By Lisa Diedricks

Artist: A$AP Rocky

Date / Venue: Wednesday February 24th, 2016 - Vector Arena, Auckland

There’s no doubt in my mind, that last night, A$AP came to get hyped the fuck up at Vector Arena, Auckland City!

The crowd, chanted as the lights dimmed, and MC’s walked to their podiums, and A$AP’s team walked on stage. With a simple white draped backdrop that split into four pieces, and MC’s on two separate decks, the stage was simplistic yet eye catching. As A$AP walked through the middle of the two podiums, the bottom of the floor looked as if it had magically inserted trampolines under every ones feet. I have never seen a crowd jump and mosh so in sync to a performer! It was amazing!

The energy was high, the crowd was at full level of “turnt” and of course the drinks were flowing! A$AP, who is also known as Lord Flako, brought his mob crew over to New Zealand and gave us a show that many of us will be talking for a while. Being his second here in NZ, he and his crew gave us some of the old and the new stylised A$AP and the crowd was loving it.

Songs like, 'Everday' 'Goldie' and 'Lord Pretty Flacko Joyde' got the crowd so energetic, a mosh pit was formed and A$AP and crew even helped the crowd maintain it and make it bigger. Well known songs like 'Wild For the Night' and 'F%$kn Problem' had the whole arena singing and rapping every word. And with a special interaction song, A$AP jumped and rapped to Kris Kross’ 'Jump' and Nirvana’s 'Smells like Teen Spirit' that got the place ready for the rest of the night.

A$AP even at one stage brought about 6-10 people on stage, all with braids in their hair (you were only allowed on stage if you had braids) and partied with them for a song until security ushered them off. Talk about a night to remember for those lucky few!

Girls were throwing themselves at A$AP, showing boobs and hopping on their friends/boyfriends shoulders to do so. Of course there had to be dive in’s to crowd, I mean what is a rap concert with one of those? A$AP even took time out of his show to shine light on the fact that Tyler was denied entry to perform here, because he swears to much?! A$AP answered that with the only dignified response he knew how… by getting the entire crowd to chant “Bring Tyler” and “LET’S FKN GO!” The crowd loved the rebellious slurs and energy, it was all in good fun.

With his albums reaching number 1 on the charts, his Long. Live A$AP album hitting gold, being on tour with both Drake and Kendrick Lamar, it’s no wonder A$AP is holding his own and maintaining his spot and voice in the industry and in people’s mouths. He’s one of kind and not like any other rapper that on the charts today, with his alternative swagger and his thick and heavy bass drops, we can’t wait to see more of A$AP here in NZ! After a thank you, god bless and stay safe, A$AP reminded the crowd to always practice safe sex, then joked and said, “Now go out tonight and F&%k a stranger”. Best end to one of the most hyped shows I’ve seen. Way to bring 2016’s expectations higher.