Photography by Aaron Rodriguez
It’s understood amongst the majority of music enthusiasts that there’s a different archetype of song that best represents each season. Spring is a more reflective season, while fall is a season to work and project. But for San Francisco-based rapper Larry June, there really is nothing like that “Summer Reign” over the playlists of his fans. June’s music, consisting mainly of luxury rap that both motivates and relaxes the listener, encapsulates everything that Summer is meant to be about as an adult. I first discovered Larry in October of 2022 (sadly, not June). I needed a post-gym music vibe that would keep my mind stimulated but my body, exhausted from a strenuous workout, at ease. I heard “Watering My Plants” for the first time, and I knew I found the right guy. I then asked myself what it would be like to attend a live performance of music with this strange combination. As soon as he announced his tour, I knew I had to be at the Bayou Music Center on May 23rd.
Opening the show with record label mates Chezi and Monroe Flow, June ensured that his friends get the same shine and spotlight that he does. Chezi and Monroe’s captivating personality combined with his smooth melody helped me deduce their talent. However, Monroe’s one minor hit (“Convertible Options“) was not enough to carry him in leading the rager that he was trying to throw before the main act even showed up. At first, he struggled a lot with what I call ‘Opening Act Disconnect.’ This is when an opening act, currently on the come up, is trying to fake it (having crowd hype) till they make it. Meanwhile, the fans are only willing to give a sliver of the excitement that they would for the artist they know of/know better. This relationship creates the type of interactions where Monroe Flow is yelling for five minutes at the fans in the venue to put their flashlights up for a song they don’t know. It’s necessary friction, but watching it live is pretty fascinating. Despite that, Monroe performed some impressive melodic bars, and by the time he walked through the crowd, many more people appeared interested in him and his music than at first. For exposing your label mate to a new audience – Good Job Larry.
June’s performance, meanwhile, met my expectations to a T. Fans may not have been moving much, but I could see how much they were enjoying the music. June sang “Feeling Good Today,” a mood-boosting anthem establishing the clear-skies imagery that works so well with the Summer. His performance of “Wait on Me,” one of his few love songs, felt soulful and passionate – as if it was his experience but also ours. After he sang “Watering my Plants,” and “Palisades, CA,” June had a talk with the audience. “I know y’all are high, just chillin’, and that’s fine. But I need y’all to get loud for my special guest!” I thought he was going to bring a guest from his latest album The Great Escape – The Alchemist (producer and co-rapper), Big Sean, Ty Dolla $ign, or others. Instead, he brought out one of the city’s very own – none other than Trae Tha Truth, who I’ve seen pop into at least 3 other concerts in the past year. Even my mom has met the guy – he gets around in Houston. He performed “Swang” as well as “Phone Numbers,” a collab song off Wiz Khalifa’s 2011 album Cabin Fever.
After playing a few joints for the “real fans” off his old mixtapes, June concluded with “Smoothies in 1991,” the song sampling Rose Royce’s “Wishing on a Star.” This song riled the fans up, and when they cheered for an encore, June came back with “Green Juice in Dallas.”
Overall, June proved himself worthy of my playlists for years to come, and that while he may be relaxing to listen to, you can turn up to Larry June in any setting you’d like. Through the use of his healthy and organic lifestyle, June has commercialized his love for orange juice and smoothies into a clothing brand called “Midnight Organic.” His ad libs such as “Good Job Larry,” and “Sock it to Me” are also marketable and memorable to fans worldwide, ensuring his legacy in the hip-hop game is secure for years to come.
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