JID Is Carrying the Torch as Rap’s New Spiritual Leader

On Sunday, Nov. 23, JID blessed The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving with a stop on his God Does Like Paradise Tour and reminded everyone why he gives us hope for hip-hop’s future. The tour, which kicked off in August, comes in support of his two-time, Grammy-nominated fourth album God Does Like Ugly, for which he’s up for Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Album.

Young Nudy Opens for JID on Tour

Opener Young Nudy warmed up the early crowd with his dark, ATL bounce sound. Stand out track “Iced Tea,” off Young Nudy’s latest album, Paradise, sent the crowd into a frenzy as they geared up for JID.

One of today’s strongest lyricists and beacons of hope for hip-hop, JID opened with “YouUgly,” the first track off God Does Like Ugly. JID is a rare artist who transcends generational divides within the hip-hop community with a sound and message that speaks equally to young fans and old heads alike. After the smooth flow on “Glory,” the entire crowd roared and rapped back the lyrics to the incredible standout track “Community.”

The interactive production made the entire concert experience feel larger than life. Multiple screens wrapped the venue, offering glimpses into the themes of the songs and, at times, also pointing the camera back at the audience to command the energy in the room. Three hanged, robed figures at stage right were never acknowledged, but served as the contrast to the two TVs opposite on stage right. It felt like watching TV is to turn your back on what is really going on behind you, and details like this, whether conscious or not, are testaments to the world-building and themes present in JID’s music.

The second half of the set featured hits like “Dance Now” and “Wholeheartedly.” People in the crowd roared as JID gave Yasiin Bey his flowers by playing a small section of the Aretha Franklin sampled, “Ms. Fat Booty,” on the screens before launching into his own, “Surround Sound,” which interpolates the same beat. Toward the end of the set JID tells the crowd, “there’s one more level we can hit” before launching into the show’s crescendo closing anthem, “Stick,” off the Dreamville mixtape, “D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape.

With a celebrated new album and a multi-leg international tour, JID is emerging as an artist poised to reach his prime, whose influence is making waves throughout the genre. Check out photos from Sunday’s show below.