Even though the city of Atlanta was blanketed with snow on the night of December 8th, the rappers on tour with the Illionaire Ambition Tour brought the heat to downtown’s Center Stage venue! The fans that braved the icy roads were treated to a night of non-stop hits by some of Korean hip-hop’s finest. From rhymes to roses, each rapper brought their own flavor to the table, keeping fans on their toes throughout the evening. Each artist performed one at a time, before closing with a couple of group performances that left fans both satisfied and cheering for more. The night was jammed packed with talent and too many memorable moments to count.
First up was the very stylish Hash Swan. His flow had more of a mellow feel, which was a perfect introduction to the night. He opened with the “Show Me the Money” hit “Yozm Gang,” which proved to be a crowd favorite. I was very intrigued by his performance. At first glance, one wouldn’t think rapping would be his forte, but he easily delivered both rhymes and looks! After the show, I found myself searching for any content related to him and his music, because after the little taste I got that night, I knew I’d found a quality artist.
Keem Hyoeun blazed his way onto the stage next. From start to finish, his portion of the show was hype and overflowing with enthusiasm. His lyrics were just as fiery. Even those who weren’t familiar with his music would easily be engulfed by his stage presence and delivery. His segment had a very youthful, refreshing vibe to it, which had everyone on their feet.
Changmo was the third act of the night, and boy, was he one to remember! Despite the artist’s tough demeanor and impressive verses, he proved to be a real ladies man. He was given a rose from a fan, and from then on, he played a little game of push and pull with his very enthusiastic female fans. Apart from his obvious charms, Changmo, like the others, gave a performance that was absolutely worth the dangerous drive! Not one person was seated or still for his stage.
The Quiett was the second to the last artist to perform, but was without a doubt my personal favorite. As a newer fan of Korean hip-hop, something about his overall vibe was unexpectedly captivating. I quickly caught his hooks, and in no time was swooning like the rest of the crowd. He wasn’t over the top, but still gave a very upbeat performance. He was another one who provided fan engagement that stood out for all the right reasons.
Last but not least was DOK2. Fans from all tiers rushed to get a closer look as the rapper graced the stage. I could tell he had a ton of die-hard fans, because the entire audience sang along as he worked the room. I soon understood what the hype was about, because I found myself dancing along in no time. He was a powerhouse and hip-hop to the core.
The artists closed the night as a mega group. With a lyrical onslaught, as well as first class fan service, the night sadly came to an end way too soon. The rappers flowed seamlessly from one song to the next as they humbly took selfies with fans’ phones, threw keepsakes such has hand towels into the crowd, and even baptized most of the pit level by showering fans with water from their bottles on stage.
Overall, I had a great time at the concert. Coming in almost as a blank slate was scary, but I left with a new-found love and appreciation for each artist. Needless to say, this WTK author is definitely going to dig deeper into each performer and their music, now knowing the quality content that awaits. Sadly their U.S. tour is now over, but I genuinely recommend seeing any and all of them in concert when you have the chance.
Thank you to Illionaire Records, Ambition Musik, and Transparent Agency for allowing What The Kpop to attend both the L.A. and Atlanta stops of this amazing tour! You can check out additional photos from both shows in the gallery below.
LizzySKpop is a WTK writer who loves discovering new music, attending and working concerts, as well as trying Korean beauty products. She enjoys the music of GOT7, MONSTA X, BTS, BIGBANG, EXO, and many more. Although she is pretty new to the Kpop world, she is already a hardcore fan and finds more groups every day to love. As well as being a writer and photographer, she also DJ’s Monday Nights at 8pm on wtkradio.com. She is proud aunt that has spread the love of Kpop to her nieces as well.
Media: What The Kpop
