From Lil Wayne To Meek Mill: 7 TIDAL X Benefit Concert Highlights

On Tuesday night (October 23), TIDAL hosted its fourth annual TIDAL X concert in front of a raucous crowd at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. All proceeds from the event went toward four non-profit organizations fighting for criminal justice and prison reform across the country: Innocence Project, REFORM, Equal Justice Initiative, and #Cut50. A whopping total of thirty musical acts graced the stage over the course of the six-hour tour de force, including proven veterans like Lil Wayne, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and The Lox, as well as rising stars Anderson .Paak and Normani.

Special guests such as Ava DuVernay, Van Jones, Senator Cory Booker, Angie Martinez, and Angela Rye offered introductions and spoke at great length throughout the evening about the importance of the TIDAL X benefit concerts, that have previously raised more than $10 million for social justice, disaster relief & recovery, and education causes. Below are seven highlights from a truly memorable evening.

When asked what fans can expect from his highly-anticipated Oxnard when it drops on November 16, Paak emphasized that he had something special up his sleeve. “Big production. Me at my finest with my coach, Dr. Dre, pushing me to greatness. I’m just trying to remain the same guy in a new car. We still got the west coast sound, but we’re taking it to the next level.” Paak’s unique artistic skill set was on full display during his time in the spotlight: the Malibu artist performed “Bubblin,” as well as his groovy Kendrick-Lamar assisted single “Tints,” and even took a seat behind the drums to deliver a rousing performance of “Come Down.” With a childlike grin on his face, he then surprised fans by bringing out Too $hort for “Blow the Whistle,” the Lil Jon-produced track that was repurposed by Drake and DJ Khaled on “For Free.” Paak claimed that it was the first time the Bay Area legend had performed his 2006 hit in NYC.

Fifth Harmony may have announced a musical hiatus, but Normani made it clear that she has every intention of continuing to launch her burgeoning solo career. Amidst pyrotechnics and equally fiery choreography that left up-close observers swooning, the 22-year-old showcased a stunning stage presence that belied her age. The sultry Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Love Lies” was an immediate crowd-pleaser even in the absence of co-star Khalid, and the live debut of her unreleased track “Waves” featuring 6LACK teased even bigger things to come. Her abbreviated set came to a thrilling close, but not before the rising R&B talent brought down the house with her freshly released two-track EP with Calvin Harris.

With new music and a documentary on the way, the trio of Sheek Louch, Styles P, and Jadakiss put on a gritty performance in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Money, Power & Respect. Even with a number of younger artists on the docket, the pioneering group had no problem connecting with the audience, running through a quick medley of their hits as well as solo tracks like “Good Times.” When the remix of Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like” from the G.O.O.D. Music album Cruel Summer came on, featured artist Jadakiss made clear his strong dislike for President Donald Trump, substituting lyrics with “45” to drive the message home in front of an obliging crowd. Not to be outdone, fellow New York icon Lil’ Kim came through to assist the Yonkers all-stars with a hard-hitting rendition of “It’s All About the Benjamins.”

On a night where time was limited for even the brightest stars, plenty of up-and-coming musicians sent listeners eagerly scurrying to the search bar on streaming platforms. Cleveland native Cautious Clay’s silky smooth voice was interrupted only by his outbursts on the flute and saxophone. Jacob Banks’ steely demeanor and impassioned vocal depth elicited shivers of excitement as he performed tracks from his EP The Boy Who Cried Freedom, while the supremely talented pianist Jon Batiste offered gorgeous depth to Nat King Cole’s “What A Wonderful World.”

“Dreams & Nightmares” ushered in Meek Mill as more than 20,000 fans belted out the lyrics to arguably one of the greatest opening tracks in recent memory. Following his long overdue release from prison earlier this year, the Philly native took a moment to reiterate his intentions to “shine a light” on the criminal justice system. With air horns and “Maybach Music” adlibs blaring, Meek Mill put on a show that reaffirmed his status as one of the headliners for the cause. Clad in a custom Dreamchasers leather jacket, the MMG rapper closed things out by inviting four members of the audience on stage to hit their best Milly Rock. The “lucky” attendees ultimately cleared out to make way for viral social media star Shiggy, who offered his best attempt at the Harlem Shake while Lil Wayne’s “Uproar” played in the background.

Black Thought lived up to 9th Wonder’s claim that the emcee is “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.” The Roots’ wordsmith could have dropped the mic after executing his breakneck, 10-minute freestyle from Hot 97, but wasted no time in bringing out Fat Joe for “Lean Back” and the emphatic “Twinz (Deep Cover ‘98).” Black Thought’s lyrical prowess was matched only by Ms. Lauryn Hill, a crown jewel in an already star-studded lineup. The rare live performance featured stellar backing from the critically-acclaimed emcee’s band; a stirring version of “Ex-Factor” seemed to echo throughout the rafters long after the last note sounded.

Even at 1:15 a.m. on a work night, the wide awake Barclays Center wasted no time showering Lil Wayne with applause upon his arrival. “Without you, there’s no me,” proclaimed the Tha Carter V rapper, who finally rewarded patient fans with a deeply personal fifth installment in the series following a lengthy period of legal purgatory. Tunechi made it all worth the wait, kicking things off with his verse on Drake’s So Far Gone deep cut “I’m Goin’ In” before reaffirming his status as a Billboard mainstay with performances of “Uproar,” “Don’t Cry,” and “Let It Fly.” Riding the electric energy pulsing through the packed stands, Weezy made sure to let loose the 2008 anthem “A Milli.” It was a fitting victory lap for the rapper who’s finally making up for lost time and harvesting the fruits of his liberation from Cash Money. As the dust settled just before 2:00 a.m., Wayne left those still in attendance feeling relieved at the revitalization of one of hip hop’s undisputed greats.