Photos by John Krug (@krug.visuals)
On September 8th, amidst the bustle and hype of New York Fashion Week, Manhattan’s iconic Bowery Ballroom became host to a truly special genre-blending, hip-hop showcase. Fresh off the spring release of their newest project, 1-800 FANTASY, BLK ODYSSY was in town presenting the much anticipated “Fantasy House” tour. The lineup was equal parts musically consistent & diverse, featuring two astonishing openers: Benji of EarthGang’s “Spillage Village” collective in addition to the evening’s undoubtedly standout, rapper/singer/producer, Asha Imuno. Both presented refreshing & masterful brands of hip-hop, each shining with their own signature twists.
Benji kicked off the evening with a bang, immersing the audience in his world of soulful, introspective raps with some heavy-hitting anthems & even guitar playing mixed in. BLK ODYSSY ended on a similar note but on a grander scale, with the full band firing on all cylinders elevating many tracks to borderline, stadium rock status. The dynamic between the two acts was undeniable and goes to show the master curation that went into making this tour come to life. However, what came between the two was a true statement performance from California native, Asha Imuno.
Emerging onto the stage and immediately dropping some live beats on a MIDI controller, it became clear that everyone in attendance was in for something special. Right after flexing his producer prowess, Asha let his infectious energy & artistic confidence fill the entire room. The packed house jumped, vibed & chanted in unison to his bouncy beats & spectacular vocals. Asha is more than just an artist strapped down to one vibe or gimmick: he’s a true triple-threat talent who combines practically every element that makes hip-hop so special as a genre. From boundlessly innovative production to raw bars & angelic vocals, he truly does it all. Shades of modern genre heavy-hitters such as Smino & Jordan Ward (who have also given him a cosign!) can be heard, yet his sound simultaneously is so uniquely him and refuses to be put in a box. This was made incredibly evident throughout his entire set, and really shined during a roaring performance of “DO u WANNA BE HIGH?” which drew in much crowd participation. By the time he stepped off stage, everyone in the room, even those unfamiliar, knew one thing: Asha Imuno is about to be a superstar.
The Fantasy House Tour is an evening that any hip-hop lover or even music fan, in general, should not miss out on. You can view upcoming dates HERE and secure yourself tickets to witness some of the genre’s next biggest stars!
In addition, be sure to stream Asha Imuno’s ethereal new single “eXCiTING :)” as well as his recent project PINS & NEEDLES.
Also stream opener Benji’s newest project Love Gun 2 & headliner BLK ODYSSY’s fresh genre-blending masterwork 1-800 FANTASY!
