Jul 316 min read

SHOW RECAP: Ski Mask The Slump God Kicks Off “11th Dimension” Tour in Brooklyn

Photography by John Krug (@krug.visuals)

As the lengthy block surrounding New York’s freshly renovated Brooklyn Paramount became lined with fans on the evening of July 25th, it was clear to everyone in the vicinity that something big was happening. Following months of anticipation and the release of his newest project, 11th Dimension, multiplatinum Florida rap icon Ski Mask The Slump God was about to kick off his first solo tour in over 5 years. However, he didn’t come alone. In fact, he assembled one of the most exciting hip-hop tour lineups in quite some time, bringing underground sensations Molly Santana & Hardrock along for the ride and longtime collaborators DJ Scheme & Danny Towers. For some fans, a lineup this sprawling could make such a show feel like a mini festival. This late July evening in Brooklyn undoubtedly felt that way. As someone so ingrained within the history of blockbuster festivals such as Rolling Loud, it’s only fitting that Ski would want to bring his smaller-scale version of that to venues throughout the country. The vibes were immediately infectious and it became incredibly evident that this tour was about to kick off in grand fashion. As doors opened, thousands of eager fans began to converge within the stunningly cavernous venue, absolutely buzzing with energy and excitement. Iconic hip-hop anthems rang throughout the house speakers with the bass turned up to 11 as the packed house began to prepare themselves for the over 3 hours of nonstop energy that were about to follow.

Fresh off an appearance at her pop-up shop at Manhattan’s Rogue the day prior, next-gen underground star Molly Santana kicked off the night to a thunderous reception. At only 19 years old, she commanded the stage with a veteran-like presence and solidified herself as one of the biggest rising names to watch. The crowd energy was off the charts and mosh pits filled the floor, all becoming undeniable during a rambunctious performance of her breakout hit, “Chain Swangin”. Being the opening slot for a tour of this caliber is no easy feat, especially on the opening date, yet Molly exceeded any expectations anyone may have had. The collective excitement within the sold-out house was undeniable and it’s all thanks to the showstopping energy she delivered right out of the gate. By the end of her 15-minute set, the audience was buzzing & more than ready for the next set of performers.

Ski’s longtime collaborators Danny Towers & DJ Scheme took to the stage next, immersing fans right into the heavy-hitting, thunderous Florida energy they so perfectly represent. Danny performed in collaboration with Scheme, running through some of his staple tracks with ease and sending the audience into a frenzy. His energy was raw, powerful & infectious, leaving a lasting impression on even the ones who may have been unfamiliar with his music. Fittingly, his signature distorted & bass-heavy sound was cranked all the way up, causing the entire venue to shake in unison with the already passionately wild crowd. Scheme took perfectly to that reaction, transitioning right into a thunderous DJ set of his own tightly packed with mosh pit anthems and trap classics. Highlights included many hits from the late XXXTentaction & Juice WRLD (both of whom would come into play in a big way later in the night) and the drop of Kendrick Lamar’s summer anthem “Not Like Us” which led to a boisterous singalong from the crowd. Scheme had effectively practiced the crowd work he’d perfected after years on some of the world’s largest festival stages, having everyone in attendance more than ready for the next act and main event.

The night’s final opener, underground sensation Hardrock took to the stage wonderfully to the glitchy beat of his recent hit “KING TUT”. His simultaneously hard-hitting and atmospheric sound proved to be the perfect precursor to Ski’s arrival, keeping the audience right at the absurdly high level they’d been moving at all night. Laying impromptu screams & adlibs over his already energetic tracks with ease, the Atlanta-based star served as yet another perfect representation of the underground’s undoubtedly unique artistry. Sprinting from side to side of the stage in unison with the endlessly recurring mosh pits, his typically otherworldly, ethereal vibe was cranked up to an even higher level that couldn’t be ignored. It was incredibly evident that he’s taken great pride in understanding how to work a crowd which makes him more than deserving of this pre-headliner spot. From harder tracks off his recent EP like “CLEAR THE STORE” to more spacy vibes like “bleh”, the versatility on display was admirable and never led to a drop in energy. By the end, just as anticipated, the rambunctious crowd was amped up & fully prepared for Ski’s grand arrival.

Right around 10 PM, the moment had finally arrived & Ski triumphantly stormed onstage to the thunderous, distorted bass of his landmark collab with XXXTentacion, “RIP Roach”. Smoke from CO2 cannons filled the air as vibrant blue lasers pierced through, filling the ceiling above the sold-out crowd. Within seconds the entire building was filled to the brim with energy reminiscent of what you’d find surrounding Rolling Loud’s main stage. One of rap’s notably most energetic performers had wonderfully taken the stage, making sure that every person in attendance felt the passion & excitement. Immediately transitioning into one of his biggest hits, “BabyWipe”, it became clear that the energy wasn’t letting up. It was only increasing with every new track. After playing for nearly 20 minutes with hardly any room to slow down, Ski announced to the crowd that he had some special guests in the building.

The audience erupted in excitement as young hometown drill wunderkinds 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter & TaTa) walked onstage to their smash-hit “Bent”. Being one of the biggest tracks in NYC for nearly a full year, this was Ski showing local love on the first stop of his tour in one of the best ways he could. The night instantly became a celebration of not only his role as a master collaborator but also New York City as a hip-hop mecca. As 41 left the stage it seemed that was all Ski had in store, but to the surprise of many, the party was just beginning. One of the city’s biggest underground stars, Fourfive took to the stage next, screaming out his signature “UGH!” catchphrase and sending those who came to mosh and rage into a frenzy to his tracks "YES" & "MBGB2". By this point, the audience knew to expect the unexpected at any moment. For one final surprise, NYC's own Sheck Wes claimed the stage to a roaring ovation as "Live Sheck Wes" echoed throughout the venue. Yet again, more mosh pits opened as the Cactus Jack signee solidified himself as another one of hip-hop's most thunderous performers. Fittingly, to close out this dream-like run of surprise guests, Sheck played his smash hit track "Mo Bamba", undoubtedly one of the biggest rap songs of the past few years. But at this point, the crowd was certainly in need of a breather and Ski played off that vibe perfectly. He transitioned right into arguably his most chilled-out track, "So High" from his debut album "Stokeley".

What followed this was a touching few minutes that many fans in attendance were certainly looking forward to, tributes to Ski's late friends & longtime collaborators, XXXTentacion & Juice WRLD. Both artists are synonymous with Ski's come up in the industry and he never fails to show his unwavering love for the duo at each & every show. Undoubtable legends in their own right, Ski gave the audience a few minutes to singalong and rage to some of their biggest hits as tribute graphics displayed on the large screen above. Cell phone lights glowed throughout the air, crafting a strikingly emotional moment that fans certainly won't forget any time soon. The entire evening from this point reached an unprecedented level of energy with Ski remaining to pay tribute to his brothers throughout. After a member of the crowd hit a huge stage dive to the drop of "Nuketown", Ski ran through a few brand new cuts off "11th Dimension" as mosh pits relentlessly appeared. The night then culminated with one of his biggest tracks and undoubtedly one of the catalysts of hip-hop's "rage" era, "Take A Step Back", famously featuring XXXTentacion. Smoke machines and lasers once again filled the air as this one last moment allowed everyone in the room to let loose and have the time of their lives. Fans of Ski, his late brothers, the openers, or anyone in between left the venue feeling elated, likely already eager for his next stop in the city that never sleeps.

Check out our entire gallery of photos shot by staff photographer John Krug below!