XXL reports…
This past Saturday (August 8), Wiz Khalifa headlined at this year’s Boston Urban Music Festival. The annual free show, a collaboration between the mayor’s office and HUB media, also featured local hip-hop act M-Dot, as well as Harvard graduate singer/rapper Ryan Leslie. However, with chants of “We Want Wiz!” growing throughout the afternoon, it became increasingly apparent that this was an audience of Taylor Gang supporters, ready to see their rising star take the stage.
When Khalifa finally did come out, performing his verse off Rick Ross’s “Super High Remix,” the stage was rushed with diehard fans almost immediately, sending the Pittsburgh, PA MC running off stage and temporarily stopping the show. [Watch below]
“Because [of] the energy and the feeling from the crowd, it hit us like a ton of bricks,” Shadyville radio personality, DJ Peter Parker, who was on stage with Wiz, told XXLMag.com ”You can even see Wiz starts to panic. Nobody knew what to do.”
“I just wanted them to relax, because [Boston Mayor Thomas] Menino was telling me, ‘We’re gonna shut this down, we’re gonna shut this down,’” he continued.
Luckily for all involved, the show went on. The 2010 XXL Freshman returned shortly after, joking with the crowd about the incident and downplaying the situation. “Don’t worry about that stuff earlier guys, I know how shit just gets crazy sometimes.” He then launched into several hits off his Kush & Orange Juice mixtape including, “Waken Baken,” “Mezmorized,” “Never Been” and “In the Cut.” Khalifa then performed another fan favorite, “Ink My Whole Body,” after removing his tank top—much to the delight of the many female fans in attendance. After an eventful start and impressive set, Wiz winded down the concert with his single “This Plane,” off his 2009 album Deal or No Deal.
Weeks removed from his freshly signed deal with Atlantic Records, Wiz has fans eagerly awaiting what will be the next step for the 22-year-old star as his stock continues to rise. Boston fans looking for a more intimate Wiz performance can buy tickets for his November 21 show at the Paradise Rock Club starting next week.—Neil Martinez-Belkin
