There’s not really a roadmap for getting your rap career back on track after a crowd-control incident at one of your concerts leaves ten people dead, but Travis Scott is attempting to create one. Despite being dropped from the Coachella lineup this past December following the previous month’s Astroworld tragedy, Scott performed at an afterparty, according to reports from TMZ and E!.
At a La Quinta, California function, about ten minutes away from the Empire Polo Club, where Coachella’s Saturday night festivities headlined by Billie Eilish were wrapping up, Scott reportedly grabbed the mic at 3 a.m. and even got behind the turntables. The party was put on by the David Arquette-owned West Hollywood club Bootsy Bellows and a source at the party told E!, “Travis got in the DJ booth with the DJ Chase B. He played the bangers but ‘Goosebumps’ was the crowd please [sic].”
This is the second time Scott has performed since the Astroworld tragedy, as he made an appearance at a pre-Oscars event last month. He’s not exactly keeping a low profile anymore, as a series of four billboards promoting his upcoming album/project Utopiaappeared on the Interstate-5 road to Coachella last week. The four billboards each read a part of a phrase that when put together read: “PSST……Looking for UTOPIA? WRONG WAY,” and then the fourth billboard just featured the logo for Scott’s label Cactus Jack.
Travis Scott may not be a Coachella headliner for this year’s music festival, but he did make a surprise (and incredibly low-key) appearance at one of the festival’s after-parties, surprising fans with a five-song set.
Scott surprised fans when he took the stage at the Revolve x Bootsy Bellows After Party, which was being held in the nearby city of La Quinta at about three in the morning, just as the event was about to shut down. The rapper reportedly simultaneously DJ’d while performing five of his hits including “Goosebumps,” reportedly delighting the audience.
Travis Scott at Revolve x Bootsy Bellows After Party
The rapper’s low-key appearance was not the first time that he had performed since the November 6 Astroworld tragedy. He also performed at Darren Dzienciol and Richie Akiva‘s pre-Oscars party at a private estate in Bel-Air earlier this year.
Earlier this year, there were rumors that Scott would join Kanye West on stage as West was originally billed as a Coachella headliner. However, West pulled out of Coachella on April 5, less than two weeks before the festival.
Scott’s girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, was seen at Coachella alongside Hailey Bieber on Saturday, but there was no mention as to whether or not she attended the after-party to watch Scott perform.
Bootsy Bellows After Party has billed itself as “a surreal playground for adults and has become the elite hangout for Los Angeles partygoers.” Their pop-up events at major festivals appear to mimic that same energy, hosting major artists such as Scott, The Chainsmokers, Chase B, and DJ Irie. Scott also performed at one of the brand’s pop ups in Austin during the Big Race Weekend in October of 2021.
Coachella’s day-two lineup of hip-hop acts branched out from the two main stages (Coachella stage and the Sahara tent) to encompass some of the smaller tents and even take over some of the corporate activations. This was mostly a good thing but did make seeing some counter-programmed artists a little more difficult than day one. For instance, Flying Lotus playing a set at the Heineken House coincided with catching one of Brockhampton’s final performances at the Sahara stage.
Freddie Gibbs’ Gobi set also crossed Rich Brian’s at Sahara, meaning catching both would have taken a huge chunk out of both as well. For what it’s worth, Gibbs made the most of his placement and probably could have filled the Mojave tent, as his crowd spilled out of the back and sides. Despite not having Madlib – who had to miss the set for other obligations – Freddie smoothly held court himself, bantering with the crowd and his “hype man,” a bunny mascot. His big gag was pretending that the bunny had somehow bum-rushed the stage, a joke that delighted the crowd as much as his high-velocity, one-breath raps.
Another impressive set was JID’s. The Dreamville firecracker’s set at Sahara was also full to bursting, promising a warm reception for his upcoming follow-up to DiCaprio 2. He didn’t offer many extras on the bigger stage, but his exuberant energy filled the space, while he was cheered on by his Spillage Village compatriots Earthgang from the DJ booth. At one point, fellow Coachella performer Denzel Curry popped out to a massive roar from the crowd. It would have been cool if he could have used the stage more, though.
Something I forgot to mention in my day one recap is how moving most of the hip-hop acts to the Sahara stage was a smart move because it allows for more elaborate stage designs. Brockhampton especially took advantage of this, bringing along the big blue gorilla and canyon set from their tour. While things almost took a turn for the worst when the high desert winds nearly “skinned” the big guy before they could start their set, the crew was able to get things nailed down in time for the rowdy “boy band” to take the stage.
Their second-to-last set as a group showed all the hallmarks of their usual chaotic performances, but the crowd – mostly 20-somethings – gave them more energy than I’ve seen since I first saw Brockhampton at Flog Gnaw in 2017. They certainly stoked this “one night only” energy with repeated declarations that they wouldn’t be reuniting anytime soon. You could tell no one believed them – or maybe no one wanted to believe them – but it is a shame that they seem to be packing it in as they’ve hit their stride as performers.
21 Savage also used the Sahara tent to the fullest, using LED screens and raised platforms to turn the stage into a subterranean lair, perfect for evoking the menacing, horror-thriller vibe of his favorite movies. Savage, like Lil Baby from day one, showed that he has also entered the league of rap’s most-improved performers, projecting much more force than his laconic raps would suggest. His crowd was one of the biggest of the night, and when Post Malone popped out to perform “Rock Star,” I admit I got a little nervous about a potential crowd control situation.
Fortunately, the crowds at Coachella are a little more mellow than some of the younger bunches at other fests. Another huge crowd that focused more on having fun than pushing forward was the one for Megan Thee Stallion, who preceded day two’s closer, Billie Eilish. Like 21, her set was a briskly-paced showcase for some of her bigger hits. Unlike his, hers incorporated a wardrobe change to a mini-DJ set of some of her mixtape favorites. Her set also included a confrontational new track that seemed to take some verbal jabs at a male antagonist – something that’s sure to have fans buzzing for the next few days.
Other rap acts that made an impact thanks to the new streamlined hip-hop format at Coachella include Isaiah Rashad, who used his time to address the leaked video that surfaced on social media recently, Rich Brian, who double-dipped as part of 88Rising’s main stage set, and Masego, who set the tone early as one of the midday acts on the main stage that drew in masses of curious onlookers. Although there still wasn’t very much discovery on day two – at least, not for me – what I saw was an encouraging survey of rap music that showed how far so many of the top acts have come in the last few years.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
During her Coachella set in Indio, Calif. on Saturday (April 16), the Hot Girl debuted a brand new song. On the empowering anthem, which samples Jodeci’s “Freak’n You (Remix),” Meg reps for the ladies while calling out a “f**k ni**a.”
“This song is very motherfu**in’ personal to me and it’s to whom it may the f**k concern and I really feel like my ladies gon’ f**k with me on this one,” said Megan, who previously teased the track on Twitter.
“I’m the only reason that your goofy ass got bitches,” she raps. “Damn, I can’t believe I used to let you f**k me / I’d rather be in jail before a broke ni**a cuff me.”
She drives it home on the hook: “Because dick don’t run me, I run dick / Ni**a, yeah, you’s a bitch.”
While she didn’t mention any names, there is speculation that she is addressing Tory Lanez. In February, Tory sent a tweet where he claimed that he was sleeping with Megan and her best friend, who was in the car when she was shot.
“Good D*ick had me fu**ing 2 best friends …. and I got caught,” he tweeted. “That’s what I apologized 4 . … it’s sick how u Spun it tho …”
Good D*ick had me fucking 2 best friends …. and I got caught … that’s what I apologized 4 . … it’s sick how u Spun it tho …
At the time, Megan fired back. “Fu**ing two best friends… Ni**a you shot me you know whats what you were apologizing for,” she told Tory.
Tory was temporarily taken into custody for the tweet, a violation of the discovery protective order and personal contact order. He was released after posting $350,000 bond. He later released his song “Mucky James” on which he seemingly addressed the incident.
“I was at a high in my career / You think I’d come out here and ******,” he raps. “And if you think I would do that shit, you on some stupid shit / I don’t need to do that shit.”
Isaiah Rashad delivered a powerful moment at Coachella.
Making his debut at the festival’s Sahara tent on Saturday (April 16), the TDE rapper opened his set with a video montage addressing the speculation about his sexuality. The clip included soundbites from interviews with Joe Budden, Boosie, and The Game, all weighing in on a leaked video showing Rashad being intimate with other men. But while it may have been an attempt to hurt his career, it backfired and he received an outpouring of support.
“The purpose of doing that was to embarrass him. However, it backfired,” said one voice, while Game asked, “Why is you still worried about what another man is doing?”
Rashad then ran through hits like “RIP Young” and “Headshots (4r Da Locals).” He also brought out his TDE labelmate Doechii for “Wat U Sed” and “Crazy,” while SiR joined him for “Rope // rosegold.” At one point, he appeared to shed a tear while performing “Wat’s Wrong.”
Before ending his set, an emotional Rashad thanked his fans for their support. “I see all the messages and all that sh*t, all the positivity,” he said. “Y’all ni**as done kept me alive these last couple months.”
After three years away, Coachella returned to Indio, CA this weekend. And while some might have expected young fans to rage across the polo fields with all the angst of two previous cancelations in the rearview mirror, the sense on site was a lot more tepid, as if everyone wanted to get their feet wet before fully diving in. It’s far too early to say if the past few years have changed Coachella’s identity or changed how young people approach these massive cultural events, but the initial sense is that things have slowed down a little, and the traditional revelry has given way to something more appreciative and understated.
All that said, the fashion-forward appeal of Coachella remains. There were costumes and skin, lots of transparent lace and vibrant colors. With years of opportunities to show off festival fashion squandered by a pandemic, fans dressed their best and made 2022’s edition count. Below we have some photos of our favorites, who returned to one of the world’s best festivals with a commitment to show off exactly why Coachella is what it is. As they prepared for a day that included Harry Styles, Arcade Fire, Lil Baby, and more, everyone looked predictably great with the giant art structures and palm trees as a backdrop.
With the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival returning for the first time in three years, it looks like the organizers’ have adjusted their hip-hop strategy. While in past years, the festival has gambled a bit more on rising stars in the genre like Aminé and Dej Loaf, this year, the focus shifted to providing more established stars like City Girls, Cordae, and Lil Baby.
This isn’t a bad thing at all, though. While day one of the 2022 Coachella Festival only sported a handful of rap acts, by honing in on more proven quantities, the festival offered an excellent cross-section of samples of where the genre currently is, with one or two glimpses at where it could be going.
Philip Cosores
Whereas rap acts are usually spread pretty evenly around the festival grounds, this year, it appears there was a more streamlined concept. The majority of the rap acts who appeared did so on the Sahara stage; the only two exceptions were Princess Nokia and Lil Baby. Nokia was upgraded from the tiny Sonora tent to the main stage, albeit for an early afternoon set, while Lil Baby played a primetime set on the main stage that felt too early in hindsight.
Philip Cosores
Lil Baby’s impressive set appeared to incorporate some of the lessons he’d learned during his recent Back Outside arena tour. The set design was more ambitious, depicting a busy trap house motel, and Baby’s performance was much more fluid and animated, suggesting that he’s grown in confidence and settled into himself as a showman. Though it was light on guests, Gunna did appear to perform “Drip Too Hard” and “Pushin P,” to a predictable massive crowd pop.
However, when compared to the much more low-key Daniel Caesar set that followed, it felt like Baby perhaps should have been the penultimate performer ahead of Harry Styles. The drop in energy coincided with a drop in temperatures as the desert wind picked up; I think going with the higher energy set into the headliner could have improved the reception of both.
Philip Cosores
Meanwhile, on the Sahara stage, a strong lineup started with City Girls, running through Cordae, South African DJ Black Coffee, Baby Keem, and Big Sean. The only thing that seemed out of order was not starting with Cordae. His live band-backed set was as strong as any I’ve seen, but by the time he hit the stage, the exuberant crowd from City Girls had thinned considerably.
Understandably, curating a massive festival like this takes work. But it does seem that a more experienced hand could have benefitted the sequencing for the hip-hop acts to keep the energy building. Fans who enjoyed upbeat renditions of tracks like “Twerkulator” and “Said Sum” (with surprise guest Moneybagg Yo) didn’t stick around to watch Cordae perform Lost Boy staples like “Thanksgiving” and From A Bird’s Eye View cut “C Carter” — maybe they should have because Cordae’s versatility is always impressive and perhaps City Girls fans would enjoy high-energy fare like “Scottie Pippen” and “Kung-Fu.”
While I’m sure there’s at least some overlap between Cordae’s fans and those of City Girls, that part of the Venn diagram is thin enough that booking them back-to-back wound up appearing awkward – at least, until Cordae’s more hardcore fans and curious heads finally filled the Sahara tent back up.
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What did work well was concentrating the hip-hop acts to one or two stages and spreading them out sufficiently enough to allow someone interested mostly in seeing hip-hop to take in most of the sets. I missed Baby Keem, but only because I was so curious to see how Daniel Caesar would handle the big stage with some mellow tunes (the answer is “not well,” but not because his performance wasn’t good. It was just stuck after an electrifying performance from Lil Baby). Ideally, this could be the strategy in the future, too.
Obviously, spreading the acts more evenly between the main stage and Sahara could encourage more movement for hip-hop heads to check out other genres, while omnivores wouldn’t have to zigzag all over the polo grounds. Instead, the hip-hop acts could simply be a home base to return to at either end of the field. As long as someone in booking has a grasp of where acts are in their careers and how their respective sounds compare and complement each other, this new, streamlined strategy could make finding hip-hop at the biggest festival easier and more enjoyable than ever.
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Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
… that’s what I apologized 4 . … it’s sick how u Spun it tho …
