Anti - Slay
Hey hey!
I just stopped by real quick to share with you the shenanigans that took place last weekend.
So last weekend was the Easter weekend and I took a quick trip to NYC to go see my friends and also to go see Bae (Rihanna) at her first Brooklyn stop on the Anti World Tour. I was excited and a little anxious at the same time because it was my first trip back to Brooklyn in almost a year and I was just ready to see Rih.
Well, after a two hour flight and a day and a half, it was finally Sunday. I was hoping that the weather would have been nice to me, but it was in turn chilly and annoying. So much that I changed outfits twice for the concert because I was trying to fit the weather; one minute it was chilly as heck and the next minute it was warm and nice. It eventually decided on chilly so I ended up going for a casual dressy top, jeans and my trusted Converse; not as cute as I initially planned, but warm enough for me not to freeze.
Excuse the shab. I don't like taking pictures. It's literally the worse thing to get me to do - I did try
Moving on, I met up with some really nice people who were also going to the show and we hung out for a bit until we moved on to the venue.
*Side Note: there was this really cute guy at the bar we went to. Whoosh! he was so fine. The finest Trini I have ever met. Yes.
Anyways, I ended up getting to the venue a couple minutes before the show actually started, so with time to spare, pictures were taken and more drinks were bought and so on. Fast forward -
Concert time!
First up, was special guest the ro... *ahem* Travis Scott. I didn't know what to expect from dude because I really don't care for him. I tried listening to his album but I just can't get into him. I was surprised at how energetic he was. I really can't lie, dude had the crowd going for the thirty minutes he was on stage. He was bouncing all over the place and hopping and yelling - his set was VERY loud - At one point during "Antidote" - which was flames - he took his shirt off. Granted, I didn't need to see that, but I figured it was all for a good time. I didn't get much footage of his set because I missed most of it being petty.
After Scotty boy left, the place was calm and humming as people were buzzing about finding their seats or meeting up with people or just walking around. I want to say after about maybe 10 minutes or so the lights started to dim and the intro to "Stay" began. The crowd started to cheer and cheer. After a while the cheers got louder and that is when I knew it was time. I followed everybody else's stares and turned to my right. That's when I spotted a moving white hood coming towards my direction.
Listen. When I saw Rihanna coming through the tunnel, I lost my shit. Thankfully you can't really hear it in the video, but you can hear the girls behind me who were equally losing their minds. I was standing there like "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!" - Just dying. First of all, I couldn't believe how close she was to me. Not front row close, but close enough where I could see her face perfectly clear. The camera makes it seem like she was super far away but she really wasn't. I've always heard people say how gorgeous she is in person and on Sunday I saw for myself up close - STUNNING! Her skin is beautiful and smooth like a baby's ass. I personally would like to know is which lotion she use. She probably bathes in milk and oils and not basic soap and water like the rest of us. I highly doubt that, but with that skin, I wouldn't be surprised.
Enough of the mumbling.
Of course, the crowd went ballistic when she fully emerged onto her B-stage. Even though she was in her hoodie, she was glowing under the spotlight - It was a sight to behold. She came out crooning "Stay" and then moved into "Love The Way You Lie Part 2". Then came the walkway thingy and my good sis "Woo" punched through. The crowd was jamming down. I was surprised they knew the words. "Sex With Me" came through and fucked me up. Rih was working it on the walkway; oozing "I came here to fuck ya'll up tonight" and I loved every minute of it. Eventually she made her way over to the main stage - which was completely white and very simple - with "Birthday Cake". One of my heaux anthems, "Pour It Up" was next. The crowd was ready for this one and Rih and her dancers were giving classy ratchet bubbling. My baby "Numb" was up for a quick second and then she went into "Bitch Better Have My Money". The crowd was also here for this one - TURNT - Rih's on stage giving me choreo and smiles. The dancer breakdown was cool and I liked how they changed the song breakdown just a smidge. Rih eventually came through asking for her Caribbean Massive - Yuh know me haffi inna dat. "Pose" punched through to remind folks that she knows, that they know, she's THAT bitch - at this point you can hear my high pitched attempts at screaming in the video. "Goodnight Gotham" or "A Night" if you prefer, came next and served as an interlude into the next set.
Rih had a quick change into her lacey tan one piece and came back out with "Consideration". Then the features portion began with "Live Your Life". Next up was "Run This Town" and "All of the Lights". My long time friend "Umbrella" came by real quick to say hi to her fans and then left. Fave took to the mic to chat with us for a bit and also to call out the losers in the front row. My bitch "Desperado" came through and took me over. I was also surprised that the audience was singing along for the most part. I was particularly looking forward to "Desperado" because it's one of my favorites off the album. The guitarist dude came to the front at the end and gave his best! He was kinda cute too. "Man Down" followed with that bomb ass mix and Rih's bendy dancers.
Rih emerged for the third set in a black shiny fringed one piece with a hooded cape to match and transformed into Rihanna Kalonji to give "Man Down" it's well deserved send off. My girl fling weh the cape and launched into goodie "Rude Boy". She tipped pan toe and bubbled into good gyal "Work" after. My dumb ass was half hoping that Aubrey would have somehow magically appeared on stage to do his part and catch a piece of the bubble - because I deserved - but of course that never happened. A girl can dream. I will admit that I legit rolled my eyes for the "Party Time" section. I laughed when Rih said to look to your neighbor and tell them its party time - Please lol. I sang along and had fun regardless. The p0rty opened with "Take Care" and a sick stance off by two of the dancers. The "We Found Love" mix with "How Deep Is Your Love" was also a favorite. The choreo for this section was cute and fun. "Where Have You Been" actually got me in the 'party' mood; it's one of my favorites in general. Not to mention the choreo for it is just as great.
The dancers kept us occupied with the final breakdown as Rih changed into her final outfit for the night; the olive green pants number with the over sized jacket to match. The last set opened with my anthem "Needed Me" - My shit!!!! I was also looking forward to this song as it too is a favorite from the album. The ending where she hums the beat to me is the best part of the song and to hear it live was everything. She then flowed into "Same Ol' Mistake" like she riding a very chill buttermilk biscuit induced high wave. Fitting, as SOM is very euphoric and almost magical. Keeping with the chill euphoric feeling, up next was Diamonds. I love this song, but I was dreading hearing it. Reason being I've heard it so much that it gets on my nerves. I have to be in the actual mood to listen to it now which is unfortunate because it's such a great song and Rih sounds heavenly on it. Even though the song in general annoys me a bit, I sang along just the same - Rih put her foot into it!
As "Diamonds" was happening there was foam coming from behind the band; that's the most of a prop you got this time around along with the walkway at the opening, and I'm not mad. Peoples....that last note at the end "Diamonds" *Insert all of the Praise emojis*.
Big up di entire crew an di bus an truck man dem!!! Yeah you!
"Four Five Seconds" was everything. It sounds even better live honestly. The ending where we all sang along was fun. Rih was giving you vocals out here fam.
Rihanna said that the ending was the sad part for her and it was for me too. I didn't want to leave. I needed more time with her. The really sad part though was that my battery died JUST as "Love On The Brain" was about to really fuck my life up. I wanted to capture it so I could re-live the greatness on the plane ride home. The good thing about the phone dying, was that at that point I could've really focused on Rih and the most important part of the show. Unfortunately, I don't remember "Love On The Brain" and "Kiss It Better" well enough to tell you what happened. No lie, I numbed out. I was expecting to completely have my life ruined by them two, but not to the point where I can't even remember how that shit went. She put her back into those two last songs, OK?! I was there watching and I was just memorized at what I was witnessing.
"Kiss It Better" ended and Rih walked around the stage and waved to us goodbye and thanked us for coming. The band kept jamming until she came off the stage, then they left. The big screen that hovered over the stage came forward and played credits to the show with the "Higher" instrumental playing in the background. I loved it. I thought I was a great way to end the show; having the credits play out like they do at the end of a movie. In some ways "ANTI" is like a movie, so kudos to them for adding that little feature.
Like I said, I didn't want to leave. The show felt short, but time always goes by fast when you're having fun. It was a freaking good show. An amazing show. A spectacular show. A real good up good up show! IT WAS LIT!
Everybody in Barclay's was on one and was singing along to almost every song. The place was jam packed and having a great time. Rih was on stage being and giving you EVERYTHING and then some. You could see she was genuinely having as much fun as we the audience were.
Let me tell you, Rih was SINGING bitch! Like....! I can't even describe how amazing she sounded. I'm really proud of her, like for real. Sis was also bubbling and two stepping and running up and down the stage in six inch heels the entire night - my hero. I could never.
I enjoyed my night. I'm glad I made the decision to journey to NYC for the occasion. I enjoyed my weekend on a whole really. Being back in New York I felt like a brand new person again - queue "Same Ol' Mistake" - I can't complain; I got to see my friends - God knows I missed them -, I got to see the love of my life kill it on stage, I met some nice people, I almost came home with a boo and I spent too much money and came home with a shit load of goodies. Weekend well spent if you ask me.
S/O to Rihanna for a great show and time! See you next tour!!!