Young Thug was the brightest star in Hollywood, as Los Angeles’ Palladium became his and tourmate Machine Gun Kelly’s playground. With guests galore, both performers orchestrated a turn-up for the ragers on Monday night. Party-starters on the bill also included Thug’s sisters Dora and Dolly, North Carolina MC Strick and LA rapper RJ.
Machine Gun Kelly cued up his set with a clip from Scarface, where Al Pacino recited the famous words “Say goodnight to the bad guy.” In a black ski mask, the Cleveland rapper emerged on a massive, white platform shaped like a devil’s head with horns and a sign that read Hotel Diablo -- a nod to the project he dropped earlier this year. The "Wild Boy" MC checked in with the apt opener “El Diablo” before amping up his crazy thoughts on “Lately.” He began to shed his ensemble, revealing his lanky, tatted up frame and platinum-blond hair, telling the crowd, “Let’s be clear. I’m wasted. Last night of the tour and I ain’t got shit to do tomorrow.”
He did a time check with the somber bar ballad “5:3666” and mingled with the front row, which included an 8-year-old who lent her vocals to “Candy.” Kelly then launched into a take two of the track with special guest, Trippie Redd. The star power continued with Travis Barker going ape on the drums for “I Think I’m OKAY.” MGK then grabbed the sticks and occupied the hot seat for a drum medley of his own that quickly distinguished the age groups in the audience given the range of rap and rock bangers, which included Meek Mill’s “Dreams & Nightmares” and System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!” He then fired up his barbed Eminem diss track “Rap Devil” before rocking on the guitar and delivering the YOLO anthem “Till I Die” for his finale.
In between sets, the crowd was light on their feet, giving other attendees space to break it down on the dance floor or, in one patron’s case, room to receive medical attention after she had passed out. Bags of tour merch, which included black tees with the “Hot” lyric “I love when it’s hot” emblazoned in red with an image of Young Thug and vibrant orange shirts that read in funky lettering “I love fun.” Wait times at the bathroom and bar were fleeting, making for a low-key party on a school night.
At 10:27 p.m., headliner Young Thug hit the stage with a rainbow-colored poncho and diamonds that danced in the spotlight. Soon, a parade of special guests popped up onstage: MGK re-emerged for their collaboration “Ecstasy,” as RJ in a glittery gold bomber put his shine on “Time”; King Combs did the popular 2000s dance the "Harlem Shake" before performing “Love You Better”; later, T.I. pulled up for “About the Money” before Migos brought an onslaught of jams with “Ric Flair Drip,” “Pick Up the Phone,” “Pure Water” and “Bad and Boujee.”
On the solo front, Thugger serenaded the crowd with his ratchet gospel from “Bad Bad Bad” to “Run It Up” and “Best Friend,” even swinging from a slime-green-and-red swing onstage. He then riled up the crowd -- “If you ever ran from the police, make some noise” -- before launching into his fiery smash “Hot” (sadly without Gunna). Before calling it a night, Thugga closed with the lethal combination of “Lifestyle” followed by “The London,” ending his fall trek on several high notes.
