Concert Review: Young Thug delivers to sold out crowd

In the evening of Wednesday April 5th, fans packed World Cafe Live to see rapper Young Thug perform.

“I’m sure most of y’all don’t have baby mamas,” Young Thug shouted into the crowd. While for the most part, we don’t, what we do have are classes tomorrow. In a statement published on the Facebook event page, UPenn SPEC explains that they pushed back the time of doors opening from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., “because we know it's Wednesday and ya'll got exams and projects due this week.”

Concertgoers lined the stairs that head down to the World Cafe Live venue as they waited on doors, hoping to secure a spot at the front railing. The highly anticipated show sold tickets lightning quick, with batches of tickets selling out almost as soon as they were released. The show officially sold out on Monday, April 3rd just after 2 p.m.

Brooklyn based DJ Kitty Cash woke up the venue with a vibrant set that matched her bright pink wig. She energized the crowd as she weaved tunes together, lacing them with funky melodies and tempo changes. “This is my first college show,” Kitty Cash admitted to the audience.

Undergraduate students and graduate students alike filled the venue to capacity— which is capped at 600 people. The concert was a collaboration between SPEC–TRUM, the University of Pennsylvania's Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities and GAPSA, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, in an effort to bridge the gap between grad and undergrad students. Concert attendees shuffled together on the packed floor, swaying to the thumping beat and waving their arms in synchronization as Young Thug commanded “Hands Up!” Arms remained outstretched in the front row as Thugger squatted down and grasped the hands of his fans.

No one side of the venue was favored over another; Young Thug definitely got his steps in for the day as he strutted across the stage, spotlight warily following him. The flashing colorful lights bounced around the theater, adding to the chaotic boom.

A gaggle of men and women littered the side of the stage, snapping pics and bobbing to the beat— Young Thug’s entourage. One woman in the crew sneaked profile photos of Young Thug with a disposable camera when he neared her. The group handed the rapper white towels over the course of his set, which he used to wipe the sweat off his face and proceeded to stuff into his shirt and then fling out into the crowd for some lucky attendee.

Was he too hot or too cool? Young Thug kept his sunglasses on during the entire set— a reminder of the plane of stardom he now exists upon. His August 2016 album Jeffrey reached critical acclaim and produced hits including setlist songs “Pick Up The Phone” and “RiRi.” Young Thug opened with “Wyclef Jean,” the primary track on his album. The concertgoers were ready for him, jumping and whooping to the track. The backtrack cut out during the song and Young Thug dropped in pitch: it was just his voice, lilting and raw, cutting through the hazy, humid venue. This coarse moment came early in the show, and Thugger built up the energy from this point on.

After the final song of the night, the overhead lights abruptly reminded everyone that it was a school night, and that it was time to go home. Concertgoers trickled out of the door, catching up with friends and preparing to review for exams the next day. The energy from the show did not dissipate, it proved to be migrating with the crowd. 

Young Thug, in his act, catered to the energy and chaos that is college.