Mick Jenkins dazzled in the City of Gold: Chicagoan rapper-poet celebrates 10th anniversary of ‘The Water[s]’
Fans felt free to rave to the sounds of his deep voice.
Last night, Mick Jenkins, one of Chicago’s radiant musical stars, delivered an energetic hour-lo1ng set to his fans at The Nest in the heart and soul of Johannesburg, South Africa. The historical rooftop venue filled up with what seemed to be at least a thousand people as he celebrated the tenth anniversary of his debut mixtape ‘The Water[s]’ with his core fanbase on this side of the world. Amidst the airy ambience, the Alabama-born artist performed all of my favourite tracks from the well-made project, his popular dance track ‘Your Love’, and even the Kaytranada-produced ‘Play Rain’, prominently flipping Missy Elliott’s 1997 timeless breakout single, ‘The Rain’. I was excited. Therefore, I lost it!
What I like about Mick Jenkins outside of his music is his genuine ability to check in with his crowd to see how we were. He was consistent, and I appreciated it. After the show, we headed backstage with his manager before going to his official afterparty on the rooftop of Hallmark House. We listened to classic Hip-Hop/Rap cuts throughout the night until 4 AM and enjoyed chicken strips, adult beverages and hookah courtesy of the artist’s team.
I’ve seen Mick Jenkins’ lush debut, his ability to maintain his fame, and a fitting celebration to acknowledge his eminence. As he and I reviewed his live performance, he shared how thankful and satisfied he was with the roaring applause and outstanding energy his fans gave him. At one point, one of his songs stopped playing. The audience asked for an encore. He obliged, and I think the gift to him was an even richer audience response.
If you’re an avid Mick Jenkins listener/Hip-Hop customer, you’ve probably streamed and bought his latest album, ‘The Patience’. If you haven’t, there’s no time like the present. I invite you to dive into ‘The Patience’. Then, explore the entertaining fifteen-track ‘The Water[s]’, the first project that introduced me to his unique style. It’s a classic.
