BEST NIGHT OF OUR LIVES AKA THE YEEZUS TOUR BARCLAYS REVIEW

Showing off the dope Yeezus gear my dad bought me
 while waiting for Kanye

       “I AM NOT HERE RIGHT NOW I AM NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. I AM NOT HOME. LEAVE A MESSAGE AFTER THIS LIFE. AFTER IM GONE.” The best and most memorable night of most of our lives started with this message from Kanye as the lights dimmed and a God like voice echoed throughout the packed Barclays Center. Then like a thief in the night Kanye erupts out of nowhere onto the triangular shaped stage. “YEEZY SEASON APPROACHING F*CK WHATEVER YALL BEEN HEARING” The highly controversial opening track on Yeezus co produced by Daft Punk opens the Yeezus tour show. Right off the bat the very raw and erratic On Sight track gets Brooklyn pumped up as everyone happily dances off beat you feel a sense of assurance and joy wipe through the crowd. After Yeezy proceeded to “Get this b*tch shaking like Parkinson’s” reality hits you like WOW; the moment is finally here.  Our Hero/Idol Kanye West is right in front of you wearing a full face Martin Margiela mask and a as my dad called it, "a Planet of The Apes" type outfit...I knew I was in for the night of my life. “MY MOMMA WAS RAISED IN THE ERA WHEN CLEAN WATER WAS ONLY SERVED TO THE FAIRER SKIN.” New slaves snaps you out of your sense of amazement and brings you back to reality, the crowd raps word for word with Yeezus about the struggles and reality of being a “New slave” in society. On a side note; I'll take those Maybach keys lol. Just kidding. 

Kanye elevating above the crowd
seeming Immortal at the moment

It would be nearly impossible to keep everyone’s attention and wake up for school tomorrow reviewing every single track (29) that Kanye did last night. But the first half of the show were fairly new songs from Ye performing hit tracks on MBDTF, Cruel Summer, and Yeezus. It’s amazing walking through the arena and fellowshipping with other "Stans" of Kanye while waiting for the show to start and discussing your favorite tracks and Kanye moments with people you’ve never met before but feeling 100% comfortable. Next to me were two dope ass older kids who I had a lot in common with although I just met them halfway through the concert it was like we were all there together. Jumping up and down to "Power" and "Don’t Like", then complimenting each other on our Kanye inspired outfits (we were definitely the flyest in our section rocking Pyrex, Don C, and even a pair of Yeezy 2s). On the other hand just one row ahead of us were a bunch of lawyers who put their briefcases down and loosened their ties and got just as pumped as me and my new friends.  Then there were the 2 drunk white girls 1 row in front of us, and the really drunk one only got up during "Blood on The Leaves" lol (what she know about blood on the leaves?) Two things I must point out about Kanye is that he has the most diverse group of fans out of any rapper and maybe even any musician of all time. Well I wouldn’t even consider Kanye West a rapper now but yeah the diversity is ridiculous at his events. And the 2nd is his stamina. No "hype man" to help him out when he might lose his breath and he amazingly got stronger as the show went on. Even when he did songs like "Don't Like", "Mercy" and "Clique" I just new Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz would come out. Nah' son, this ain't the "Kanye West and Friends" tour. This is Yeezus Season! 

Back to the concert after performing "Cant Tell Me Nothing", Yeezus took somewhat of an emotional turn as he finally stopped to talk to the crowd and have a heart to heart moment with Brooklyn. As Kanye lay on top of the triangular stage he stated, "Then I went to London, and someone told me something. Someone told me that my mom had died. So a lot of people don't know this but I wrote this song for her." A somber mood automatically swept the crowd as Kanye sang "Coldest Winter" as snow fell over the lower level of the crowd. It was amazing. Everyone sang along thinking about a memory that was made in a cold winter for all of us. As for myself, being a Kanye fan from the very beginning, I've always felt a connection to him unlike any other artist. It's like I can feel the pain and agony that he pours into songs like "Say You Will", "Welcome To Heartbreak" and the aforementioned "Coldest Winter". And now that I know it was written for his mother it has a whole new special meaning for me.  Now lets fast forward to later on in the show as Kanye performed "Blood on the Leaves". Midway through the intro Kanye asked the DJ to stop playing stating “New York don’t wanna hear no Blood on the Leaves, New York don’t wanna hear no Blood on the Leaves!?!?” The very much alive crowd really wanted to hear "Blood on the Leaves" cause thousands of Yeezy Stans throughout Brooklyn began chanting BLOOD ON THE LEAVES BLOOD ON THE LEAVES!!!  Kanye said “Now I know” and everyone laughed along with him as the red lights again went throughout the arena and Kanye proceeded to perform "Blood on the Leaves".

         
            After "Runaway" Kanye went into one of his famous rants (which I couldn't wait for) on every day issues and anything else on his mind that night which was nothing short of amazing. Kanye actually said he had some “classic sh*t” but a guy backstage cut him off while he was getting to the heart of his rant, nonetheless it was still great and controversial. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one that’s not crazy, am I the only one that hasn’t been beaten to submission, am I the only one who mind hasn’t been conditioned to always ask permission… Cause what they scared of us is more people acting crazy and sh*t, they scared of yall chasing yall dreams too cause they wanna control you, they want you to do everything they told you, and do everything your told to, but that’s old school, and that’s old news.” Ye also thanked all the parents for taking their kids to his concert because a decade or two from now we'll  be doing the same things Ye is doing and even exceeding his work. After Yeezy said that I turned around to thank my Dad once again for bringing me to Kanye's concert and for the lifetime experience (thanks again Dad). Kanye gets the crowd pumped with his motivational and self-empowerment speeches and when listening he really makes you feel like you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Throughout Kanye’s rant there are many funny moments as he mocked a worker backstage, talked about Oprah telling him that, "they scared of you Kanye" and Rick Rubin telling him to just go to the MTV awards, perform and leave. He went into a rant about how Bruno Mars won all the awards at the MTV awards and his voice gets louder and louder and he speaks with more passion as the rant goes on. It’s obvious that Kanye and the crowd feeds off each others energy as we get louder along with him and he does the same with us. Kanye spoke on the usual like trying to break into the fashion world and inspire everyone else telling stories of him and Virgil not being accepted and taken serious by the heads of the fashion world because Kanye is “just a rapper”. Kanye also broke the news last night during his rant at the Barclays that he is now signed to Adidas, which got a huge reaction from the crowd (I can't wait to see the new product). Overall the rant was amazing and kept the fans excited and into it for the whole ten minutes.

         
            The last part of the show was probably my favorite where I think he got the best reaction from the crowd. Kanye performed "Stronger", "Through the Wire", "Jesus Walks", "Diamonds from Sierra Leone", "Flashing Lights", "All of the Lights", "Good Life", and then closed with "Bound 2". Bound 2 was a bittersweet ending as the crowd came to a realization that the concert and best night of our lives were over. I even spotted a few people crying throughout the crowd (men and women).

Kanye dancing along with
his dancers for the show
in harmony

         

FALLING

             In conclusion Yeezus was not only the best show I’ve ever been to but also one of the best nights of my life. Yeezus wasn’t just a concert it was like a show everything had a purpose it was very theatrical. It’s like Kanye had this vision he knows his responsibility and the standards he’s held to and he didn’t disappoint at all. From the pyramid of Mount Yeezus in the background to the naked ballerinas, along with the wild life demon like creature dancing on and off the stage throughout the show there were many times throughout the concert you felt like you were at the best Broadway show of your life. Words appeared on the screen throughout the show as we were read the definitions by an omniscient voice through the arena. I mean Kanye even had “White Jesus” come out during the show blessing him and that was the first time he took off his full faced bejeweled Martin Margiela mask (I wonder if my dad will get me one for Christmas). The diversity throughout the audience just showed you the importance of Kanye as a pop mogul and cultural icon in this world. Just like Kanye said “You gon see lawyers and n*ggas in Jordans”. Overall Yeezus tour may go down as the best tour of all time. All of his fans loved it and you were entertained from the first song to the very last. The atmosphere in Brooklyn last night was very much like the coolest church service you could ever go to and I think that’s just what Yeezus was aiming for. Overall the Yeezus show was incredible. 10/10. Perfecto. Amazing. It was beautiful.

Pusha T Album Release Concert Recap

"Headliner"

Last night Pusha T single handedly shut down NYC. This was a very special and memorable night for Pusha T and everyone in attendance. See this was somewhat Pusha T's declaration that he is officially here with the release of his first solo album My Name is My Name. "This is my time.. this is my hour". But don't get it wrongPush has been in the game for decades now. He is 1/2 of the Clipse a group he formed with his brother Malice aka No Malice in 1992. #Grinding

The energy and atmosphere was out of this world leading up to Pusha's performance. As fans waited in line to get into the venue (Gramercy Theater) groups of men walked around in "My Name is My Name" jumpsuits handing out album posters and cocaine spoon keychains. Yea I'm not lying Push is very passionate about the drug life and I guess his marketing team thinks we should be too lol.

 As you walked into the venue you were greeted by Cipha Sounds on the 1s and 2s DJ'ing and Rosenberg getting everyone pumped. After about an hour wait of just listening to music the anticipation was finally over; Push came out to his throne.

 Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds gave an legendary intro for Push really indicating that it was really his night. "If you want a ni*** that sticks to his motherf****** lane and talks about that real s*** you ready for this man right here". Pusha T came out to "King Push" setting the mood for the rest of the night. "THIS IS MY TIME/THIS IS MY HOUR/THIS IS MY PAIN/THIS MY NAME/THIS IS MY POWER". Right off the bat you can tell Push is feeling himself. Let me just say this right now I've been to plenty of concerts in these last few years and Pusha T's stage presence is second to none. You ever watch Push in his music videos or freestyles and see those movements he makes like his own little dance, this man does the same thing on the stage. Literally FOR EVERY WORD or saying Push had a hand gesture or expression to match it. What makes it even more impressive is that half of the songs he performed were new and this was most likely his first time performing all of them.
     
On another more personal note I gotta point out the fact that me and Push were going bar for bar most of the night. Im 6'0 feet tall and was standing in the dead middle of the venue every time Push looked in my direction I knew every song word for word and he'd look straight at me and we'd rap those lines in one accord even trading gestures. Now a couple of my boys agreed and said he was looking directly at me while one of my bros said "Na he wasn't looking at you, you bugging". If he really wasn't looking at me I have to tip my hat to Push because his stage presence is ridiculous. If he has his fans thinking its just them and himself trading bars the whole night, that's a phenomenal performer. I personally think Push was rapping at me so if you reading this Push I had on a white Pyrex tee and a snapback to the back let me know!....

     
        Back into the actual performance it was a perfect blend of Push's old songs, "Wrath of Caine" tracks, new joints on the album and his unforgettable features on GOOD Music records. Throughout the night Push kept that packed venue of fans vibing to his classic and timeless lines we've grown to love him for. "Success is what you make it take it how it comes a half a mill in twenties likes a billion where I'm from... an arrogant drug dealer the legend I become CNN said I be dead by twenty one" (So Appalled verse). At one point in the show Push stopped and said "he felt like he was getting too commercial up here" he then asked the crowd how many real Pusha T fans we had in here then proceeded into some Fear of God tracks for the OG Pusha fans (like myself). The most memorable song of the night to me was when Push performed "Exodus 23" with his heart and soul! You talk about some dope real raw hip hop it gets no better. The lights went off and you hear the sirens going off through the venue with Push yelling "BEEF IS BEST SERVED LIKE STEAK". The previous complications and history of the song made it just that more legendary as everyone remembers his brief stint of beef with YMCMB. I think the best part about Push and what fans love the most is his passion and realness. You just get the sense that Push is dead serious about everything that he's rapping and you especially felt that with "Exodus 23". "Them ni*** aint dying for you"

      Throughout the night Push brought it track after track and shut the city down by himself, he only had one guest performer his Re Up artist Ab Live. Push did it all last night, performing more than half the tracks off of "MNIMN" he kept all in attendance entertained. At the end of the concert after Push said goodbye to the NY crowd he actually left the stage and then came back on to perform "40 Acres", somewhat of an encore. This can be looked at figuratively that Push is just here to stay and he ain't done yet. "Im here now watch how many ni*** plans change PUSH"!

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