Oakland Arena | Oakland, CA| 9.30.22
Both Kehlani and Rico Nasty provided a larger than life performance while utilizing a minimalist set up with a silk sheet hanging delicately behind the artists.
The sold-out hometown show brought Kehlani to tears. I could feel how proud the Oakland crowd was of her and her success. And I knew she felt that too. It was through the intense clamor behind me in the photo pit as everyone yelled along to the artist’s songs that I could tell. With the countless shows I’ve done in front of the barricade, I haven’t experienced the intensity of a crowd like that before.
When I first learned about this show and artists that were touring with Kehlani, I expected there to be a clash. Rico Nasty’s intensity coinciding with Kehlani’s sultry musical composition did not mix well in my mind. However, I was proven wrong yesterday night.
Rico Nasty kicked off her set with a bang. The crowed was hyped beyond belief – everyone jumped up from their chairs and danced like there was no tomorrow. Phones were flying to capture every moment the artist was on stage. When she performed “Tia Tamara”, a collaboration with Doja Cat, no one could resist the urge to rap every line.
Rico’s performance left the crowd hungry for more. We waited in agony for the moment the lights would dim and Kehlani would appear on stage. Then, it happened. The crowd was exuberant; the screams of excitement were almost deafening.
First came the dancers dressed in all white. As they danced along to an instrumental track playing behind them, the artist walked to the center of the stage and got into position. Her white mic stand was simplistic, but it allowed for the focus to be drawn towards Kehlani herself. She briefly soaked in the moment before going into her performance.
Her time on stage felt like a beautiful dream, one that you don’t want to wake up from. Her choreography blended perfectly with the overall vibe of the show. And to top it all off, Kehlani’s voice sounded even better in person than the studio recordings. Overall, I was over the moon with this opportunity to witness these magical moments. I hope I can see both Rico and Kehlani do what they love again in the near future.
Check out the full gallery below!
