Rolling Loud, Don Toliver Close Out SXSW 2022

For 2 days at Stubb’s BBQ, a number of the hottest names in up to date rap and hip-hop made their presence felt at SXSW. Babyface Ray, Jasiah, Guapo, BillyRacxx and Sheck Wes all made dramatic appearances at RapTV’s Rolling Loud weekend showcase. Nevertheless it was Saturday’s headliner Don Toliver — a Houston native nonetheless driving excessive on final 12 months’s Lifetime of a Don — who arguably did essentially the most together with his allotted time onstage.

If there was any criticism of the mini-festival, it’s that lots of the performers appeared rushed, with artists simply operating by way of their songs. Toliver was conscious of this and edited his set to incorporate at the least a portion of all of the hits his followers wished to listen to. “Can’t Really feel My Legs,” “After Occasion,” and “Lemonade” crackled with electrical energy and highlighted Toliver’s command of a stage.

Whereas the rapper confirmed up at Stubb’s simply as SXSW was winding down — and whereas there have been some obscure hints of exhaustion floating by way of the gang on Pink River — the viewers, particularly these squeezed into the entrance of the stage, rallied for his intense set. The bass hit with the pressure of a guided missile, an depth that was countered by Toliver’s relaxed, chill supply. He by no means pushed the gang, however as a substitute guided them, presiding over the past real occasion of SXSW 2022.

Further reporting by Salihah Saadiq