2015 was undoubtedly defined by the meteoric rise of Fetty Wap, the New Jersey native who pseudo-sung about the love he has for his drug dealing girlfriend and packaged it as the ultimate hood anthem with national appeal (“Trap Queen”). Born Willie Maxwell II, Fetty Wap’s audible fluidity (he mires in playful bars when he’s not floating in autotune) makes him marketable while his physical appearance deviates from what society deems as attractive. Not since the Geto Boys’ Bushwick Bill has a one-eyed hip-hop artist garnered such unwavering praise and attention, though Fetty is viewed as less of a gritty mythic novelty and more of a radio-friendly character (solidified by the Taylor Swift cosign) with a knack for romanticizing harsh realities. And radio hit after radio hit guaranteed, among a plethora of things, a national tour. His first official headlining tour, Welcome to the Zoo, completely lived up to all of its hype and showcased the artist in more of a searing light.
Opener Post Malone basked in beats that could easily fit inside a cannibis dispensary–and onlookers were eager to take in his set list of blunted tracks. The Dallas native’s stage persona is less syrup-dripping Texas screwiness and more of a string of drowsily gorgeous moments; he knows how to be simultaneously lush and abrasive while keeping the audience involved. “White Iverson” served as jaunty bookends for his performance (he started and ended his set with his smash single) while songs like “What’s Up” and “Too Young” were delivered with discordant yet intriguing angles. 
By the time Fetty Wap took the stage, the crowd was riled up for his caustic energy and irresistible eccentricities. His catalogue contains signature melodies and harmonies; when performed live they were nearly combustible. “679” had just as much buoyancy as the recorded version and Fetty crooned and growled in equal measure on “My Way” (Monty was present to perform his verses on both songs as well as a few others). Other favorites like “Again” and “Time” were impressively executed (he can vocally hold his own), but the grandiosity of “Trap Queen” warranted not one rendition of it but two. By the end of the night, shirtless and sweaty, Fetty Wap proved that he takes his craft–and his undeniable love of music–very seriously. This post was sponsored by the Monster Energy Outbreak tour.