- Red Bull Music Academy’s United States of Bass - July 19, 2016
- Red Bull Sound Select: Adrian Younge, No ID, Joey Dosik - April 14, 2016
- LA Red Bull Sound Select: Stormzy, Lizzo, and Kauf - March 28, 2016
It was one of the best, and absolutely the most energetic rap concert I have ever been to.
Fifteen days into Red Bull Sound Select’s audacious month-long takeover of the Los Angeles music scene, Chance The Rapper rocked the legendary House of Blues on the Sunset Strip.
The opening act was Kamandi, an up and coming DJ/Producer from New Zealand. His hazy mix of dark downtempo beats and distorted synth effects transported the audience through multiple soundscapes. He played a unique mix of original tracks and remixes/mashups including a ghostly remix of Jagged Edge’s “Walked Outta Heaven.”
Kamandi eventually lead into some more animalistic drum and bass grooves playing against swinging triplets, landing on some more hardcore Hip-hop beats. He closed out his set with a slightly slower, funk-synth remix of “Return of The Mack.” For his first time venturing out in Los Angeles, Kamandi certainly made an impression.
With the exception of The Roots, and possibly Childish Gambino, there is not better combination of a live band and a rapper than Chance The Rapper and The Social Experiment. The band came out hitting hard on “Everybody’s Something,” from Acid Rap. Playing most of the songs from the acclaimed mixtape, the enthusiastic and dedicated crowd seemed to know every word. Chance made the crowd sing the hook to his breakout single “Juice,” twice before letting The Social Experiment drop the beat.
Keeping the audience engaged throughout his set, Chance repeatedly stated “This is your show. Your music.” He encouraged the audience to live in the moment and not spend all of their time taking photos or video, but to enjoy the event as it was happening.
Chance sang his unique, rubato take on “Believe In Yourself,” the Ziggy Marley penned theme song for the 90s cartoon Arthur. It may seem funny to cover a 90s cartoon theme song, but it was extremely effective and spread immense positivity throughout the crowd. Another very positive song was “Paradise,” which is off of their upcoming project entitled Surf. Upbeat, fun and catchy the hook professes, “I believe if I fly, I’ll end up somewhere in paradise.”
There was a special treat in store as Chance brought out fellow Midwest rapper Big Sean, who performed his newest single “ I Don’t Fuck With You.” Returning back to a more positive message, Chance played the popular “Cocoa Butter Kisses and sentimental “That’s Love” interlude from his mixtape, which included a great solo from The Social Experiment’s trumpet player.
The Social Experiment really spread out over the Chicago house/bounce groove of “Good Ass Outro,” showing off some of their musicality and how much fun they get to have on stage. His last show of the year, Chance obliged the audience with an encore, performing “Chainsmoker.”
The energy level of the sold out show was insane, both onstage and in the crowd. This very well may have been the peak of Red Bull Sound Select’s 30 Days in LA.
