Chief Keef’s Explosive Summer Smash Performance Was The Homecoming Fans Were Begging For: Review

BYCaroline Fisher7.2K Views
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Chief Keef Summer Smash review
RIDGEVIEW, ILLINOIS - JUNE 16: Chief Keef performs during the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival at SeatGeek Stadium on June 16, 2024 in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)
"I'm back motherf*cker!"

Tensions were high on the third day of Summer Smash 2024. Ahead of sets from the likes of Waka Flocka Flame, Ken Carson, and, of course, Chief Keef himself, the festival had to be evacuated due to “high winds.” This left eager attendees concerned, angry, and confused -- factors perhaps exacerbated by intense heat, a myriad of whichever substances may have allegedly snuck their way in past lovely venue security staff, and a heavy police presence. The looming threat of the whole fest getting shut down for good only made matters more serious for those who had waited all weekend for Chief Keef’s set. Luckily, the gates reopened after roughly an hour of crowds lingering just outside the festival grounds. As fans rushed to reclaim their spots, assess the now-reconfigured lineup, and get back to the action, a collective sense of relief swept the festival grounds.

In just minutes, performances had resumed. Most seemed to have been re-energized by the impromptu intermission, as well as the much-needed temperature drop caused by a brief downpour. Due to the evacuation, each artist’s set had to be pushed back, meaning there were shorter breaks between them. Now-back-to-back performances left little to no opportunity for a lull in the crowd’s energy. However, as the clock struck 9 p.m., Chief Keef was nowhere in sight. After a few minutes, people became antsy, rubber-necking the stage as mumblings of what was taking so long moved through the sea of people. Unfortunately, this would continue for quite some time. Sosa didn’t make it onto the stage until over half an hour after he was scheduled to begin.

Chief Keef Performs In Chicago For The First Time In Over A Decade

Once he finally did make his entrance, he was welcomed by a greeting best described as thunderous. Fans knew they were witnessing history in the making, and after a day plagued by uncertainty, they were grateful that the most eagerly anticipated moment of the weekend was finally underway. This was the first time the drill pioneer performed in his hometown of Chicago in over a decade. It felt like the peak of the tremendous hometown pride on display all weekend. He opened with the intro from his latest release, Almighty So 2, and the crowd went wild. “I’m back motherf*cker,” he declared, marking the start of something no less than explosive.

Chief Keef rolled right into "Treat Myself," another fan-favorite from his new album, before diving into some older material. This is when things became truly electric. He moved through cuts like “B*tch Where,” “Kay Kay,” and more in a celebration of the decade-plus-long discography that brought him to the top. He even brought out fellow Chicago MC G Herbo for a performance of "Who Run It," his eldest daughter, and more.

Sosa Comes Home

Chief Keef performs during the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival at SeatGeek Stadium on June 16, 2024 in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)

Chief Keef took a momentary pause before crashing into “Faneto," and for obvious reasons, the crowd lit up. This was the first time ever that Chicago fans saw a live rendition of the hit. It was followed by even more classics before the show ended with a fireworks display. Attendees were amped as ever after songs like "Love Sosa" and "I Don't Like." Then, the show was cut off. It seemed as though things ended sooner than anyone involved would have liked. It left no time for other major hits, though this was clearly out of Chief Keef's control. Unfortunately, it managed to dull the shine of the finale and led to some confusion onstage.

This confusion wasn't exclusive to the finale either, as it was prevalent at other points in the show. For instance, while the crowd swelled with excitement during the intro to “Love Sosa,” Rara ran out to give fans a live version of his infamous rant. In a bizarre turn of events, he was promptly thrown to the ground by security and escorted off the stage. The worrisome mix-up took away from the powerful moment and left some questioning if it could have been avoided. Overall, the performance left little to be desired. Chief Keef and his crew's energy was on ten, and his historic return certainly lived up to fans' high expectations.

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is a News Writer at HotNewHipHop from Chicago, Illinois. She started at HNHH this year, and has since spent her time writing about all that is newsworthy in the world of hip-hop. With a drive for hunting down the hottest stories, she enjoys documenting new developments in culture and entertainment. She also has an appreciation for hip-hop and seeks to cover the most important trends and shifts. She has a Bachelor of Arts which she received at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having graduated in 2022, she majored in English with a concentration in Media, Rhetoric and Cultural Studies. Specializing all things music, pop culture and entertainment, some of her favorite musical artists include Snoop Dogg, OutKast, and Nicki Minaj. When she’s not writing about music she’s also a fan of attending shows, watching the latest movies, staying up-to-date with current events, photography, and poetry.
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