I had been once before, for a 76ers game that came as a surprise for my birthday. This time I was going for the headliner's birthday, as Tyler Okonma (fka Tyler, the Creator) was born on March 6th, thirty one years ago.
This was the 15th stop on his tour named after his most recent album, Call Me If You Get Lost. It was initially planned for 34 North American concerts, but it has been cut down to 32 after Pittsburgh and Norfolk were incapable of accommodating the event. Tyler Baudelaire may appear to travel lightly on his international excursions, but when it comes to this tour, it is by no means light.
There is only one city that could best handle the heavy luggage on the man's birthday, and that city is  P H I L L Y

The recent album features Teezo Touchdown on an insanely catchy and cathartic track named "RUNITUP". This song would later close out the show, and Teezo's unique vocals are a vital and unique sound in the very detailed composition. He brings a never-seen-before energy, similar to a young Tyler who put his all into performing yet struggled keeping up with his asthma. Teezo can be considered a bit more laid back, but he certainly did not dial back on raunchy and explicit humor. I can't imagine many fans walked into that arena claiming they came for his opening act, but we all left with a newfound respect for the artist. He warmed up the audience, notably starting mosh pits then throwing merchandise to them when they were worn out, just to get them riled up again. Musically, I can't say I'm a big fan, but it did it's job. That's all you can ask for.

Vince Staples is coming off of his eponymous album, of which I ranked 2nd in my 2021 List of Favorite Albums, only behind Tyler's album. So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw that I would have the chance to hear both of those albums live at one show. His performance was highlighted by the use of the center stage, which worked exceptionally well for the stadium layout, as well as the lighting job, which was interestingly set up to come from beneath him. Unfortunately, there were some sound issues, but that's why openers exist anyways, so that they can work out the kinks before the headliner comes on. He also performed his first single off of his new album, which he said is ready to release at any moment, less than a year after his last album. Seems to me like Vince is in his prime years of productivity and prominence. Very glad I got to see him when I did.

Probably everybody's favorite opening act, and certainly the most mesmerizing, was Kali Uchis' performance. She has developed a cult following in the past years, with the help of stellar features on a variety of singles, one of which she's won a Grammy Award for (10% by Kaytranada). One of the first features that led her to stardom was Tyler's "See You Again" off of the Flower Boy album. The costuming, the choreography, the background visuals, and her beautiful vocals all helped create an unearthly atmosphere. I have no doubt that she will be selling out venues as big as Wells Fargo and MSG in the coming years, especially since she may have gotten as loud as applause as Tyler did that night. Of course, I have no way of confirming this, but everyone else in that stadium can vouch for me.

Thanks to extensive programming of the opening acts, the crowd's anticipation is at its peak. Still, the crowd watches impatiently as the production team sets up the final pieces of the intricate set design. Then, the lights dim.

The music of "SIR BAUDELAIRE" starts to play. Tyler rises from beneath the stage in a pastel green Rolls Royce Wraith, rapping his verse from the album's opening track. Tyler rolls up to a modest yet elegant hotel, matching the colorful aesthetics established in the music videos for Call Me If You Get Lost. Tyler Baudelaire exudes swagger, confidence, and adventure, moreso than his previous personas. His impeccable stage presence results in an incomparable audience engagement.

This is even more amplified as he jumps on a boat and rides it through the middle of the crowd to a center stage, of which Vince Staples previously inhabited. Here he performs a mash up of his favorite songs from the early part of his career, all the way up to Cherry Bomb. While he admitted that his last three albums "put him in another conversation", the crowd was roaring his older hits, such as "Tamale" and "IFHY".

However, when it comes to his last three albums, it has split his fanbase into different groups in accordance to which one is their favorite. A different crowd was heard screaming Flower Boy's "skrrt skrrt" on "911 / Mr. Lonely" than the one who were chanting Igor's "woo hah" on "NEW MAGIC WAND". It was a unique sense of congregation that can only be attributed to the artist's prolonged success within the industry. He has surpassed the status of "a great artist of his time" and has entered the ranks of "the great artists of all time".

Of course, it's his fans who have propelled him into the conversation, as they are some of the most outspoken fans in the greater genre of rap. His Philadelphia fans are especially rambunctious. As the pit attendees made one last attempt at getting a "happy birthday" chorus going, Tyler shut it down by saying "we are not doing that." A couple of boos from the front row followed this rejection from their beloved musician, to which he invited, and said "please, boo me". Funnily enough, Wells Fargo Center, and Philadelphia fans as a whole, have developed a reputation for booing their teams at home games. It was only fitting that this crowd would boo Tyler on his own birthday, as this is the only city that has the audacity. "That felt good," he said in response, and then proceeded to light up the stage.

In a recent interview with Converse, Tyler reiterated his trademark attention to detail. Whenever he makes something, he tries to approach it as a fan. "You have to like your own shit", he says. He'll try to include specific moments, that are often fleeting and subtle, that someone will look at or listen to and say "that's my favorite part". It's this attention to detail that allows fans to always find something new to love about his songs from any point in his discography. The same thing goes for his concerts. His success lies in the pyrotechnics, lighting, rigging, and probably a million other things that requires a second visit to appreciate.

I hate it when people expect this level of spectacle from other artists, because it usually comes down to the question, "why else would I be paying to see it?". I am a big believer that not every musician should try and offer the spectacle. For example, I don't want Vince Staples to be anything other than Vince Staples. I like his laid back approach, because that is who he is. Regardless, you should primarily be coming for his personality and his music.

Not everyone should try to be Tyler, because not everyone can be Tyler. The beauty of his artistry is how natural it is for him. He has always believed in himself and his vision because there is no world where he fails. This is his birthright.

This message isn't hard to miss. As he leaves the stage, to the crowd chanting "we gon' run it  up", he responds with the lyric, "here today but gone tomorrow, I just might spend it all".