Wiz Khalifa with Big K.R.I.T.
Wednesday, November 17 at The National
For the second time this season, Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T. and their WAKEN BAKEN tour have come through RVA to a sell out crowd. This time they were at The National, with a crowd almost twice as large as before. This show was not much more than a larger-scale repeat of the last one at CenterStage, but in no way was that a bad thing.
When I arrived at The National the line was winding up and around the block. There were so many in attendance that, by the time Big K.R.I.T.’s set began, the ticket check and box office were still frantically trying to get the crowd inside the already packed venue. As at the last show, K.R.I.T. set the bar high with his opening set, but Wiz was up for the challenge, albeit after baiting the crowd for an hour.
When he finally hit the stage, the room lit up, both literally and figuratively. The strobes kept firing for as long as the crowd kept screaming, but Wiz, always the showman, didn’t wait for his fans to settle down before jumping into his set. One thing that has to be noted about this upcoming hip hop star is how charismatic and energetic he can be in the spotlight, in spite of how much weed he claims to burn through daily. It’s this infectious energy that sells out venues everywhere he goes and brings out Taylor Gang pride in everyone who listens to his music. The Pittsburgh rapper distributes his own brand of Taylor Gang culture and slang wherever he goes, growing his cult of fans with every new listener that catches on.
Many people judge Wiz as just another pot-head rapper, but by the end of the show, anyone who was on the fence about his legitimacy as an artist could rest assured that shows like this just don’t come out of performers without talent. It may have only been an hour-long set, but the Wiz knows how to build and climax the energy of a show in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been singing along to him for hours. Great turnout, great show. I can’t wait for his next stop in RVA.
Wiz Khalifa with Big K.R.I.T.
Wednesday, November 17 at The National
For the second time this season, Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T. and their WAKEN BAKEN tour have come through RVA to a sell out crowd. This time they were at The National, with a crowd almost twice as large as before. This show was not much more than a larger-scale repeat of the last one at CenterStage, but in no way was that a bad thing.
When I arrived at The National the line was winding up and around the block. There were so many in attendance that, by the time Big K.R.I.T.’s set began, the ticket check and box office were still frantically trying to get the crowd inside the already packed venue. As at the last show, K.R.I.T. set the bar high with his opening set, but Wiz was up for the challenge, albeit after baiting the crowd for an hour.
When he finally hit the stage, the room lit up, both literally and figuratively. The strobes kept firing for as long as the crowd kept screaming, but Wiz, always the showman, didn’t wait for his fans to settle down before jumping into his set. One thing that has to be noted about this upcoming hip hop star is how charismatic and energetic he can be in the spotlight, in spite of how much weed he claims to burn through daily. It’s this infectious energy that sells out venues everywhere he goes and brings out Taylor Gang pride in everyone who listens to his music. The Pittsburgh rapper distributes his own brand of Taylor Gang culture and slang wherever he goes, growing his cult of fans with every new listener that catches on.
Many people judge Wiz as just another pot-head rapper, but by the end of the show, anyone who was on the fence about his legitimacy as an artist could rest assured that shows like this just don’t come out of performers without talent. It may have only been an hour-long set, but the Wiz knows how to build and climax the energy of a show in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been singing along to him for hours. Great turnout, great show. I can’t wait for his next stop in RVA.
