when Sexy Red was announced as a performer at the 2024 Roots Picnic, a festival aimed largely at grown-up R&B fans, the “Looking for the Hoes” rapper who was condemned by his dad received a less-than-warm reception — so much so that the festival's founder Questlove spoke in her defense.
“There's always that one act on the show that everyone hates because it serves as a reminder that the hip hop they like is from 30 years ago,” the Roots drummer wrote in a response to a flood. Instagram comments stating that there was “nothing positive [Sexyy’s] message.” “I mean I get that, but look: we have to wrap up and balance the day: there are other stages and podcasts and events to check out… when have you seen a festival where EVERY ACT is the act you love?”
And yet, when Sexyy took the Presser Stage at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, the venue was so packed that a crowd formed in the aisles that looked over the ridiculously packed auditorium. From the moment she took the stage flanked by four high-octane dancers and a fake Secret Service agent, Sexy Red was the president — and she didn't even need the agent to drive the point home. Still, it was a nice touch to her patriotic backdrop, which also featured her in a red, white and blue two-piece.
In addition to her dancers and Secret Service agent, Sexyy's stage also featured a giant inflatable red hat with the words “Make America Sexyy Again” in the typical MAGA font. Throughout her hit-filled set, Sexy created, if only for 30 minutes, an America that embraces and exalts the highest ends of everyone's personality. Under her presiding, the crowd achieved a sense of escapism that it may not have even explicitly sought, but clearly needed. This is the magic of Sexyy Red, she gives her listeners “escape” not as fantasy, but by allowing people to unconditionally spoil the parts of themselves that they keep hidden due to belief in various social norms. Make no mistake, Sexyy is no Iron Lady. Her relaxed approach to on-stage jokes and choreography is half the reason her entire shtick works. Whether she's doing the “Crank Dat” dance or giving us her best butt, Sexyy just does it so we can do it to us.
Kicking things off with “Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad),” Sexy somersaulted through her enviable collection of hits, each one eliciting louder and more intense fan reactions than the last. His spirit Crime MobDiamond and Princess shined through their spirited performances on Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Get It Sexyy” (No. 20), “SkeeYee” (No. 62) and “Pound Town” (No. 66, with Tay Keith), as well as street smashes like 'Hellcats SRTs', 'Shake Yo Dreads' and 'Hood Rats' (with Sukihana). Of course, Sexyy couldn't rule out her equally stellar collabs like “Shake Sumn” (feat. DaBaby), “Peaches & Eggplants” (feat. Young Nudy) and, of course, “Rich Baby Daddy” ( featuring Drake & SZA), which easily garnered the most passionate crowd response and some hilariously silly vocals from Sexyy herself.
With tight shapes, many choreographies each time and scenery that constantly emphasized the political aesthetics of her new At Sexyy We Trust mixtape, Sexyy's 2024 Roots Picnic set showed remarkable growth from her early shows while still capturing the essence of what makes her such an alluring performer. In fact, her performance of “BBL Drizzy” – sampling “U My Everything” – a Drake collaboration from her latest tape – is the best example of this change. To bring the singalong to life, Sexyy and her female dancers—whom she affectionately introduced as “The Sextettes”—performed waist-twirling girl-group choreography that underscored the song's puppy-eyed love. “Bae, I love you, you my everything/ I'm your main bitch, fuck the wedding ring/ We both in fast cars and changing lanes/ When I'm away, you're always on my mind,” he croons.
Sexyy Red may not be the hip-hop of 30 years ago, but the sparkle she brought to this year's Roots Picnic — and the way she effortlessly captivated the larger, younger crowd on day one — is emblematic of its undying party energy hip-hop. . Next stop: main stage.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/sexyy-red-roots-picnic-2024-performance-questlove-1235698694/