elation both social and spiritual. Between seeing Kanye’s daughter playfully sing while on Kanye’s shoulders, and witnessing the reunion of one of hip-hop’s most powerful duos, Sunday Service at The Forum was an event I will not soon forget.

Listen to Kanye West’s new album Jesus Is King here:

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