With a chain around his neck and Retro Black Cat Jordan 4's on his feet, Julius Dubose, better known by his stage name, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, stepped into the spotlight at the Arizona Financial Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 10 as part of his “Better Off Alone” Tour.
The venue, alive with buzz and energy, was filled with Generation Z fans anxiously waiting for “A Boogie” to start the show. While A Boogie was scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m., he was preceded by two opening artists, including “TheARTI$t” who is an R&B singer from New Jersey currently touring with A Boogie.
Just before arriving on the stage, DJ Ominaya, A Boogie’s touring DJ, brought crowd energy up through a variety of high-energy rap songs, including songs by Playboi Carti, GloRilla and Sexyy Red.
When the stage went dark, the crowd went wild, preparing for A Boogie. Swaggering on stage with nothing but well-deserved confidence, A Boogie started the show with “Jungle.” Although the song was released in 2016, the crowd erupted with excitement and energy, showing that it remains a fan favorite.
A Boogie’s performance style is relaxed yet engaging, effortlessly commanding the crowd's attention. The strobe lighting and stage smoke combined with the electric energy of the crowd created a rave-like environment.
Sure to connect with his supportive crowd, A Boogie formed heart hands and flashed smiles at the screaming fans. The excitement continued during his performance of “Drowning,” when A Boogie sprayed water on the first few rows. The vitality and exuberance did not dwindle as the show continued.
Fans left the arena still buzzing with the high of A Boogie’s electric performance.
Outside the theater, a street performer played renditions of A Boogie's song on his trumpet. A crowd formed around him as concertgoers continued to belt out A Boogie’s songs. The night's excitement continued long after the performance ended.