Author: David Heinrich
Madison is still recovering from Vince Staples and Tyler, the Creator, but another stellar hip-hop show is right around the corner. The Never Had Shit tour is making its way to Madison at the High Noon Saloon this Tuesday, March 6th. This stacked bill features Chaz French, Lute, Lucien Parker, and co-headliners J.I.D. and EarthGang.
J.I.D. is an up-and-coming rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He released his debut full-length The Never Story last year. He got into the rap game by way of Hampton University, where he was attending college and playing football. He met EarthGang there, starting the collective Spillage Village. He and EarthGang copped a co-sign from J. Cole record label Dreamville and have been on the rise ever since. He takes a lot of stylistic influence from New York boom-bap rap and has named D'Angelo, Little Dragon, and Wu-Tang Clan as some of his influences.
EarthGang also come to us by way of Atlanta, Georgia. They have released 3 EPs in the past year and are releasing a full-length album later this year. The duo is comprised of Johnny “Olu O. Fann” Venus and Doctur “Eian Undrai Parker” Dot. They have a distinct psychedelic and alternative hip-hop sound that sets them apart from their peers and contemporaries. Their track “Missed Calls” from their earlier release Strays With Rabies has a beat that distinctly reminds me of something off of Flatbush Zombies' landmark tape 3001: A Laced Odyssey.
Opening the show is local rapper Lucien Parker, and he should not be slept on. He comes to Madison by way of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His popular track “Impossible” has generated a lot of buzz, but his most recent single is his best work yet. Parker and local newcomer Bravo team up for a banger on “007”, a track that's sure to get the High Noon crowd excited.
*Visit our Instagram for the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show!