Photography by Aaron Rodriguez
Itās understood amongst the majority of music enthusiasts that thereās 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 āSummer Reignā over the playlists of his fans. Juneās 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 āWatering My Plantsā 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 Monroeās captivating personality combined with his smooth melody helped me deduce their talent. However, Monroeās 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 donāt know. Itās 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 ā Good Job Larry.
Juneās 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 āFeeling Good Today,ā a mood-boosting anthem establishing the clear-skies imagery that works so well with the Summer. His performance of āWait on Me,ā one of his few love songs, felt soulful and passionate ā as if it was his experience but also ours. After he sang āWatering my Plants,ā and āPalisades, CA,ā June had a talk with the audience. āI know yāall are high, just chillinā, and thatās fine. But I need yāall to get loud for my special guest!ā I thought he was going to bring a guest from his latest album The Great Escape ā The Alchemist (producer and co-rapper), Big Sean, Ty Dolla $ign, or others. Instead, he brought out one of the cityās very own ā none other than Trae Tha Truth, who Iāve seen pop into at least 3 other concerts in the past year. Even my mom has met the guy ā he gets around in Houston. He performed āSwangā as well as āPhone Numbers,ā a collab song off Wiz Khalifaās 2011 album Cabin Fever.
After playing a few joints for the āreal fansā off his old mixtapes, June concluded with āSmoothies in 1991,ā the song sampling Rose Royceās āWishing on a Star.ā This song riled the fans up, and when they cheered for an encore, June came back with āGreen Juice in Dallas.āĀ
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 youād 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 āMidnight Organic.ā His ad libs such as āGood Job Larry,ā and āSock it to Meā 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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