The high-energy, youthful landscape of 2024’s underground hip-hop scene truly feels like a special moment in time. As the pandemic era of 2020 came & went, many young, emerging artists took it upon themselves to craft new sounds and vibes within the rap realm. A whole generation quickly adopted this movement and made it arguably the most exciting thing happening in music as an art form, especially regarding live performances.
One of the most notable individuals at the forefront of this is none other than Atlanta rapper Bktherula. Fresh off the release of her new project LVL5 P2 earlier this year, the simultaneously heavy-hitting & ethereal sound she’s perfected has had fans worldwide eager to experience it live. Her highly-anticipated “I Just Wanna Be Me Tour” took to NYC’s Irving Plaza on July 16th & that excitement couldn’t be more evident. A beautifully diverse crowd packed the block around the venue, forming a massive line that served as a perfect representation of Bk’s undeniable rising star status. Excitement was high & the vibes were undeniable.
Bubbling underground sensations Yhapojj & Skaiwater served as the show’s openers, quickly sending the packed house into a frenzy without hesitation. Instant highlights included Yhapojj surprising the crowd with DMV icon Yung Manny & a performance of “rain” from Skaiwater that led to ample mosh pits as the crowd simultaneously hit every note. Just as it seemed that the energy had reached its max capacity for the evening, DJ Brandonnogood took to the stage to crank it up to 11 & get the rambunctious audience fully prepared for Bk’s arrival. Underground mosh pit anthems rang throughout the venue (quite literally), leading the venue floor to shake underneath. For one final surprise, NYC’s own underground star Fourfive made an appearance, amping the crowd up with his hard-hitting tracks “yes” and “MBGB2.” As more mosh pits opened & quickly closed, it became incredibly evident that this would be a night to remember as every act solidified themselves as key components of the underground rap scene.
We were now mere minutes from Bk taking the stage and the audience, high off over an hour of unparalleled energy, was buzzing in anticipation. Shortly after the clock struck 9:30, Bk made her grand entrance to the rapid-paced, distorted beat of her track “CODE”. Commanding the stage with ease, her energy was infectious as the sold-out audience jumped in sync, echoing every word to the point they were practically louder than the speakers. Raw, punk-rock-esque energy was radiating throughout the packed venue as finding just a single person standing still proved to be a tough feat.
Anyone attending a Bk show certainly knows it’ll be energetic, but within minutes all expectations were undoubtedly exceeded. Backed by fittingly nostalgic stage visuals based on the late-2000s “rage comic” memes, the hour-long set served as a token of appreciation for a genre being both curated & led by a new generation. Bk certainly echoed this sentiment, taking some time in the middle of her performance to let NYC’s own Wolfacejoeyy grace the stage for a performance of his breakout hit, “cake”.
With so many integral underground figures having taken the stage throughout the evening, it was clear that Bk wanted this night to make a lasting impression. That was a success without question. With hit after hit being played in rapid succession, her devout fanbase could be heard going bar for bar, verse after verse. By the end, following a performance of “ILOVEUBACK<3” with cell phone lights illuminating the room, the love was definitely mutual.
Check out Bk's website for all of her socials + future tour dates & click below to stream her newest project, "LVL5 P2"!
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