Machine Gun Kelly, Meek Mill, Wale join rapper at Colonial Life Arena
At around 7 p.m. on a brisk Columbia evening, two young women made their way down Greene Street toward the Colonial Life Arena. They braced themselves against the chilly night air, and the conversation switched between where they got their nails done that morning to what songs they hoped would be on the set list. Halfway through their trek, they stopped, leaning against a concrete ledge as they dug into oversized purses. When their hands eventually resurfaced, out came identical pairs of platform heels, nearly 6 inches high and spike-thin. Shedding sandals for these sky-high stilettos, they admired their feet with approval.
“OK, girl,” one said to the other as they teetered down the uneven sidewalk. “Now we’re ready for ’em.”
There was only place you could find some of rap’s biggest kingpins Tuesday night, and it was right here in the capital city. The Maybach Music Group made the ninth stop of its nationwide tour at Colonial Life, turning the arena into a virtual dance club, complete with sick rap flow and an ear-quenching bass that would rattle the bones of even Tupac and Biggie 6 feet under.
The night’s headliners included Philly-based rapper Meek Mill, lyric impresario Wale and of course, the boss man himself, Rick Ross. Although fans would have to wait to see the Maybach trio take the stage, the tour’s opening jockey, DJ Scream, was on deck to fill the pre-Rozay airspace with hit samples of Lil’ Boosie, Waka Flocka Flame and Weezy that got the crowd on its feet and grinding before the lights were fully dimmed. After a 30-minute spin session, the four massive TV screens were taken over by a flashing police chase montage, matching the “County Jail” set, highlighted by whirling red siren lights flooding the stage. After a few gunshot pops echoed throughout the rafters, out came the rap kamikaze known as Machine Gun Kelly.
Ricocheting around the stage in a prison-issue orange jumpsuit and high-top Converse sneakers, Machine Gun Kelly resembles any other tall, lanky white guy you pass on the street. That is, until he opens his mouth. With one of the fastest tongues to hit the rap world in some time, he spit out cut after cut from his debut album “Lace Up,” pausing only to roll down his jumpsuit for a quick reveal of his heavily tattooed arms and rap persona initials, “MGK,” inked across his back. His rap skills are rivaled only by his stage presence, which was a slight mix of rock (he performs not only with a DJ but also a guitarist and drummer) with signature hip-hop style. He moves erratically around the stage, hopping on the drum kit, the stage barriers and everywhere except the heads of the audience before dishing out an impromptu dance routine and ending his set.
Next up was Wale, known throughout the industry for his lyrical genius and hip, New Age style. And he certainly didn’t disappoint, entering the stage with his famous dreads threaded up in a red knit cap, classic Ray Bans and plenty of gold chains piled on. After a brief introduction, he launched into hit tracks, and the pulsating crowd rapped right along with tracks from his “Ambition” album as well as a few choice cuts from his previous mixtapes. Meek Mill then rose up on the stage, intoxicating the room with rap game as he delved into his past, his rise to the top and being a part of the Maybach family – all through distinct verse and rhyme. The pair performed several songs from the “Self Made” series before inviting the Boss on stage. Like Meek Mill, Wale was decked out in layers of gold, but neither had anything on Rick Ross, who finally took the stage nearly two hours into the show.
Rising up in a cloud of smoke among hundreds of waving hands and shouts of “Rozay!” from the already amped-up crowd, Ross took the stage, donning his signature dark shades and sparkling chains that catch the light of countless stage lights. While he performed some songs from his most recent album, “God Forgives. I Don’t,” it was his on-stage collaborations with Wale and Meek Mill that really made the show for the fans. His thunderous voice was barely heard over the screaming crowd, and he rapped through bits and pieces of “I’m on One,” “Aston Martin Music” and “All I Do Is Win,” before taking on full tracks like “9 Piece” and “I’m Not a Star” with a throaty swagger that proved he really is the heavyset boss of his game.
“You want to know why I love Columbia, South Carolina?” he boomed over the mic. “Because all y’all down here know how to hustle. And if you keep on your game, the rewards are great. God bless.”