With their recent event at Poor Boys, RVA hip hop collective The Clout Cloud graduated from house parties to club gigs in high-energy style.

Richmond’s very own music and culture news collective, The Clout Cloud, hosted its first ever sold-out show at a local restaurant and bar, Poor Boys, on Tuesday, February 4. As this was their first time transitioning to working within a venue as opposed to holding events at houses, they didn’t have a hard time packing out the space. Focusing on RVA hip-hop artists in particular, the line-up featured performances by 1kZay (@official1kzay), Pedro (@_paiddro_), Alix Phoenix (@alixphoenix), Milesisbae (@milesisbae), James Moss Jr. (@james_mossjr), and Okay Cozy (@okay.cozy), with DJ sets from Logan Egdvet (@logan_nonofficial). The evening was hosted by Almira Zaky and Nicole Bloomgarden.

The energy from both supporters and performers was high throughout the evening. Performances ranged from live-instrument sets to up-tempo beats and rhymes; everyone had their own unique style, all while being perfectly intertwined with the assorted music from the DJ in between. The crowd stayed consistently engaged and involved with each other and for those who they came to see.

Originally founded two years ago by Ilias Anwar, The Clout Cloud started off as a hip-hop outlet, soon gaining a following. “We started reaching out to big artists — like Future, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion, Rick Ross, Moneybagg Yo — to do concert coverage by creating one minute highlights of their concerts,” said Anwar. “Three months ago, DaBaby and Lil Baby cancelled a concert on us, so I took into my own hands to throw our own show.” This became the start of something significant for the team.

The Clout Cloud’s current team consists of at least 30 people, including DJs, videographers, photographers, and hosts. They seem to have a lot of buzz around the city, with a following of 37K on Instagram. While operating a Hip-Hop news outlet and culture blog, they stay consistent with local projects as well.

To stay up to date and get more information about The Clout Cloud follow their YouTube channel and Instagram at @thecloutcloud. You can also check out their podcast, “Cloud Talk” @thecloudtalkpodcast, to hear about exclusive and specific topics.

Top Photo by Rashid Mahdi (@sheedodaplug)

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond