JPEGMafia and Danny Brown @ Agora (6/29/23)
Last night was a show like no other. JPEGMafia and Danny Brown came to the Agora and put on a performance that will go down in history as legend. As Myth. Because what the powerhouse duo brings to the audience is akin to attending liturgy. Everybody sang word for word, beat to beat, and danced feverishly to the night. It’s a celebration of how JPEGMafia and Danny Brown created a masterpiece album together called Scaring the Hoes.
The audience adored the duo and couldn't get enough. There was so much joy in how Peggy and Danny brought their camaraderie and dynamic showmanship to their fans. The two performed the first few songs together off the collab album, trading explosive lyrics effortlessly. In one moment, Peggy would be firing off and running to the front of the stage, often interacting with the fans. Danny with his cool aura, would be jumping to hype the crowd up and deliver non-stop lyrics with insane speed.
After the first few collab songs, JPEGMafia took the stage solo and performed hits such as “1539 N. Calvert” and “BALD!”. Then the two joined back on stage to perform the collab songs which also includes one called “Hermanos” from their Expansion EP. When it was Danny Brown’s turn with the solo setlist, the crowd went wild to songs such as “When It Rain” and “Monopoly”.
The production of the show was inspired by video games, as much as JPEGMafia’s soundscape and sampling is as well. The backdrop of the stage was a homage to the CAPCOM arcade fighting game Street Fighter. You could watch a LED screen of game stages and health bars of JPEGMafia and Danny Brown. It added to the feeling that the audience was witnessing a legendary phenomenon, where there’s this intersection of pop culture and revolutionary music being intertwined. Even Peggy had some fun when he did a short a cappella cover of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen.
The show was memorable and one that I’ll never forget. I can only hope the two make even more music together because the Scaring the Hoes tour is one not to be missed. And I would be remiss if I did not mention that alt music artist Starberry who opened also put on a fun and warm show for the audience. He had a rapturous presence and an amazing voice. Starberry brought such a welcoming energy and the dances on stages really made the overall night a legend.
Words and Photos by Kevin NG
Starberry
JPEGMafia and Danny Brown
