Fixed formatting:
As a lot of you know, yesterday there was a post where OP was offering information about a secret New York City blockparty show featuring Young Thug and "celebrity friends." I was lucky enough to get the opportunity from OP to attend, and I am going to share the whole story from start to finish with everyone here at hiphopheads.
First, I would like to point out that I am a pretty big Young Thug fan and that he is truthfully the only celebrity that I actively follow on Instagram and the like. I checked his tour dates this past week and realized that he was playing a show in central park and I immediately purchased tickets for September 17th, this being my first opportunity to see him live. Then yesterday, as I was searching the subreddit for his new material (Stunna to be exact, that shit's fire), I came across the post about his secret NYC show, just after it was posted, and immediately messaged OP for details. After several hours of anticipation, OP sends me a message with the address and time of the show at 6:00pm, doors open at 7:00pm. I instantly dropped what I was doing, and got on the next train to Grand Central (an hour train ride from my stop).
At this point, the only information I have is that the show is on the block of 24th street between Maddison and Park, and that the fan check-in is on the corner of Park and 24th. I don't have OP's name or number, which I [correctly] assumed that I would need to get in. So, on the train ride to NYC, I sent OP a few messages stating that I would need, at least, his name. No answer. I get to Grand central at 6:50. No answer. I decide that the subway probably wouldn't be faster for me to walk 0.9 miles, so I set out from Grand Central in the pouring rain, no coat, no umbrella, phone 30% battery, no answer from OP.
Then, I get to 24th St. and I see the line. The line stretches from 24th to 23rd, then down the entirety of 23rd (a block and a half, essentially). My hope is fading at this point, but what the hell, I made it this far, for the sake of OP and hiphopheads, I’ll get in this shitty line. About 30 minutes go by, and the line hasn’t budged, I’m still the last person in the damn line, and I’m soaking wet. I am compulsively checking my reddit inbox like a crack fiend trying to score, waiting for OP to answer. Another half an hour goes by and the line has moved a bit, but I assume it’s because people realized the hopelessness of the situation and left to do better things. At this point, I still don’t know what to expect. If it’s super exclusive, than there is no way I’m getting in without OP’s credentials, and if it is open to everyone, then the 1,000 people in front of me are getting in before I do. This is also the streets of NYC, so people were getting in line just for the sake of waiting in a line to see what was at the other end. On top of that, everyone in line is talking about Rhianna, and how they can’t wait to meet Rhianna; not a single word about Thugga Thugga, but I continue to wait.
At one point, I was standing outside a CVS (or similar store) and the door greeter is standing there, bored as fuck, I’m guessing, and I call him over and offer him $20 for an umbrella, half as a joke, half as a desperate soaked 22 year old wasting his time in line; but, for some reason, this man felt my pain, and brought me out and umbrella, and not only that, but he only charged me $11 for it. That man is the true MVP (shout out to CVS doorman #1). Back to the story….
It’s 8:50, I’ve been in line for more than an hour and a half and I am now 50 feet from the entrance. The group behind me is a band from New Jersey that recently signed a deal with ROCNATION, who were invited by the publishing company to see an exclusive Rhianna show with a special performance at 9:00pm from an unnamed artist. Things are making sense now. With less than 15 people in front of me, I finally get the message from OP with his name and number, and this is the point where my luck begins to turn around.
I get to security, they wand me and tell me to go see the lady with the iPad. I was thinking to myself “oh fuck, there is no way I’m getting passed this bitch.” But, coincidently me and OP shared the same first name, so I guess I had a bit of added confidence when I walked up to her and told her I was /u/dbrwhat. After the longest seconds of my entire life, she looked at me and said “go right in.” I waited a second for the band that I had befriended behind me, and they, along with 99% of everyone in line, got denied. I couldn’t believe it, I had priority over ROCNATION. Anyway, at this point I realize that this shit is outside.
The set up was very small. The stage was set up halfway down the block, leaving very little room for guests, which was fine because there couldn’t have been more than 60 of us that got in. There was a long tent in front of the stage, which I assumed was for the sound and lights people, but it was fenced off. Security was super tight getting in, but once you were in, there were maybe 5 NYPD officers and a dude guarding the entrance to the stage. So here I am, listening to the DJ with my girly ass purple umbrella from CVS and I turn around, and I look in the tent and standing there is the beautiful, the stunning, Miss. Rhianna. Everyone was geeking out hardcore, I tried not to, I figured she would make it to the stage eventually, I don’t need to get up in her face for a picture, instead, I secured my spot near the stage for when Thugga came out.
The DJ was alright, I missed more than half of his set while waiting in line but still heard all of Future’s discography, if that says anything about him. During the commotion of 60 people having aneurisms over Rhianna, a group of umbrellas was making its way through the edge of the crowd next to me, I turned to get a better look and it was Thugga and his group making his way to the stage by casually walking right through the crowd. Like I said, it was super chill with security. Thugger took the stage and this was my view for the first couple of minutes when everyone was still clinging to what dryness they had left. That changed once the music started.
The highlights of Thugger’s part of the show for me were With That, Good Times, Lifestyle, and Check (the video came out awful for those so I scrapped them). Then things continued to get better when he brought out Travis Scott. I didn’t get any further video of Travis and Thug because I was saving what little battery life I had on my phone for Ri Ri. Also apparently E! thinks they’re bangin’ or some shit. ANYWAY! The show was on a block right in between 2 hotels, so of course at 10:00pm (official block curfew) the NYPD shut the party down from what I can only assume were hotel complaints, just before Rhianna could make a stage appearance.
Despite the missed opportunity of the century of Rhianna singing Umbrella to a crowd of umbrella toting New Yorkers, the night was a total success. Thug and Travis totally killed it, even if they were only on stage for 40 minutes. I couldn’t have asked for more from a free show that I had absolutely no knowledge of a few hours prior to showing up. I want to thank OP for the opportunity and for delivering big time. If you guys have any questions let me know. I’ll throw some pix in here for you guys. It was pouring and dark and the quality of the videos and pictures could have been 1000x better if the weather were nice, but oh well.