Smino and Wale brought their co-headlining Everything Is A Lot tour to Austin for a sold-out Saturday night of hip-hop and summer vibes at Stubb’s Amphitheater.
Two of the most underrated and creative artists of their respective eras, Smino and Wale, set out on one of the best summer tours announced this year. Appropriately named the Everything Is A Lot tour after Wale’s latest album release, the tour and album title encapsulated the feelings many people are going through with the state of the world today. With their uplifting sounds, smooth harmonies, and feel-good summer anthems, Wale and Smino gave music fans an evening to let loose, forget about the seriousness of life, and enjoy a night of community and live music.
The sold-out concert at the downtown Austin venue, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, featured a line of fans wrapped around the block on a warm June evening in anticipation of the summer show. Stubb’s BBQ was a fitting location, as the warm, nostalgic atmosphere mirrored the feeling of a summer cookout at the end of the school year. The tour’s DJ kicked off the night by tapping into the crowd’s excitement, playing throwback summer jams from the early 2000s as the venue danced along.
After 30 minutes of warming up to classic tracks, Midwest R&B artist Smino hit the stage. Melding melodies with clever wordplay and sharp bars, Smino delivered his signature style of hip-hop and R&B to an enthusiastic audience. Known for his smooth finesse on the mic, Smino brought a strong stage presence while showing off his vocal talents and rhyming abilities. Since Smino was promoting a new project, he gave fans the hits, playing songs like “Z4L,” “Anita,” and “Amphetamine.” For younger audience members, it was everything they could ask for, while for older fans who came for Wale, it was a great demonstration of modern hip-hop quality.
After that performance, DMV native and veteran rapper Wale graced the stage with cool confidence. Much like Smino, Wale is an underappreciated artist of his era who has collaborated with greats like Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Rick Ross, while often being hailed by fans as a top talent on the Maybach Music Group roster. His day-one fans recognize his creativity and appreciate the Seinfeld references sprinkled throughout his music catalog. His album Everything Is A Lot has received high praise from critics as one of his best projects to date.
Wale’s setlist offered a mix of new songs alongside classic hits like “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and “Ambition.” As the live show came to a close, the night left the crowd in high spirits from the talent they witnessed onstage.
I’m a photographer currently based in Austin after recently relocating from Denver, CO. I graduated from the University of Colorado, Denver in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. I love music of all genres and have been going to live shows since I was 5 years old. Some of my favorite artist currently include Freddie Gibbs, Lola Young, Ivy Lab and Knocked Loose, but that is always subject to change.
