More than halfway through his American tour dates, Hoodie Allen brings The Hype World Tour to Atlanta on November 10 at Center Stage Theater.
The Hype World Tour indeed brought the hype to Atlanta. Young Californian artist Myles Parrish started off the show with a bang. His high-energy set from his debut album, Vomac, had the whole crowd jumping throughout the theater, and the rapper finished by jumping into the cheering crowd. Following Parrish, fellow LA-based artist rapper and singer Luke Christopher took the stage and maintained the high energy level while changing the tempo to his own sound. Though both artists touring with Hoodie Allen hail from Los Angeles, they have uniquely different sounds that prepared the crowd for Hoodie’s signature sound.
When Hoodie first appeared on stage, he launched into a few selections from his third and most recent studio album, The Hype. The aptly named tour is defined by Hoodie’s constant movement and high energy. The crowd mirrored the dynamic performance by the rapper and band, dancing and singing along.
At one point Hoodie informs the crowd that this show has the biggest crowd on his tour so far, and that he should throw in some extra songs to Atlanta’s set list to say thank you. He proceeds to perform songs from his beloved first EP, All American. With nonstop interaction between the performers and the crowd, Hoodie demonstrates the unifying charisma that has made him so successful. His focus on relationships with every individual fan may be the defining factor that has made him such a popular artist despite the fact his albums are all self-released and he refuses to sign to an established record label. At the show, he thanked the audience for their involvement and tells them that they are the driving force in everything he does.
During the concert, Hoodie asked the audience to text a number for a chance to be brought up stage. Midway through his set, Hoodie brought everything to a stop to call the lucky fan. The audience waited in silence for their phones to ring, and when the lucky caller is named her walk to the stage is accompanied by the band. Hoodie whispers into the fan’s ear, and she announces that it’s time for a “Surprise Party,” as the hit begins to play.
The night continues with the electric energy in the air, leading up to one of the most iconic moments of any Hoodie Allen show. During his performance of the song “Cake Boy,” Hoodie and his team throw cakes across the theater from the stage. This confectionery surprise only raises the audience energy even higher through the tail end of the show.
The Hype album and tour certainly lived up to their name, and Hoodie’s love for his craft is apparent in every show. The respect and appreciation for his loyal fan base is evident, and likely contributes to the communal feeling in the venue. The Hype World Tour continues through mid-December, ending in Manchester, UK. Tickets are still available for many show dates, and for fans of the rapper, it is an experience not to be missed.
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