Aminé
Metro // Chicago, IL // November 18, 2017
Smart hip hop is here to stay.
The Metro is one of Chicago’s most iconic venues, and the no-bullshit vibe of the Metro was perfect for Aminé. The Portland-based hip hop artist wrapped up the U.S. leg of his Good For You tour in Chicago as part of Red Bull Sound Select’s #30DaysinChicago, and he made it a night to remember. Aminé has been making tracks for about 4 years, but his single “Caroline” went viral last year and went to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The accompanying video has over 200 million views on YouTube and got Aminé on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Due to mainstream recognition, Aminé was able to create his first studio album, Good For You on Republic Records, which debuted at #31 on the US Billboard 200.
It’s easy to see Aminé selling out arenas with his stylish beats and sharp lyrics. His newest single and video, “Spice Girl“, showcases Aminé’s fast raps and tongue-in-cheek visuals of hip hop’s ideas of women. Scary Spice herself even makes a cameo in the video. His videos and aesthetic are a crucial part of his persona; the stage was adorned with a giant “Good For You” blow-up statue, and the lights were always bright and colorful. Aminé’s website is designed to work like the home screen of an iPhone, allowing you to share photos with him via the “Photos” app.
Southern rapper Pell opened up for Aminé and got people dancing and rapping along. Pell has been releasing singles since 2013 and released his project Floating While Dreaming in 2014 to critical acclaim. Pell became more well-known when he toured and collaborated with G-Eazy. Pell’s tracks are simple but right on point with what’s going on today. Openers can make or break the energy for the night, but Pell had everyone paying attention. Playing his hit single “Chirpin’” alongside some of his old tracks, his enthusiasm and love for the crowd was through the roof. His raps are fast, crisp, and complimented Aminé’s style perfectly. Pell even brought out Chicago’s own Saba for one of his tracks to the delight of the crowd.
The #30DaysinChicago event has brought tons of amazing indie artists to the city, but Aminé’s show was one of the most highly anticipated. As hip hop finally gathers steam and becomes a more mainstream genre, artists like Aminé and Pell are being given the attention they rightfully deserve. Aminé played new and old tracks and some incredible covers. With the help of his live band, he segued into a funky version of TLC’s “No Scrubs”, then went right into Kanye West’s “Gold Digger”. The Metro was bouncing up and down all night long, and Chicago is eagerly awaiting Aminé to come back soon.
Aminé continues his Good For You tour overseas on November 30th in Paris and will be back in Portland for two hometown shows at the end of December. Tickets for his shows can be found on his website.
