Written By: Nekia Fondren
Photographer: Jesica 'Jes' Pichardo
One word. Four letters. IGOR.
If you didn’t know, Tyler, the Creator is on tour. Following the success of his fifth album IGOR, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the rapper grabbed a platinum bowl cut wig, iconic square shades, and an array of power suits, and started on his 32-date tour.
IGOR, Tyler’s fifth album, was revealed as a high concept break-up album. The leader of OFWGKTA (or Odd Future), was once seen as one of the most controversial rappers of the last few decades. This persona takes a back seat to alter-ego, Igor. “Don’t go into this expecting a rap album,” Tyler wrote before the release. The album fuses an idealistic sound using strong bass lines, heavy synths, and pop, R&B, and jazz-funk elements – a strong departure form anything his fans have ever experienced from him before. The tour was no different.
Opening up with GoldLink, the crowd was still getting into formation when the American rapper went on. Going off the release of his new album Diaspora the crowd was able to vibe with him and he kept the command and attention of the crowd during his set performing songs such as U Say and At What Cost from his debut album.
Jaden Smith. The Man. The Smith. The Icon. (I’ll regret that later.) Opening his set with “P-I-N-K” from his album ERYS, sported inane visuals that made the Addition Arena feel like your living room. Not in halfway through his set when Batman was performed and the screen flashed to him in the iconic white suit, the three guys next to me got up to all buy merch before returning to their seats. It was unbelievable. The entirety of Jaden’s set was a movie. We were able to not only watch his performance but experience a complete visual as well often times collaborating with the visuals. Switching between both ERYS and SYRE, Jaden took the crowd through a journey of both high and low tempo set, controlling the crowd’s energy at a higher capacity than set before him.
Now, there are shows. There are finales. And there’s Icon by Jaden Smith. I have never been more fortunate in my life that someone couldn’t find their seat, but I was glad I was able to share that moment with you, wherever you are girl in section 104 row N. The largest take away from this tour were the fans. The IGOR tour brought a community out. Nearly all 10,000 of them decked in some sort of tour merch, some awaiting since 8:30 that morning. Finding a show that you like is easy. Finding a show that you experience is different. The show not only felt intimate in size but the character of it felt like you were at a festival.
After Jaden wrapped – center stage, platinum wig, mustard suit. Tyler’s performance was completely theatrical. I have never experienced a performance to that caliber. The entire audience on their feet and chanting “IGOR”. Opening with “IGOR’S THEME”, the crowd was completely enamored. Tyler, standing at the center absorbing the crowd’s energy, completely still.
The crowd got a taste of the same visual journey that was experienced during Jaden’s set as the blue curtain draped the stage setting the same backdrop as the “Earfquake” video. Tyler kept the energy high during his full set using songs such as “I Think” and “A Boy Is A Gun” to dance across the stage holding the attention of the audience throughout the performance.
Hitting back at some of his earlier hit’s such as “Yonkers” and “She”, all Tyler fans got a piece of representation on that stage. Even playing a joke on the audience by mumbling noises into the mic as the audience chanted back and responding “This is just a part of the set… You guys don’t have to do it back”.
The emotional hold and explosiveness during this show was incredible. If you haven’t already, get tickets to the show here and check out the remaining dates to the tour down below!
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