Having only purchased my ticket an hour ago, I walked into an unfamiliar concert venue with high hopes for an exciting night and the discovery of some quality music.

In the heart of DC’s nightlife lies the Tropicalia Lounge, a small concert venue and nightclub situated on the corner of 14th and U Street. On Sunday, August 4th, YG Addie A$ap Ant, a Baltimore native, joined fellow DMV artists Lulu P and Soduh to perform in DC as a part of their Global Distortion Tour. They were accompanied by skateboard clothing brand Marino Infantry, which hosted a pop-up shop.

Arriving at the venue half an hour after the doors opened, I went down the colorfully decorated staircase into what seemed like the basement of a building. After tickets were checked and our hands were stamped, we were welcomed in. The concert was general admission for all ages, and the audience was filled with people of different backgrounds. 

As I walked in, the long corridor had the stage located on the left, and in front of the stage was an area for standing, singing, dancing, and moshing. At the end of this open space was a small lounge area and restrooms; there was also a bar attached to the same wall as the entrance. The small stage had minimal strobe lighting, colored lights, and spotlights that appeared on command. 

The music was continuous from start to finish, with a common theme of rap, and some freestyling. It opened with a DJ who tried to hype up the crowd as the headliner artist did not come out on stage until around 10:30 pm, two and a half hours after the doors opened. The built-up anticipation caused patient fans and concert-goers alike to go wild when A$ap Ant and crew finally emerged. 

Though my friends had told me about this artist before, I didn’t know much of his  music, making it a little less exciting for me. But if you are a huge fan of an artist performing here it would make for a very intimate performer-to-audience member experience. I enjoyed the concert and the ambiance of the place, except for the constant moshing which left me feeling squished. The pop-up shop consisted of a table set up in the back with merchandise featuring sweatshirts and t-shirts with the brand logo on the front and back. 

The venue was small, so the high turnout made for a crowded dance floor. It had a very similar atmosphere to other DC concert venues such as the 9:30 club and the Filmore, but scaled down in size. Tired dancers had access to free water on sight, and the lounge was in a convenient location, surrounded by action; a Jumbo slice, McDonalds, Subway, and a bank. The $20 GA ticket was worth it for a fun night and the discovery of a new DC concert venue.