BY TER STAFF
Right now, Future is on stage for a sold-out Orpheum Theatre, kicking off The Purple Reign Tour in Madison, Wisconsin. And while usually there are plenty of places you’d rather be in February than the frigid Midwest, there was (and is) no better place to be tonight than Future’s tour opener with Ty Dolla $ign, less than a mile west of the always crazy University of Wisconsin campus. Only half-way through the show tonight, you can already tell that the Badger crowd came to party. So the rest of the tour stops (I’m looking at you, Chicago) better be ready to match the energy of tonight’s crowd and the Epic Records’ premiere artist.
Tonight kicked off to a great start with a memorable opening performance from Free TC rapper/singer, Ty Dolla $ign. The Kanye West-affiliated rapper, who played a big role on Ye’s latest LP The Life of Pablo, rapped a number of tracks off his critically acclaimed debut album, which released just last year. Free TC ended up on many year end lists in 2015, and featured appearances from Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and R. Kelly, just to name a few. Rightfully so, a highlight of Ty’s set tonight came as he performed his Future-assisted single, ‘Blasé’, which also features ‘No Type’ rappers, Rae Sremmurd. Although Future stayed backstage, preparing for his set, and Rae Sremmurd stayed back in Atlanta, Ty Dolla $ign needed no help getting the Wisconsin crowd hyped for the track. An exciting emerging act who is worth the price of admission alone, Ty Dolla $ign surely delivered for the tour’s opener.
With a brief intermission following Ty Dolla $ign performance as crew prepared for the man of the hour, it was soon time for the DS2 rapper to hit the stage. Future’s set began as his DJ, DJ Esco, played a couple Future records to amp up the crowd and build Madison’s anticipation. Singing along word-by-word, the sold-out crowd was not only enjoying Esco’s cuts, but were also anxious and excited for Future to take stage. And it wasn’t long before Madison could see their Future right before their eyes, as he came out, rapping to his hit track ‘I Thought It Was a Drough’. Next, opening The Purple Reign Tour with other fan favorites like ‘Move That Dope’ and ‘Same Damn Time’, any irrational worries about imperfect setlists were soon put to rest. Even with many songs left to go tonight, Future’s setlist for this tour will not disappoint fans, diehards and late-to-the-party fans alike.
Check out more of our exclusive first photos from Future’s highly anticipated Purple Reign Tour below, and if you haven’t got your tickets and your city isn’t sold out, get tickets for Future’s remaining dates at Freebandz.com.
Photos by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Future
Ty Dolla $ign
The Early Registration 