That Buzzing Sound: Showcase: Big Sean & Kid Ink @ Club Nokia (03/27/12)

Hold up, Hold up, Hold up, Hold up, Hold up because it’s a very special showcase featuring two of Hip-Hop’s brightest — Big Sean & Kid Ink!

We’re doing it BIG and having the time of our life, #afterthebreak…

MONSTER ENERGY OUTBREAK TOUR
Presents:
XXL Freshmen Live with Big Sean & Kid Ink @ Club Nokia
(03/27/2012)

(re-edited: 11/11/2023)

==Backstory==

Can I be honest with y’all? I thought we were done for the month. No more shows scheduled until April. Was ready to relax for a week or so. Nice thought as the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. That’s one thing I have learned over the past 4 years of working in the industry. Life can change with a call, text, tweet, and in this case…a message. Love moments like this because they make for great stories.

Turns out our PyS/B4M alliance was invited to XXL’s Freshmen Live Showcase featuring Los Angeles’ very own Kid Ink and Big Sean. Since 2008, XXL Magazine and their fans have inducted a select group of up and coming rappers into their yearly Freshman class. Their 2012 issue is now out on newsstands and bring the likes of MGK, French Montana, Roscoe Dash, Iggy Azalea, Kid Ink, and a few others into the limelight. Don’t be surprise to hear more from these artists throughout the year as previous noteworthy alums include: Yelawolf, Wiz Khalifa, Wale, J. Cole, Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Mac Miller, Big Sean, and many others. Can’t imagine modern hip-hop without those names, can you?

The six show XXL Freshmen Live tour began at SXSW on March 13 with LA’s Kendrick Lamar and new freshmen class members — Hopsin, Danny Brown, and Future. Club Nokia was only the second show of the series that will bring out the likes of hip-hop Freshmen and Alumni a-like.

Though Big Sean is considered a Detroit native, his roots were born and remain on the west side. A fact he told us during the many interludes during his performance. Didn’t matter if it made sense or not, wanted to see Sean last year at the Music Box. Regretted it because heard it got kind of crazy with even Kid Cudi making a cameo. So, when I saw this request…jumped at the chance. Didn’t question all the minor complaints of being exhausted at work the next day. Been there done that.

Outside, LA Live was being taking over by Cowboys & Cowgirls partaking in the sold out Lady A. show across the street at Staples. Felt like being at a movie theater behind the couple buying tickets to different movies — “Meet back here at 12? Sounds good“. Kind of happy I didn’t experience the country rom-com, for I would’ve missed two talented rappers putting one hell of a show!

And we hit this night up like it was our last…

==Kid Ink==

A huge congratulations to Kid Ink for this once in a lifetime honor. From his presence on stage, this ‘kid‘ was ready for his new role and I totally concur.

Coming out after a short DJ interlude of “…In Paris” to pump up the crowd, Kid Ink and his team took over theClub Nokia stage bouncing side to side. Outfitted with a hype man, Kid Ink went through all his popular indie mixtape hits like — “Stank in My Blunt“, “No Sticks No Seeds“, “I Just Want It All“, and closing with “Time of Your Life“. The whole performance flowed well together with no moments of crowd boredom. We were vibing, and they were vibing. The college kids knew his work and rapped along with him as I wandered through the nearly sold out crowd. Kind of made me feel like I was completely out of the hip-hop loop.

The only thing that caught me off guard was the shirt swag thrown by his crew. I get it…spread the word, but I never want a rap show to feel like a ‘halftime show’. Just rap, no gimmicks. If you’re great…a shirt won’t make or break your show. It just takes away from the performance. That’s a minor complaint. Like his style, and seeing him live was way better than listening to his mixtape.

Kid Ink has the whole package. That’s what I took away from his set. He is at the tipping point of indie scene and it shows. He needs a mainstream crew to foster his natural talent. Hopefully, it’s YMCMB. He’ll be a perfect fit in their click. Similar sound, already has some friends, plus Weezy could do wonders with his abilities (producing, lyrically, etc.) That’s just my opinion though. Ink seems driven to make it, and his ‘Aries’ fire won’t stop him from reaching that next plan of stardom. It’s not a matter of how, it’s a matter of when.

Photo Selects (by Picksysticks):

==Big Sean==

Being a huge fan of G.O.O.D. Music, if someone gets the Yeezy bump…we tend to make note of it. That was the story back in 2010 when I first heard the music of Big Sean. Such amazing wordplay with crazy fun beats. No, I wasn’t there from the beginning and jumped on the bandwagon when he was on the road to “Finally Famous“. From that point on, we have been sipping from that “Supa Dupa Lemonade“.

Big Sean, joined by his DJ Mo Beatz, took the stage for the near 40 minute solo set full of his favorite tracks and freestyles. There was no encore, for this more a showcase and less a crazy club party with hints of puffs of smoke. Everything ran on time too. Very unexpected. Even the best shows I have experience tend to run super late.

Also, got all our favorite Finally Famous singles like “I Do It, “Marvin & Chardonnay“, “My Last” and “Dance (A$$)” and even a few curve-balls like his verses from Gangbang and Slight Work. He didn’t need Wiz, Wale, Breezy, Roscoe, or even Mr. West as Big Sean made all the songs his. No guests needed. Paced with funny musical interludes and a costume change, everything was lot of fun. His set up to “Marvin & Chardonnay” is one to watch. Caught a bit of the performance below.

I love it when an artist gets into their own music on stage and acts out the various lyrics, and Sean didn’t disappoint. He ran, skipped, hopped, danced all over the empty stage as if he was on red bull. If you blinked, you would’ve missed one crazy move…like humping a speaker. Woah. The energy was there.

He spoke to us every chance he got: Hyping up GOOD Music and this new movement of hip-hop fronted by his fellow Alums, how his album went Gold, Dance (A$$) went Double Platinum, new album dropping this summer, explaining his ‘cali’ roots, good weed, asking for lighters, and throwing out booty shorts to the ladies. 2012 is going to be an another BIG year from Sean and he seems excited.

Overall, I was impressed by the whole set. It was everything I expected and bit more. Both performers are growing at an alarming rate. Excited to hear what they have coming down the pipeline next. Made me regret not to see Big Sean before. Can’t complain, fun show and the pictures came out great!

Big shout out to XXL, Club Nokia, Big Sean, and Kid Ink for hosting us. We had a blast! We’ll be following these two throughout 2012 for sure, you should to! The next stop for the 2012 XXL Freshmen Tour is Hot-lanta with that self-made Wale on April 1st. As always…sorry for typos and grammar mistakes, and enjoy all media below!

Set List: