A$AP Rocky brought his grimey, dirty beats and slick, deceptively simple rhymes to a sweaty, sold out crowd at Eatons Hill Hotel (18 February).
To sell out a venue means you can be certain that the artist or band has dedicated and devoted fans. Fans that will travel to the outer stretches of suburbia, wait patiently if the set kicks off late or if there is no room to move and the air is thick with sweat.
These are the types of fans that A$AP Rocky clearly has, as those were all aspects of the evening that needed to be navigated by ticket holders.
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A$AP was supported by the ever-adorable Raury who was energetic, enthusiastic and spent his entire set bouncing around on stage before being piggybacked off. The crowd was up on their feet, shaking and swaying, heads nodding and toes tapping, but as soon as he finished, it was clear who the main attraction was.
Raury - Image © Jacob Pederson
The crowd began chanting his name, “A$AP A$AP”, and the anticipation grew as the start time stretched out from five minutes to twenty. By the time he came on, the energy was slightly manic and the crowd was straining to see him. Everywhere you looked, 20-somethings were holding up their phones, snapchatting and videoing every moment as it happened.
The air was thick with a smoky haze that smelled sweet. People were jumping up and down to the heavy beats and A$AP was strutting about the stage like he was born there.
A$AP Rocky - Image © Jacob Pederson
There were flashing strobe lights and bad selfies happening every minute or two and the crowd seemed to move as one; every second person was reciting entire verses as fast as A$AP spat them out, hands were thrust in the air grasping phones trying to capture every minute and each time a song started, people roared with satisfaction.
Flanked by two DJs standing with their decks, securely enveloped in enormous white alcoves, A$AP was joined by two other rappers and together they rhymed and sang, flipping between performing and conversations with the crowd.
A$AP Rocky - Image © Jacob Pederson
At one point, A$AP paused to muse about fame and stardom, and thanked all his fans for their loyal support. He then moved in a more motivational direction, encouraging everyone to go after their dreams which allowed a much-needed chill out time (as by this stage, the crowd was dripping with sweat and in danger of over heating).
From start to finish, A$AP looked like a star. He rapped with ease and wandered around the stage with swagger. His rhymes have become synonymous with youthful partying and this is easily apparent by the sheer number of people that knew every. Single. Lyric.
A$AP Rocky - Image © Jacob Pederson
But as A$AP pointed out: “everyone is a star, fame don’t mean anything”. And that in essence, is wherein lies his appeal. That and his ability to make you believe that one day you and him might even become buddies.
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