When the Rocky and Tyler Tour was initially announced, the general thought was why the hell are these two artists who appear to be on opposite ends of the hip-hop universe touring with each other? Even they admitted it in their trailer for the show. "When they first told me about this I was like, naw that's weird," said Tyler. Everything made sense after watching A$AP Rocky, Tyler, The Creator, Danny Brown and Vince Staples perform their asses off at the sold-out show at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in NYC last night (Sept. 22). Each MC, though artistically unique in their own way, boast a common thread: the self-scrutiny in their own craft and a courage to stretch beyond the imposed creative box placed by onlookers. If you examine all of their latest project—Vince's Summertime '06, Danny Brown's Old, Tyler's Cherry Bomb and Rocky's At. Long. Last. ASAP—each one tried to grow creatively in whatever way they saw fit.

Vince Staples
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The show started promptly at 8 p.m., shocking a lot of rap fans in attendance as they scurried on in. Vince was first up and the current 2015 XXL Freshman brought a breath of fresh air that was both rewards and exciting to watch. Performing cuts off his latest LP and past projects, Staples' truthful street narratives correlated nicely with his stage presence. After his brief set, it's safe to think that the West Coast may have another star on the rise.

Danny Brown
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Danny Brown is one of the most interesting MCs in hip-hop today. Gifted with a voice that is as flexible as Young Thug, charisma, lyrical prowess, this former XXL Freshman is born to rap on a stage. As he ripped through songs from his catalogue, fans got to witness the range in which he can use his talents, flipping his voice from low bass to high-screeching volume. The anticipation for his new album just got a lot bigger.

Tyler, The Creator
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Next up was Tyler, who mixed up his mosh-pit ready anthems and r&b-esque records that will invigorate the soul of any human being. The Odd Future creator showcased his patented energy and stage presence. Whatever he wanted the crowd to do, they did. He demanded their attention and participation. He rattled through songs like "Deathcamp," which sounds way better live, "Domo 23" and "Tron Cat" to get the crowd hype on their feet. Tyler switched things up with smooth hits like "IFHY," "Fucking Young/Perfect" and "Bimmer." In-between it all, he flipped from tranquil to irate as he recited his bars.

A$AP Rocky
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Finally was Rocky, who brought along the A$AP Mob. The tone was set very early, “Fuck all that mainstream shit” Rocky announced. The Harlem native was back home in NYC and you could see the exuberance in his eyes from the balcony. In adidas track pants and a gray Palace tee, the Mob boss performed in an elaborate stage set up with lights that appear to be inspired by an enjoyable drug trip. Fitting, since during his performance of "L$D," he did "JD," "Pretty Flacko 2" and "M's" previously, there was so much weed smoke in the air that it was actually difficult to see him on stage. The biggest takeaway from the concert was how happy Rocky appeared. He never stopped smiling and thanking the crowd repeatedly. "This tour is all about artist creativity," he stated while explaining why Tyler, Vince and Danny are touring with him. When fellow Mob members A$AP Nast and A$AP Twelvyy were performing their songs, Pretty Flacko could be seen playing hypeman for them. After he closed with "Wild For The Night," he looked around the audience and noted how multicultural it was. "If no one has love for y'all, understand Flacko got love for you," he said before he walked off the stage. The Rocky and Tyler Tour is a show every rap fan should see.

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