Words By: Michelle Swami
Photos By: Brendan Lee
Monday, October 29 – Half a year later, Bricksquad member Waka Flocka Flame descended back into Vancouver, this time playing a more intimate Fortune Sound Club. Upon walking into this smaller venue, people were walking around with double cups and Bricksquad tee’s ready for the nights festivities. Taking a look at the merch booth, there were no shortage of shirts that said with the slogan “turnt up” and of course “bricksquad” or toques adorned with the same slogans. Not to mention a special “meet and greet” with Mr. Flocka which cost a steep $60. More than double the ticket price, but people were snatching those up too for an opportunity to meet the Southern rapper.
“Vancity are you ready for Waka?” yelled a part of his entourage before bursting out on stage to ‘O Let’s Do It’, the party started. At many rap shows, most of the crowd just usually stands there, heads bobbing, rapping along. At this show, Waka got the crowd on their feet. Waka is somewhat of a “cult classic” figure here in Vancouver. Not only does he have a pretty heavy Bricksquad fan base of loyal fans in Vancouver, he is the face of the popular Vancouver club night called “re-up” known for playing Southern Hip-hop and old school hits. So it was no surprise the crowd was on it’s feet on this Monday night.
“I want to see everyone turnt up” says Waka as he breaks into ‘Bustin At Em’ which once again gets the crowd moving. The set was a straight assault, fitting as many songs he could in about 45 minutes. The last time Waka came into Vancouver, he was playing from his then newly released album ‘Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family’, but it looks like this time around, he was doing singles and crowd pleasures, which was great given the intimate venue. He did dabble in a bit of new material from the upcoming ‘Flockaveli II’, but his set list was definitely for the audience. “Hold up a second, Vancouver? Let this guy drink two bottles of hot sauce on stage with me right here” says Waka. The crowd looking at each other, confused, til a young man wearing a Vancity shirt, stands on top of the monitors with Waka Flocka Flame and literally drinks two bottles of Franks Red Hot Sauce in front of the shocked/confused crowd. Albeit confused, the crowd cheered loudly most likely feeling bad for what he probaby has to endure tomorrow morning.
Ending things with ‘Wild Boy’, another crowd favourite and collaboration with fellow southern rapper Machine Gun Kelly, the crowd was still turnt as the show came to ebrupt end. “Everyone that purchased a meet and greet, please come on stage for your meet and greet” said the loud speaker as people started pouring out. Soon as you know it, the persuasion at the merch booth worked, as a queue of about 50 people started at the side of the stage.
Waka Flocka Flame, the self-proclaimed, “King of Rap EDM”, had recently said his next foray will be electronic music, saying he has recently started work on a “EDM hip-hop album” with heavy hitters such as Diplo and Flosstradamus. Will the next time Waka rolls into town, be a DJ set? Only time will tell…
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