First up, I wasn’t gonna say anything but I couldn’t stand this tonight: all you homeboys out there gotta stop wearing Raiders gear unless you root for the team. Wear your fucking Chicago Bulls and Mighty Ducks snapbacks, but stay away from the Raiders. I watch them play every Monday at 5am, I haven’t missed a game in eight years, I love them, but because you hipster malakas love the pirate logo so much you wear all this Raiders gear which makes me also look like a hipster malaka. I’m sick of it. You haven’t watched us lose every week and miss the playoffs 11 years running to deserve to wear that proud badge.
Alright, sorry ‘bout dat, here’s your review fucken. Defying his name, A$AP Rocky started much later than his scheduled time but holy shit what an entrance. A raw, ebullient tone was set right when A$AP tore through favourites such as Angels and Purple Swag. Supported by the A$AP Mob, Rocky utilised the entire wide Festival Hall stage, bouncing east and west within seconds.
It was a lot fun, which was unfortunately interrupted by his high-as-fuck banter. Firstly, he spoke about how he loves Australia and how he can’t wait to “return here”, despite actually being here. Following Roll One Up, A$AP meretriciously ranted hippy nonsense about how we are the future generation and how the world needs love, and to share love by kissing total strangers near you in the crowd. Sounds nice, but it got a bit awkward. One thing that needs to stop at hip hop gigs is the cliché motivational preaching from rappers. Both A$AP and Wiz separately tried to rouse us by informing us that we can be whatever we want to be. ‘I was gonna become a doctor until this rapper with a dollar sign in his name told me to love myself.’
While Coke And White Bitches and Fuckin’ Problem were standouts of A$AP’s set, by far the highlight was Wild For The Night, where he implored the crowd to crowdsurf, mosh and everything else security was hired to stop. I could just hear the security guards’ hearts break just like Ralph Wiggum after being dumped by Lisa. It was a riot. I’ve rarely felt that sort of energy in a room before, particularly somewhere as large as Festival Hall. The song acted as a challenge to Wiz to match the ridiculous, sweaty energy and pace of A$AP’s set – one he gladly accepted.
“I got so much money I should start a bank,” began Wiz Khalifa during Work Hard, Play Hard. The lanky rap icon, sporting a Shaquille O’Neal Orlando jersey, came out to a raucous reception. After a wild beginning, he would eventually counter A$AP’s incessant style by singing coolly into the mic rather than jumping around everywhere during singalongs such as The Thrill, 23, and Young Wild & Free. Then, just as the dynamism started to get boring, Wiz took his shirt off, ripped into “BOOTY SHAKIN’ CONTEST, BOOTY SHAKIN’ CONTEST” from Miley and the epic last third of his set began.
Following a call and response from Taylor Gang, Wiz told the crowd about a song he loves from Australia, and began singing ‘tits out for the boys’ – a request that was granted and appreciated. “I wish you could see what I see,” he joked. There was certainly a difference in the professionalism of the performances between A$AP and Wiz. For example, Wiz’s band were actually playing their instruments. The drummer was outstanding and performed several excellent solos. Same with the bassist. I felt like Wiz’s show could easily translate as a festival headliner or arena tour, but A$AP’s lacked that veteran polish.
Closing with a brilliant belting of Black & Yellow, Wiz then bizarrely led the audience into a chant for “one more song”, seemingly forcing his own encore with Roll Up, concluding one of the best nights of hip hop I’ve seen. Probably the highlight of the entire evening, though, was my friend who wouldn’t shut up in the lead up to the gig about how much she loved Wiz Khalifa until five minutes in when she turned to me, embarrassed, and said, “I just realised something. I got mixed up between Wiz Khalifa and Lil Wayne.”
BY NICK TARAS
Loved: Both artists didn’t make this feel like another gig; clearly a lotta love.
Hated: Idiots wearing Raiders hats.
Drank: Head shot (drank), sit down (drank), stand up (drank).
