Fresh off a year that included the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show and a critically acclaimed Las Vegas Residency, Usher brought Round Two of his Past Present Future tour for a two-night special in Brooklyn.
The crowd embraced Usher, one of the most influential artists of the early 2000s — eight-time Grammy-winning, multi-platinum influential and is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. The R&B phenom dazzled Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with an all-world, shining spectacle that added to his allure.
Usher performs in Brooklyn, New York during a Past Present Future tour stop. (Karl Jean Baptiste, NYS Music)
At around 9:30 p.m., the luminary touched the stage, commanding the landscape with a kind of mesmerizing aura and opened with “Coming Home,” the title track from his latest chart-topping outing. He followed that up with “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” which quickly summoned ecstatic gasps from the audience mid “I just wanna get your attention…” Like that, the sold-out audience went down memory lane singing right along.
Usher performs in Brooklyn, New York during a Past Present Future tour stop. (Karl Jean Baptiste, NYS Music)
Between the hits (“You Make Me Wanna…,” “U Got it Bad”), (“Yeah!,” “OMG”), and (“There Goes My Baby,” “Throwback”), Usher’s undeniable collection of classics was undeniable.
With each performance, each song sounded just as fresh as they did in 1997, 2001 or 2004 and is a testament to the singer’s enduring catalog. The show carefully curated these times by traveling through these eras as a way to illustrate the singer’s transformation through the years.
Usher performs in Brooklyn, New York during a Past Present Future tour stop. (Karl Jean Baptiste, NYS Music)
Above all things, if anything was clear from the two-hour extravaganza other than that an Usher concert is top-tier experience, it’s that one of the world’s greatest entertainers of all time and is still at the top of his game.
It was like 2007 all over again when we were introduced to Soulja Boy when he came into New York City for his SODMG Tour on September 17, 2024 at the acclaimed Gramercy Theatre. The New York crowd danced and sang the night away as if it were the Summer of 2007 all over again.
Atlanta, GA native, Soulja Boy found himself in the middle of what’s called the “Snap” era of Hip Hop with his 2007 hit debut, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. At 17, he became an instant Hip Hop star due to recording his daily life and posting it on YouTube, his hit single and a fun dance to match.
After SODMG’s various openers showcase, rather than treating the audience to silence between the build up—as is standard (and not necessarily frowned upon)—Soulja Boy began building the landing by allowing his DJ to play 2000s classics. Commanding the theatre illuminated by cellphone lights, he launched into one of his numerous classics “Turn My Swag On” to get the party started.
The Grammy-nominated artist went on to perform hits such as “Kiss Me Thru the Phone”, “Soulja Girl”, “Pretty Boy Swag”, “Gucci Bandana”, “Yahh” and most recently, “Rick & Morty.” Soulja commanded the whole room with hit after hit from his multi-decade spanning career. Although the set was just shy of 45 minutes, the crowd was served a heavy dose and reminder of why Soulja Boy, the musical legend that he is, is cemented in Hip-Hop and overall music history.
Atlanta rapper Jeezy has been no stranger to New York City over his decades-long career and his latest tour stop for ‘The Playlist’ in NYC was no different.
The Snowman brought his Playlist Concert Series to a sold-out Irving Plaza on Thursday, September 12, leaving the Big Apple with another memorable evening with one of hip hop’s most engaging performers.
Jeezy brought the house down at Irving Plaza last night with his electrifying Playlist Concert. Fans were treated to a night of unforgettable music and a high-energy performance. Backed up by DJ Ace, the atmosphere was buzzing as Jeezy took the stage, captivating the audience from the moment he appeared. The setlist was a perfect mix of fan favorites and new hits.
With his cohort DJ Ace, he cut through his hit-filled set like a pro. Rolling out classics like “RIP” and “White Girl,” as well as cuts off his 2023 project, Jeezy kept all eyes on him during his set. With an unmistakable voice and swagger, there is really nothing quite like a Jeezy show, and New York City showed the Snowman no shortage of love. In fact, it was one of the most engaged and energetic crowds and we know that NYC is a tough crowd.
In person, Jeezy is an endlessly positive individual. Performing alone, in front of a stark light projection that obscured his features and made him look more like a shadow than a man, he made every effort to highlight the idea that he, the famous rapper, is just like us: the day-job slob who paid for a ticket. He took time to directly engage with and show love to his fans.
In just over an hour, the man ripped through a career’s worth of hits with passion and charisma. He stalked the stage, switching his flow from a barking punk frontman’s delivery especially on “Seen it All” and Recession-era smash “Put On.” Also has NYC engaging in screaming the ad-libs back at him like on Thug Motivation standouts “Standing Ovation” and “Soul Survivor”. If you can, you can still catch Jeezy on tour, tickets here.
Considered the pre-cursor to the 2024 VMAs at UBS Arena, the free, family-friendly event took place on Sunday, September 8 from 12 noon to 5pm at Domino Park in Williamsburg. What better way to ring in one of music’s biggest nights than a beautiful late summer afternoon of celebration along the Brooklyn waterfront? And this year’s Moon Person goes to…the second-annual VMAs Block Party!
Jordan Adetunji (Left), Knox (Middle), and Lola Brooke (Right) perform at the 2nd-annual MTV VMAs Block Party at Domino Park in Brooklyn, New York.
Hosted by MTV’s Dometi Pongo and WCBS’ Alecia Reid, the second annual VMAs Block Party kicked off one of music’s biggest weeks and featured live performances from artists like Jordan Adetunji, Knox and Lola Brooke, in addition to and all-day DJ Set by DJ CherishTheLuv.
Jordan Adetunji took to the stage to perform some of his recent cuts and finished his set with smash-hit “Kehlani” that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Knox took the stage with the energy and passion that have come to define his music. His set, featuring fan favorites like “Sneakers,” “LoveLetter,” and “NotThe1975,” showcased his skill in blending catchy melodies with heartfelt lyrics.
Lola Brooke sure knows how to keep the energy going! The rapper took the stage on Sept. 8 at Domino Park, and had the crowd going crazy for her performance which rounded out the VMAs Block Party.
The event also featured MTV VMA Moon Person Photo Opp, MTV VMA Free Swag Station, The Rolling Stones x MTV Pop-up Shop, BK Whopper Whopper Remix Photo Opper, MTV Mental Health is Health ASKtivation, and Mr. Flower Fantastic MTV Topiary Moon Person for all participants to enjoy.
The day was a celebration of music’s ability to bring people together, with Jordan Adetunji, Knox, and Lola Brooke, each showcasing their individual talents while also highlighting the shared human experiences that their songs explore.
Megan Thee Stallion will take the reins for music’s biggest night on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 8:00pm ET. Before you get comfy on the couch to cheer on your favorite musicians, check out what you missed in the gallery below.
Nigerian star Asake roared into New York Friday night for his debut at Madison Square Garden with a show in support of third and latest album, “Lungu Boy.” Asake is promoting his third album, titled Lungu Boy which is out now via EMPIRE/YBNL Nation and features appearances from Central Cee, Ludmilla, Stormzy, Travis Scott, and Wizkid.
In the lead-up to the release of ‘Lungu Boy,’ a lot of the chatter around the project hinted at Asake introducing the world to Lagos Island and the quirks of its subculture, in order to contextualize his stunning rise and his stage design and presence did just that. The evening started with a narrating explaining the experience that the crowd was going to set on with none other than Asake himself. The show opened in spectacular fashion as Asake ascended from beneath the depths of Madison Square Garden. The performance had everything from pyrotechnics to choreographed dances and visual effects.
His set Friday night at New York’s Mecca, Madison Square Garden — his debut MSG performance— saw him backed by a full band, street dancers, DJ and MC, including horns, to bring his jazz-influenced sound into a live setting. Clad in between two outfits show off his unique wardrobe style, he performed cuts from the entire album such as “Active” featuring Travis Scott, “Wave” featuring Central Cee, “Skating” which saw an elaborate display of skating and BMX biking tricks and more from the album.
In addition to performing songs from his new album on the Lungu Boy tour, Asake also performs tracks from his 2022 studio debut, Mr. Money With The Vibe(“Terminator,” “Peace Be Unto You,” “Muse,” “Joha,” “Sungba”), and its 2023 follow-up Work Of Art (“Amapiano,” “Basquiat,” “Lonely At The Top,” “Remember” and “2:30”).
In the end, it was hard for the crowd to fathom the electric show ending and even harder for Asake himself.
In true Asake fashion, he left the New York crowd with a night that they will never forget, the Lungu Boy from Lagos Island.
Since the summer of 2008, legendary hip-hop group and Philadelphia’s hometown legend The Roots have put on the Roots Picnic, a music festival created and curated by the band that has evolved into one of the city’s most anticipated cultural experiences of the year.
The 2024 Roots Picnic opened its doors on Saturday, June 1, to the masses who filled the grounds of Fairmount Park in the City of Brotherly Love. Several brand activations had treats for guests, including French liqueur brand Grand Marnier, Charmin’, Chase Sapphire and more. Beyond the music, the festival has become a platform for social commentary and community engagement. This year, Roots Picnic Con featured panelists discussing music education, real estate and beauty careers, as well as a keynote conversation with renowned Roots drummer Questlove.
Jill Scott, Nas, Sexyy Red and more set the bar high on the first day of the 2024 Roots Picnic. Early acts such as BLK ODYSSY, Chioke, and more graced the festival stages before the crowds were treated to an afternoon of electrifying performances. Acclaimed DJ J.PERIOD brought his beloved THE LIVE MIXTAPE series to The Roots Picnic with Black Thought, Method Man, Redman, Common, Freeway, Ferg, and more.
Following that performance, The-Dream hit his trademark vocals and succulent R&B aura. The-Dream wasted no time letting people know he is a true R&B hitmaker with smooth renditions of “Fancy,” “Falsetto,” “Purple Kisses,” and more. Fans were enamored with the quick trip down memory lane and were left wanting more.
Nas then took over the main stage to perform his legendary catalog, even bringing out Ghostface Killah as a special surprise guest. He ripped through some of his classic hits such as “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The Message,” “Spicy,” “Get Down.”
The biggest part of Day 1 was the arrival of Sexyy Red with her dancers and secret service team. The St. Louis native brought her brand of rowdy and raunchy hip-hop to The Roots Picnic and turned it upside down, with fans screaming and twerking the night away.
Jill Scott closed out Day 1 with her headlining set, which featured a floral stage design. For her set, Scott performed “Hate on Me,” “Whatever,” “The Way,” “You Got Me” with Black Thought, a new track titled “Norf Philly” alongside Tierra Wack, and more.
The artists performing on Day 2 kept the momentum going from the previous day. On the bill were acts such as Robert Glasper, Shaboozey, Wale, BabyFace, Cam’Ron, André 3000, Gunna, Lil Wayne, and the hometown heroes, The Roots.
Rising country music star Shaboozey had the early afternoon crowd rocking at the Fairmount Stage with tracks off his newly released album, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, blasting through the speakers.
Babyface, the legendary singer/songwriter let the crowd know why he’s been at the top of his game for over five decades. In addition to his own records, such as “Everytime I Close My Eyes” and “For the Cool in You,” Face dipped into his immense bag and performed incredible renditions of tracks he’s written over the years for artists such as Bobby Brown, After 7, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, TLC, Toni Braxton and more.
Following up after Babyface , but Gunna picked up the mantle and deliver his swagger injected brand of hip-hop. The Atlanta native took the stage and wasted no time getting into his set with electrifying renditions of “back at it,” “whatsapp (wassam),” “P power,” and “fukumean.” Unfortunately, fans were vibing for a limited time as Wunna’s set was cut short for undisclosed reasons.
With all the amazing performances spread out across two days, The Roots had to send the massive crowd home truly entertained with their headlining set. The hometown natives used their closing set to honor New Orleans, Louisiana, and its rich music history by having the city’s most talented artists, such as Trombone Shorty, Lloyd, and PJ Morton, join them onstage.
While fans were enjoying the New Orleans sounds, it was obvious they were anticipating the arrival of the man of the hour, Lil Wayne. Tunechi glided effortlessly through his set with fans screaming at the top of their lungs to hits like “Mr. Carter,” “John,” “I’m Goin In,” and more. It was a marvelous ending to a rather eventful weekend in the city of Brotherly Love. The Roots Picnic 2024 surely did it again.
Under the cover of night on April 12, performing a total of 37 songs, not including the orchestra that introduced him at the top of the night before morphing musically into “Nadie Sabe,” Bad Bunny showed fans at the Barclays Center in attendance for his ‘Most Wanted’ Tour that he isn’t going anywhere.
From opening the show with a full-string orchestra who performed for about 15 minutes of stage time the dynamic backup dancers, Bad Bunny really put on one western and trap inspired show. At one, he exited the stage only to re-enter again on horseback. And yes, it was a real horse.
The first act consisted of songs mostly from his latest LP ‘Nadie sabe lo sue va a passer manana.’ Bad Bunny changed it up by going back to his trap roots with “Tu No Metes Cabra,” which was released in 2017, followed by “Pa Ti” and “No Te Hagas.” He made sure to greet just about every section of the Barclays Center and accomplished that with a floating catwalk in the center of the arena that slowly spun around the venue. In the final act, Bad Bunny transported fans to the songs that have taken the world by storm, such as his 2023 single with Grupo Frontera, “Un x100to” as well as megahits from 2020’s YHLQMDLG (“Safaera” and “Yo Perreo Sola”) and 2022’s Un Verano Sin Ti (“Efecto” and “Me Porto Bonito”).
While some fans may have been disappointed to not hear their favourite song, the show ended on a strong note with “Efecto” and “Me Porto Bonito” — both songs whipped fans into a frenzy that felt worth the wait. Bunny closed the show with “WHERE SHE GOES” — and confetti.
And the crowd left with the sense they had just seen a true international superstar.
Bad Bunny Setlist: NADIE SABE, MONACO, FINA, HIBIKI, MR. OCTOBER, MERCEDES CAROTA, CYBERTRUCK, VOU 787, SEDA, BATICANO, Pa Ti, No Te Hagas, Vuelve, Me Mata, Soy peor, Tú no vive así, Chambea, Diles, 25/8, VUELVE CANDY B, THUNDER Y LIGHTNING, GRACIAS POR NADA, UNX100TO, BABY NUEVA, PERRO NEGRO, Safaera, Yo perreo sola, La Santa, La Jumpa, DÁKITI, Efecto, Me Porto Bonito, UN PREVIEW, NO ME QUIERO CASAR, and WHERE SHE GOES.
Talk about saving the best for last, On April 9, that was the case for Dreamville’s Bas as he stopped at the famed Irving Plaza in New York City for the last stop on his ‘WE ONLY TALK ABOUT REAL SHIT WHEN WE’RE F*CKED UP’ North American Tour.
The show featured three openers: Blxckie, Reuben Vincent, and Hoosh. Each opener each played for around 20 minutes, giving a taste of their style and sound. This shorter set times and the overall quality of the openers worked really well for getting the crowd ready for Bas to take the stage. It was obvious that Bas picked musicians he respects and enjoys listening to to open for him, something emphasized by a story he told about first hearing Blxckie’s music while in South Africa during his set.
Bas graced the stage under a red glowed ambience and sintilating sounds of his live band. Bas was particularly good at interacting with and engaging the crowd. The show kept a great energy with the crowd getting into songs from We Only Talk About Real Shit When We’re Fucked Up and Bas’ back catalog. Bas brought backing vocalists who really filled out his live sound and added a sense of harmony to the performance. These vocals were such a nice touch that really show his attention to detail in putting together a performance.
The show ended with Bas inviting a fan up to rap J. Cole’s verse on his song “Lit.” Clearly energized, the fan selected from the crowd excitedly performed with Bas. Longtime collaborator and Dreamville leader J.Cole popped onto the stage to the surprise of the fan and the crowd. Cole went on to finish the song with the fan and perform “H.Y.B.” with Bas and his classic smash hit ‘No Role Modelz’ rounding out a great night of music and vibes.
Setlist: Light of my Soul, Home Alone, 179 Deli, Black Jedi, Choppas, Yao Ming, Diamonds, Methylone, Dopamine, Ricochet, Clouds Never Get Old, Night Job, Khartoum, Risk, Decent, U-Turn ft. Blackie, Passport Bros, Boca Raton, The Jackie, Paper Cuts, Dr. O’blivion, Wait on Me, H.Y.B., Costa Rica, Down Bad, Tribe and Lit.
On Thursday, April 4, with a spectacular fusion of raw energy, lyrical prowess, and dynamic emotion, Kevin Gates took the stage of Irving Plaza for his “The Ceremony Tour,” leaving the New York City audience amazed. The tour stop was filled with heartfelt yet raw emotion, furthermore solidifying Gates and his status as a rap heavyweight, as he commanded the stage with the same unapologetic attitude that has defined his career.
After a series of DJ playlists to warm up the crowd, the opener of the night was DJ Chose, who has collaborated with Kevin Gates on some of his greatest hits and has a few of his own. DJ Chose lauded his accolades and made sure the crowd had the right energy before Kevin’s arrival. After DJ Chose, Kevin Gates’s DJ executed a final round of musical wind up with some industry favorites ensuring the crowd was ready for Kevin Gates to take the stage.
After an astounding ovation upon taking the stage, Kevin Gates opened with “Speed Dial” to which the crowd recited word for word. Kevin went on to perform songs “In God I Trust,” “Free At Last,” “Arm and Hammer” and more. A southern classic that got everyone up off their feet was when Kevin Gates performed “TWMD” which went viral during New Orleans Mardi Gras last year. As the song came on, the entire arena erupted into a frenzy as his fans belted the lyrics, completely losing themselves in the song.
Notably, Gates’ crowd control and poise was evident, as he purposefully took moments to talk with his supporters over the mic. Moving at a brisk but necessary pace, he took a minute to evangelize his fans. Speaking about his time incarcerated and having to miss his daughter’s birthday, Gates focused on having the work ethic and drive to make his situation right, as he encouraged his fans to keep their head held high even in the darkest of times. Bringing the show to a close with popular tracks such as “Me Too,” “2 Phones,” and “Breakfast”, Kevin went out with a bang amongst a flurry of smoke from CO2 cannons, as he mysteriously disappeared behind the set. Tickets for the rest of the “The Ceremony” tour are available here.
Kevin Gates Setlist: Speed Dial, Facts, Push It, Yonce Freestyle, Arm and Hammer, TWMD, Wassup With It, In God I Trust, Scars, Imagine That, Free At Last, It Won’t Happen, Healing, Birds Calling, Power, Great Man, Fatal Attraction, Breakfast, Luv Bug, Posed To Be In Love, Heal You, Lil Yea, Me Too, One Thing, All Thee Above, Bad For Me, Time for That, 2 Phones, and Broken Men.
Over the Easter Weekend, Sleepy Hallow’s Boy Meets World Tour arrived in New York City. Prior to Sleepy coming on stage and bringing down the Palladium, fellow New York artists such as Rah Swish, Rowdy Rebel and others graced the stage for the warmup.
After a roaring ovation upon taking the stage, Sleepy performed some of his more introspective tracks including “Anxiety,” featuring Doechii, where he’s opened up about his mental health, the hardship he has faced in the past year crafting and releasing his latest album, Boy Meets World. The crowd joined in singing word for word while Sleepy Hallow performed other hits such as “Die Young,” featuring 347AIDAN, “Pain Talk” featuring Lil TJAY, and more.
During the show, Sleepy Hallow invited label mate Eli Fross to perform alongside him.
Sleepy Hallow decided to surprise the New York crowd by inviting some of their own on stage. He brought out Bronx artists: Cash Cobain and Bay Swag who bought the Slizzy Experience to the Palldium in performing viral hit “Fisherrr.”
Sleepy Hallow ended the night with some of his classic hits, “2055,” “Deep End Freestyle,” “Basketball Dreams,” and “1999.” Tickets for the rest of the Boy Meets World Tour are available here.
