J.I.D. and Smino have both individually made a name for themselves as mainstage contenders in the hip-hop world. Given they have a shared fanbase, it was in the cards for the two of them to co-headline the “Luv Is 4Ever Tour,” a 32-date nationwide trek that supports their 2022 projects (J.I.D’s The Forever Story, Smino’s Luv 4 Rent).
Tuesday’s stop at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg marked J.I.D.’s first time in the Bay, and Smino’s first stop here since 2019—and last night the two-man Zoink Gangcontingency showed command of the stage in front of a sold-out crowd that just could not get enough.
In timely fashion, much different from a typical hip-hop or rap concert, J.I.D. emerged onto the stage at 8:30 p.m. in front of two inverse heart-shaped video monitors, dealing a wide array of rapid-fire raps and getting the crowd hyped from the front to the back. After warming up with “Galaxy” and “NEVER,” J.I.D. performed the songs, “Crack Sandwich” and “Bruddanem” bringing the crowd’s energy was raised to awe-inspiring levels. J.I.D. masterfully worked the stage as he spent time rapping acapella with the crowd, which would shout back lyrics to him on command with heart-shaped hands above their heads. As members of J.I.D.’s crew swarmed just offstage, he continued with songs from his past three LPs and two EPs, including hits like “Off da Zoinkys,” “Raydar”, and “Dance Now.”
After the vigorous opening, J.I.D. turned to some downtempo tracks, starting with “Sistanem” during which he paced the stage somberly. “Make some noise one time. We just gotta get through this rollercoaster ride real quick, and I feel we’ll be straight,” J.I.D said after appearing to be in a trance. He continued with “Kody Blu 31” as rowdy fans relished the moment and bellowed along to the “Swing on, swing on” chorus. After the melancholic side trip, J.I.D hyped the crowd back up, stripping off his shirt, showcasing his shiny medallion chain, as C02 cannons burst in front of him. Picking up the pace with his Lil Wayne collab, “Just In Time,” rapping the lyrics while tapping his watch, the attendees took to this record in particular. A pair of J. Cole Dreamville collaborations followed, launched off by “Off Deez” and “Down Bad,” where the rapid-fire delivery kept pace with the show’s growing momentum. Leading into the end of J.I.D.’s set, with arguably his most known record “Stick”, his ecstatic stage presence gave way to solo-piano-guitarist Sam “Muzikman” Williams. As Sam closed out J.I.D.s set with a solo acapella rendition, his uncanny ability with live instruments put an exclamation point on the set as a whole, so much so that you could feel it in your soul.
After a few minutes break, Smino emerged with a much more sensual energy. In conjunction with his aura, Smino chose to display his vocal talent throughout the rest of the night, which was a pleasant and unique surprise. Beginning his set with “Klink” and “Curtains”, the crowd looked in awe as I think they had previously overlooked his vocal skills. However, witnessing Smino live and emphasizing certain vocal runs within each song, the crowd gained a new appreciation for his vocal range and capabilities. Swiftly moving into “Flea Flicka” and “Matinee”, Smino took a moment to encourage the crowd to chant “I love you best friend!” to their significant others. At this moment, the tour’s strong motif of love became ever apparent, and a shared sense of unity came over the venue, providing a sense of relief or escape from everyday life. As Sminos’ set continued, it was especially striking because you almost wouldn’t expect his slinky, laid-back beats to play like a big-band group. However, even only between a keyboardist, drummer, and producer, Smino’s music was kicking and rollicking. Ending the night with “Can’t Get Over You”, “Pro Freak”, and “No L’s”, the crowd shouted their approval and waved their hands along as Smino departed, “Remember, if don’t nobody else love you, Smino loves ya!”
The night began with two openers, Hoosh and SwaVay, both of which exhibited intense energy and great crowd control. Hoosh had everyone’s hands up by the end of his set, and SwaVay brought a mix of melody and comedy as he singled out members of the crowd to help sing. Amongst over 2,000 people at Jannus Live, JID, Smino, and their crew made a momentous impact in the Bay, showcasing the power of love, and I know we are just counting down the days for their next return.
