Review: MIKE. @ Paradise Rock Club 5/30
Photo Credit: Ari Marcopoulos
Review by James Klein
On Friday, fans lined up outside Paradise Rock Club to see MIKE perform the penultimate show of his largest headlining tour. MIKE is a New York-based rapper known for his experimental and eclectic approach to hip-hop music, which attracts thousands of fans. In late January, MIKE released his ninth studio album, “Showbiz!,” a spiritual, avant-garde hip-hop record with introspective lyricism. Although he is touring “Showbiz!,” MIKE released a livelier stadium-rap record in early May, “Pinball II,” a sequel to his 2024 release produced by Tony Seltzer. With 25 openers across 71 dates in the UK, Europe, and North America, the #aotc (Artist of the Century) tour promised an ambitious showcase. Fans in Boston filled the intimate venue, restlessly anticipating MIKE and his two openers, Mike Shabb and Navy Blue.
Shabb took the stage at 8 p.m., joined by a DJ and rapper Trapmat Savoir. From Montreal, Shabb teased the crowd saying “We don’t fuck with the Brus,” and then playfully adding some more Boston sports references, asking “Who fucks with Tom Brady?” and “Who fucks with Larry Bird?”, eliciting crowd responses. “That’s all I know about Boston,” he added.
Trapmat added ad-libs to Shabb’s most energetic tracks and rapped alongside him on songs like “Hurry Up,” getting the crowd to yell “One for the uh, two for the uh…” Through handwaving and call and response, Shabb was the perfect hype man for Navy Blue and MIKE. The highlight of his performance came as Trapmat waved a Haitian flag and Shabb led the crowd in “Free Haiti,” “Free Palestine,” and “Free Congo” chants, inspiring hope and empowerment.
After Shabb amped up the crowd, Navy Blue shifted towards something more introspective. He delivered a profound and lyrically-driven set, methodically rapping with his eyes closed over somber samples and minimal percussion. Navy approached each song as a meditation, detailing deep convictions and personal experiences. He voiced his appreciation for the crowd, noting it was his first time performing in Boston. During “1491,” Navy got the crowd to yell “Fuck Christopher Columbus,” in another protest against colonization.
Navy grew more reflective during “Time Slips,” stopping the track mid-song to remind the audience, “Now is not the time to talk. Not while I’m spilling my heart.” Navy shared some words about how “human beings are complex” and encouraged the audience to “show up as your authentic self, the totality of who you are.” Later, Navy added, “Remembering your people is the most important part of the grieving process. That’s how their spirit lives on.” This led to a tribute to Ka, the legendary Brooklyn rapper who passed away on October 12, 2024. Navy performed their collaboration, “In Good Hands,” playing the entirety of Ka’s verse. Navy let Ka finish and added “Rest in peace to Ka. Without Ka, there is no Navy Blue.” He mentioned that he cried after performing that song for the first time last night. Navy closed his nuanced and retrospective set with his hit, “La Noche,” the audience singing the chorus, “I hope you find peace of mind on your own,” in a moment of group spirit.
MIKE came out to his rhythmic “Bossy Nova (Ma Neck),” dapping up audience members. He commanded the stage, asking the crowd to “make the most noise in the world” by looking up, putting both arms up, and going “AHHHH!” He then had the audience sing “Burning Desire,” chanting the soulful sample, “Oh I, I’m burning.” MIKE was surrounded by fog as his baritone vocals floated over dreamlike beats. He emerged from the smoke often to dap up more fans and grab phones to take selfies and videos.
Throughout the show, he showed his appreciation, saying “Thank you so so so so much” after almost every song. MIKE joked, “We’re going to ‘America’s Got Talent’ as the world’s biggest dance group… but we need members.” The crowd raved as dance circles opened for brave fans to show off their moves to the beat of “man in the mirror,” one of the most danceable tracks of “Showbiz!” He then showed off his dance moves, popping and locking before starting his verse.
He had the crowd making noise for everyone, from Mike Shabb to the security guards. During “jbl music,” he got off the stage and walked to the upstairs floor, rapping with the crowd from the mezzanine. He stayed up there for “Prezzy,” the lead single on “Pinball II.”
MIKE knew how to work the crowd, throwing his arms in the air to hype them up. During an instrumental interlude, Navy came back out to play with the soundboard with MIKE, spamming the “Damn son where’d you find this?” sound effect. The whole crew came out to take a quick drink break. MIKE reiterated his appreciation, reflecting on how he was “crazy in love” after 70 shows and reminiscing about the tour’s first stop in Dublin: “Shout out my Irish!”
An emotional moment came when MIKE told the crowd that every show he’s done has been dedicated to his mother, inviting the crowd, “Make so much noise for my mama so she can hear y’all.” He nodded as the applause continued for over a minute, treasuring her spirit in a touching tribute.
He closed his set with a three-song encore, taking requests and performing some of the most energetic cuts of the night. However, MIKE wasn’t leaving yet, as he stayed on the stage to dance to “OPM BABI” and “OLYMPIAN” by Playboi Carti, adding “Damn son where’d you find this?” sound effects throughout the trap songs.
The Boston stop of MIKE’s “#aotc” tour was filled with energy, vulnerability, protest, and gratitude. Each artist brought authenticity, from Shabb’s crowd work to Navy Blue’s poetic introspection and MIKE’s heartfelt celebration. Despite the massive scale of the tour, the show felt like a particularly intimate celebration of hip hop’s legacy and community.