A$AP Rocky made his triumphant return to Los Angeles on Saturday for the rap star’s Don’t Be Dumb Tour, with a cinematic production and surprise appearances by the likes of Tyler, The Creator and Danny Elfman.
After releasing his fourth album, Don’t be stupidRocky announced his 42-stop world tour in January. Saturday’s show moved to the Kia Forum on June 27, and served as Rocky’s first Los Angeles tour stop since 2019. (He played Rolling Loud California at nearby Hollywood Park in Inglewood last year.) The journey officially launched in May and will continue across the United States through July before heading to Europe for its second leg, ending in late September.
Thousands of fans packed the Kia Forum on June 27, lining up hours before the doors opened. Upon entry, concertgoers were presented with a white and red theme Don’t be stupid Towels before taking their seats for the opening performances by artists affiliated with Rocky’s creative agency, AWGE.
The show began at approximately 9:45 p.m. when the lights went out and the sounds of helicopters echoed inside the arena. Red and blue strobe lights illuminated the space as dancers dressed in all-white snaked into the audience seating areas. Actors in black Swat Team suits were spread out on the upper floors, and hand-held lights shone on audience members. Rocky entered from the middle of the floor, completely surrounded by fans waving their towels as “Grim Freestyle” blared through the speakers.
From there, Rocky launched into “Trunks” and “HIGHJACK,” opening the evening with selections from Don’t be stupid While mixing fan favorites from across his catalog, including songs from Testing. Backed by bright lights, smoke machines, dancers, fireworks and even pyrotechnics, the performance successfully balanced his newest material with the hit songs that established his career.
The first big surprise of the night came when Grammy Award-winning composer Danny Elfman joined Rocky on stage to perform “PUNK ROCKY” and “Sundress,” adding live instrumentation to both songs. Rocky paused to learn about Elfman’s decades-long career composing scores for, among other things, movies Beetlejuice and The nightmare before christmas.
One of the biggest surprises of the night was undoubtedly hometown hero Tyler, The Creator. As the opening notes of their 2017 collaboration “Who Dat Boy” wafted across the arena, Tyler appeared to deafening cheers from the crowd. Tyler then treated the crowd to a rendition of “EARFQUAKE,” with thousands singing each song in perfect harmony with his 2019 hit.
In the final act, Rocky turns to the classics of LONG.LIVE.A$AP and LIVE.LOVE.A$APinviting fans to shout song requests throughout the arena. Favorites including “L$D” and “Excuse Me” echoed through the Forum before Rocky closed out the night with “Fashion Killa,” “Stay Here for Life” and “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2.”
Rocky continues the North American leg of Don’t be a stupid tour This evening, the first of three Canadian shows will play at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on Wednesday before shows in Edmonton and Calgary later this week. Rocky will conclude his US race on July 11 in Newark, New Jersey. The tour resumes in Europe in late August.
