G-Eazy Warms Up 1STBANK Center

FANS BRAVE COLD WEATHER FOR HIP-HOP SHOW

In below-zero temperatures, screaming fans lined the walkways leading up to the front door of the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, CO on Jan. 10. People ventured to the arena to watch the eclectic lineup of G-Eazy and A$AP Ferg’s headlining tour When It’s Dark Out.

Nef the Pharaoh, hailing from the Bay Area along with LA’s own Marc E. Bassy, gave the performances of a lifetime. Nef celebrated his 21st birthday on stage, which created a spark of ignition in the youthful crowd. He performed his hit “Big Tymin” to finish the set.

Marc E. Bassy, on the other hand, provided Denverites with new hypnotic songs to add to their playlists. Bassy’s very fresh and sleek aesthetic is present in his music, mixing soulful melodies with indie rap beats. It was clear that Denver had nothing but love for Bassy, and the feeling was mutual. “Denver is an exotic paradise for an LA resident,” Bassy commented.

The hype continued as A$AP Ferg came onstage to perform hits like “Hella Hoes.” But the atmosphere reached a new level of insanity when he lead into his latest song “New Level” off his newest album that is set to drop in February.

During the middle of his set, A$AP Ferg halted the audience in order to pay respects to A$AP Yams, one of three founding member of the A$AP Mob who passed in 2015. He teared up while paying tribute to the late member, and the arena was full of love and compassion for the rapper.

Ferg ended with his greatest-known song, “Shabba.” “Performing ‘Shabba,’ ‘Work,’ and some other crowd favorites took the show through the roof. Denver is dope,” Ferg said. “Honestly, Denver was one of our best shows. Seeing 7,000 people turn up to ‘New Level’ is amazing.”

At 9:30 p.m., the lights flickered and it was time to watch the much-awaited, G-Eazy. The stage transformed into a 1950s gas station front. In classic G-Eazy fashion, he walked onto the stage donning a black leather jacket and ray-bans, and his pompadour haircut was crisp.

The rapper opened with “Random,” a song off his latest album, When It’s Dark Out. The crowd responded with automatic enthusiasm as the rapper carried on into his next song.

Songs like “Lotta That,” “Loaded,” “Let’s Get Lost,” and “Oh Well” nearly brought the house down, but the song “Far Alone” launched the arena into a frenzy.

Hip-hop artist Marty Grimes appears on the album track, and to the surprise of the audience, he ran onto the stage to take part in the performance of the mega-hit. The night finished with “I Mean It,” a bass-filled track from his 2014 album These Things Happen.

—Ashley Bauler