“Oh Philly, we’re here to fuck shit up,” exclaimed Run The Jewels rapper Killer Mike as the hip-hop duo took the stage last night to begin their headlining performance as part of Goose Island’s 215 Block Party in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday. And “Fuck shit up” they did, indeed, as the popular rap duo took over Franklin Music Hall’s outdoor stage.
The group’s pistol and fist trademark hand signs were evident everywhere you turned as fans wrapped the corner of 7th Street waiting to get in the door. The event was hosted fully outside on a gorgeous September afternoon and had all the trappings of an outdoor festival without all the insane bathroom lines, tent cities, and “influencers.” The Block Party was packed to capacity with fans from all walks of life ready to see the hottest duo in hip hop.
The event also featured the return of the RTJ/Goose Island 2016 collaboration brew, “Love Again,” an American Pale Wheat that’s both dangerously delicious and easy on the palette. Beer connoisseurs and rap fans alike waited in long draft lines, eager to get a taste of the rap duo’s tasty beverage, which was being slung at the outrageously reasonable price of $3 a draft.
Related: Bernie Sanders Talks Policy With Run The Jewels’ Killer Mike In New Interview [Watch]
The show was kicked off by an energetic performance from Philadelphia rapper Freeway, who brought all of his classic Roc-A-Fella hits to life. Freeway set the tone for the evening with a spirited and hype presentation with his Kanye West-Yasiin Bey collaboration “Two Words” while also being joined by fellow Roc alum and Philly rapper Peedi Crakk for their massive hit, “Flipside”. Freeway was also joined by Neef Buck, one half of Roc alum duo Young Gunz, and performed a smattering of additional Roc classics, including “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”, “Roc The Mic”, and finally ending with “What We Do”.
Following Freeway was an eclectic performance by rock band Chevy Metal. The group–hailed as “the ultimate cover band” and led by Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on vocals–played a loud and boisterous medley of songs from Jane’s Addiction, Van Halen, and David Bowie. Hawkins was electric from pillar to post, never wavering with swaggering hips and topped with a floppy watermelon designed beach hat. The crowd was pumped by the performance and kept the momentum and energy alive for the headliners as Chevy Metal plowed through the highlight of their set–a fiery cover of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love” which heard guitarist Mick Murphy deliver a note-for-note mastery of the classic solo originally performed by Eddie Van Halen.
Run The Jewels took the stage to thunderous applause and a hearty chant of the group’s initials, “RTJ.” Killer Mike and El-P set the tone and tenor for their performance from the gate, as the bass drop of their opening song, “Talk to Me” nearly knocked the crowd off their feet. Akin to what it would be like watching Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson spar together, the members of RTJ delivered a sensory overload to the masses while offering everything from “Stay Gold” to “36’’ Chain”. The performance was less a concert and more a collective group presentation, similar to that of a congregation chanting powerful hymnals on Sunday morning at the Church of the Jewels, with Father El and Deacon Mike delivering the homilies. There is absolutely nothing on earth quite like a Run The Jewels show. Everybody threw the pistol and fist in Philly last night, and as promised, they indeed “fucked shit up.”
Scroll down for a full gallery from Saturday’s event, courtesy of photographer Adam Barnard.
