Memphis rapper NLE Choppa performed at the Ryan Center on Saturday night with St. Louis rising star Sexyy Red as part of his 2023 tour.
The tour, which included major festivals such as Rolling Loud, is making its way through New England this month before moving abroad in November for five shows in Europe, one in Dubai and a full tour in Canada.
Choppa’s tour follows the releases of his 2023 “Cottonwood 2” album and hit 2023 singles “K Toven” and “It’s Getting Hot”, a song inspired by Nelly’s early-2000s banger “Hot In Herre”.
Resembling more of a frat party than a gangster rap concert, the show started off with a DJ, who performed from 7:30 p.m. when the doors opened until the main acts took the stage. The DJ played everything from Justin Bieber’s “Baby” to Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow”, and took an intermission for an unnamed opening artist to play.
Sexyy Red’s performance, which was a last-minute addition to the show, was stellar. Red played hit songs from her 2023 “Hood Hottest Princess” album such as “SkeeYee”, “Looking For The H**s” and “Pound Town 2” as well as her latest single, “Shake Yo Dreads”, which was released on Sept. 29.
NLE Choppa performed a number of songs from his new “Cottonwood 2” album and hits from across his career, such as “Do it Again”, “Camelot”, “Capo” and “Shotta Flow”.
NLE Choppa rose to A-level fame in 2019 with the release of his hit single “Shotta Flow”, which broke into the Billboard Top 40 and remains his closing song when performing live. Later in 2019, Choppa released “Camelot”, his second Billboard Top 40 song. Releasing music under his own “No Love Entertainment” label, sponsored by Warner Music, “Cottonwood 2” is Choppa’s second studio album, following his 2020 studio debut album “Shotta Flow”, the album sequel to his initial success. Aside from rap, Choppa is an avid vegan and passionate gardener, according to a YouTube video he posted three years ago on his account named “Awakened Choppa”. In the past on this account, he has explored topics relating to personal health and wellness.
Sexyy Red is a rising star in the rap world, coming from the St. Louis rap scene and stepping onto the national stage with her 2021 debut studio album “Ghetto Superstar”. Since then, Red has thrust herself into the spotlight, having released 24 singles and EPs in 2023 alone. “Hottest Hood Princess”, Red’s most recent album from June of this year, has seen medium success, with three of the 11 featured songs breaking the 10-million-streams barrier.
NLE Choppa and Sexyy Red’s performance follows September’s Death Cab For Cutie concert and precedes Omar Apollo, which will be held Thursday. That show will start at 8 p.m. More information can be found on the Ryan Center website.