07.31.24 – By Jordan Zinda

On Wednesday night St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center played host to an electrifying performance by rappers Future and Metro Boomin, hosting the second stop on their highly anticipated ‘We Trust You Tour’. The event proved to be well worth the wait, despite a rocky start. As the minutes ticked by, anticipation and impatience grew. A late arrival and load in left fans at the doors for a couple hours longer than expected. Once the show got underway, however, it unfolded into a high energy multi act spectacle that left the audience exhilarated and I’d say more than satisfied. In the end the delay served merely as an unfortunate prelude to what would become an unforgettable night of music.

When the doors finally opened at about 9pm, the crowd’s initial irritation quickly dissipated, transforming into excitement in an instant. The performance kicked off shortly after doors with a brief joint appearance from Future and Metro Boomin both on stage, a welcome to the show of sorts. This served to set the stage for a night of high energy hip-hop and entertainment while also acting as a foreshadowing and glimpse of what was to come, but there was a lot of show to get through before the evening’s climax.

Metro Boomin quickly took command of the stage with a solo DJ set that served to highlight his impressive production credits. His set was a carefully curated journey through some of his most iconic beats, opening with Kanye West’s “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1,” instantly igniting the crowd’s energy. The set continued with a series of his standout tracks showcasing his versatility, range, and just how grand the scale of his impact on the hip-hop soundscape has been. A highlight from this part of the show included his hit collaboration with The Weeknd, “Creepin’,” which drove the crowd wild and turned us all into performers for the night. I don’t think a single lyric was missed the rest of the night once this sing-along started. With his set Metro not only highlighted his talent behind the decks but his ability to energize a concert experience. There is something to be said about the man behind the instrumental being the one to play it live. It proved an exciting first act that set a high standard for the rest of the evening’s performance.

Following Metro Boomin, Future took to the spotlight for a solo set of his own. Future’s performance acted a lot like a masterclass in maintaining momentum and engaging a crowd. He navigated through his stage time with effortless presence and personality, easily transitioning from higher energy anthems to introspective deeper cuts. The rapper journeyed through a good portion of his extensive discography delivering an excellent blend of his most celebrated hits. The crowd was treated to high energy renditions of stand out tracks like “Fuck Up Some Commas” and “Turn on the Lights,” with the intensity peaking during his closer, the iconic “March Madness.” Future’s charisma and stage presence ensured that the audience remained fully engaged, not only by his music but by him as a performer. His ability to captivate and connect with his audience made it clear why he remains a dominant force in the rap scene.

With the energy in the arena consistently reaching new heights, the culmination of the night came with the final act, a joint set featuring both Future and Metro Boomin once again. This segment was a high energy celebration of their collaborative work, with a focus on tracks from their latest joint effort, the highly regarded album, We Don’t Trust You. The crowd’s response was nothing short of ecstatic hearing some of these new songs live for the first time. Memorable moments include a collective sing-along, likely the loudest of the night, to “Low Life,” a floor-shaking reaction to the beat drop for “Type Shit,” and the absolutely frenzied excitement that accompanied the closing track “Like That.” The pyro firing in time with the beat, Futures performance and the crowd participation made for quite the spectacle even though the Kendrick Lamar verse was noticeably missing. It would have been a treat to hear the audience rap that. 

Throughout the show production values were top notch; they truly spared no expense. An expansive stage with a catwalk featured dazzling visuals and the pyrotechnics were impressive to say the least. The concert and its three act production, the inciting incident, the midpoint, and the climax made for an engaging performance with high points throughout. It felt as if we the audience were being told a story. A narrative about Metro Boomin and his climb, Future and his grind and the climax of them collaborating and working together. Each segment offered its own unique energy and had the crowd captivated from start to finish.

In the end, despite the slow start the concert proved to be a resounding success, and well worth the wait. Future and Metro Boomin delivered a concert that showcased their immense talent in production and performance as well as the chemistry these two artists share. The ‘We Trust You Tour’ proved to be a show that was as visually stunning as it was musically powerful. For those who braved the delays and stuck around, the night was a testament to the electrifying power of live music and the unforgettable memories it can create. If Future and Metro are coming to a city near you, I’d grab tickets yesterday. This is definitely a can’t miss show of the summer.