Former YSL accused Gunna makes glorious return with Atlanta show

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

I fully believe in the euphoric magic that happens when a musician performs at home. This is especially true when the musician hasn’t performed there in years. Last year, Gunna performed his first post-prison headlining concerts in Brooklyn, New York and Los Angeles, including stints in Atlanta. He made up for it Tuesday evening.

On the day of the show, I thought long and hard about what might happen at the concert and still had more questions than answers. It’s still hard to think of Gunna without thinking of the YSL trial. The day before, legal proceedings for the trial resulted in Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, being sentenced to 20 days (10 weekends) behind bars, adding to the long list of disruptions in the long trial. Would Gunna use the show as a moment to make a definitive statement about the trial? Would he say nothing about it at all? Would any other Atlanta rappers support him during the show? Or would he play alone? And the crowd? Would they be engaged?

My expectations were tiny, but Gunna exceeded them beyond my wildest imagination. His Atlanta concert was the best rap concert I’ve seen in years, and that’s coming from someone who’s seen Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Megan Thee Stallion in the past year.

Flo Milli, the rap it-girl from Alabama, wearing a pink bodysuit and black fur boots, opened the show at 9 p.m. With a doll’s voice and the fierce energy of a cheerleader captain, she delivered a nearly 30-minute set with an ensemble cast of fans. favorites like “Bed Time,” “Beef,” and “Never Lose Me.” Atlanta rapper Anycia surprised the audience with a performance of her hit “Back Outside.”

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

Before Gunna took the stage nearly 20 minutes later, an abominable snowman slammed onto a glacier-filled stage at the back of the venue. I felt like I was watching something straight out of “Game of Thrones.” Then, Gunna, who looked like he might win best dressed at a ski resort, graced the audience on the second stage to perform “Bittersweet,” the lead single from his recent album “One of Wun.” He hit every line with the tenacity of someone who has had a difficult journey. He made me believe every word. Then, as he walked through the crowd to the main stage, he aptly performed “Back in the A.” A large sign reading “Welcome to Atlanta Gunna,” in an old English-style font, filled the stage.

Gunna played for almost 2 hours with minimal breaks. And these breaks seemed to last no more than four minutes. His set list was over 40 songs long, and the crowd matched his boundless energy every step of the way. I’ve never seen anything as tough as Gunna. It was an effort that would make Sha’Carri Richardson jealous. I felt like I needed to go to the gym.

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

No song embodied this more than “Back at It,” a standout from last year’s “A Gift & a Curse.” For this performance, he ditched his winter cut for a gray T-shirt and sparkly pants. As he hung in the air, with a sea of ​​fans in front of him, he delivered the lyrics as if he were fighting for his life. Even when his movements were limited, his movements seemed abundant. Her voice got a little shaky at the end of the song, but that didn’t tame her fierce energy.

He went through his massive set list as if he were doing a high-intensity workout – without the help of a trainer. He rapped songs like the despairing “Idk Nomore” with the fervor of a gospel song. He worked his way into older hits like “Drip 2 Hard” and “Met Gala.” He even dedicated part of his set to the women in the crowd to honor the sexier side of his artistry (2022’s Banking on Me is the perfect showcase for his hip-hop hunk persona).

The staging of the concert was equally fascinating. It took audiences on a journey through its post-apocalyptic world filled with exciting sound effects, striking visuals, flames and even hotter fashion choices. He made the stage his personal gymnasium. Gunna is a real star.

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

And he never looked tired.

By the time he got to the “(expletive)umean” part of the show, I assumed it would be his last song. After all, it’s his biggest solo hit to date. But, to my surprise, he performed at least three more songs afterward. Throughout the show, he said a few words, but he showed his support for Young Thug. While rehearsing “Free Thug,” he performed their hits like “Ski” and “Hot.” The few times he stopped his performance were when he looked intently at the crowd, as if he couldn’t believe the enthusiastic support.

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

Credit: Photo by: Terence Rushin @photor

He ended Tuesday night’s show by introducing the crowd to his only surprise guests of the evening: his family. Gunna greeted each of them as if he were attending a family reunion. He never said goodbye to the public. Instead, he started walking through the crowd to hug fans. The power of Gunna’s performance lies in his appearance and work as if he never wants to leave the stage.

Gunna’s music is often tinged with monotony, but all that calms down as soon as he takes the stage. He makes his songs more convincing. His words become their own battle. He makes you want to support him. For his first arena tour, Gunna positioned himself as an elite, efficient performer who could teach his peers a few lessons.