Ty Dolla Sign’s “In Too Deep Tour” Hits Houston : Concert Review by @niksofly

Photo courtsey of my boy @fbaindmix : Ty Dolla $ign at Warehouse Live 

Friday night was anything , but typical. If you were in Houston, the place to be was at  Warehouse Live for the Ty Dolla $ign Concert.  The  “In Too Deep Tour” made its stop in the city of candy paint and purple drank on October 3^rd .  Thanks to @djmrrogers of 93.7  the Beat, I was granted access to experience the energy known as The Ty.  If you have never experienced  The Ty, I advise you to do so…pronto.

DJ Mr Rogers appeared to have his work cut out as the crowd seemed to be on ice (amongst other things). After a quick drop of a radio favorite, the ladies loosened up and the men had no other choice, but to follow suit.  Not only did he captivate the audience, he allowed the attendees to dictate his mix via twitter.  Our musical appetite was satisfied with the delectable taste each coast offered. When Mr. Rogers brought it down south to the Boot with Lil Boosie and Kevin Gates , I relived my undergraduate experience, but nothing made me feel more at home than the Houston mix that featured some of my favorites from UGK .

Don Money  from the 4-4 ( Acres Homes) was the first to take the stage. He possessed stage presence and had the ability to engage the crowd with dope beats and command of the microphone.  For a moment, I could have sworn Don Money was the reason I came. His ability to hit a smooth two step as he spat his bars was intriguing. It isn’t everyday that you witness a hardcore rapper “whip it up” on  stage. L.A.D. did their thing receiving head nods from the audience.  A delightful surprise was Chicago’s own-Lil Bibby , whose mixtape “Free Crack 2” was critically acclaimed by XXL and received honors amongst positive reviews. Bibby – no stranger to the rap game, has been making headway in the industry  since the release of his first effort “Free Crack” last year. Vibe labeled him as a rapper to watch. Bibby’s calm demeanor and luxurious base tone entranced the crowd. It was almost as if he was lyrically seducing the women as he performed although his content had nothing to do with the sort. The barely 20 year old managed to score a few ladies who wanted to kick it in a more personal setting. One was so eager, she fell as Bibby’s tiny friend appeared to bite off more than he could chew when he attempted to lift her over the barricade. The humorous moment came when said girl attempted to inconspicuously crawl on stage after the fall …( I saw you,lol).  I wouldn’t be surprised if Baller Alert receives mail regarding the encounter.

A quick interlude with DJ Mr. Rogers heightened the anticipation of Ty Dolla $ign. Something about The Ty brings out all of Houston’s royalty. OG Ron C dropped in. The legendary Scarface and Rap-A-Lot came out to show love, but the real treat was  when fan favorite- Houston Rockets’ shooting guard, James “ The Beard” Harden, simulated DJ’ing for a split second.  DJ Dre Sinatra took over. And then, the moment I was waiting for. The reason I confirmed wearing my Cement IV’s was a great idea, the energy known as The Ty entered. After suffering the loss of his grandfather the day before, Ty Dolla still insisted on giving Houston his all.  If you thought the “Paranoid” singer was a one hit wonder, think again. The eclectic artist has more ammo in his arsenal. I have no idea in which genre I wanted to classify Ty Dolla . It is safe to say he transcends barriers.  Performing songs such as “ Type Of B*tch I Hate” and “Paranoid” makes me think of him as a rapper.  But the moment he brought the Texas pecan on stage and caressed her vocally, I saw him as a singer. “Stretch” and “Know Why I came” definitely had the ladies hoping their panty liners didn’t fail them. And for those that  couldn’t turn the faucet off, Ty Dolla invited 10 of them back to his tour bus. Coyly he reminded them that they knew why they were coming (all puns intended).  Ty Dolla surprised Houstonians when fan favorite , Kirko Bangz graced the stage to perform “Hoe”. The Ty resonated with his fans as he performed ” Drank N Cranberry”. He even gave the audience an ice cold bottle of what appeared to be Bombay Sapphire Gin.  “ Lord Knows” and “ In Too Deep” were hits as well.  My  moment came when the artistic ball of talent performed “ Or Nah”. I am not ashamed to admit that. It isn’t lyrically revolutionary, but it is melodically seductive.  Who can’t appreciate a straight shooter?  

I studied the dread head his entire set. When you hear the name Ty Dolla $ign, you don’t think of a dreamy green-eyed, free spirit. His name doesn’t encompass his depth. His style is a relaxed rocker, yet he has a grill. His music is definitely urban with nuances of pop. I think it is brilliant. As a branding entity, I think it translates that you shouldn’t expect the typical from Ty Dolla.  This is the same guy who put something in the air and then hoped on the base guitar.  I will definitely check him out again.  -Niko Rose