[Review] Lil Baby’s I.O.U. Tour

On Tuesday night, Lil Baby brought the It’s Only Us Tour to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The tour featured support from Atlanta rapper, Hunxho; one of Quality Control’s newest signees Gloss Up; and Memphis native, GloRilla! Some notable moments were Hxncho walking off the stage and getting up close with the fans in the GA pit! As expected, GloRilla commanded the stage and had everyone on their feet. Accompanied by six camo-clad dancers, she gave a high-energy 30-minute set which included “Tomorrow 2,” “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” and “Lick Or Sum.” The only thing that threw me (and other attendees) off was Rylo Rodriguez – who was slated to perform at 7:40 p.m. – taking the stage for a quick 4-song set about 15 minutes into Lil Baby’s set.

The show was running a bit behind and fans who were standing all night in the GA pit directly in front of the stage grew weary as the night went on. Luckily in between sets, a DJ kept the momentum going and got the crowd hyped up before each artist took the stage. The words ‘Twerk Contest’ popped up on the big screens as cameras panned to groups of concertgoers going crazy in the crowd! Section 113 definitely won the title for the most hype section in the arena.

Lil Baby

Lil Baby took the stage at 10 PM and delivered an almost two-hour set that included 30 songs. The Grammy-nominated rapper had everything from his earlier hits like “Freestyle,” “Emotionally Scarred,” and “Close Friends” to songs from his recent album, It’s Only Me, like “California Breeze” and “Stand On It.”

In July, Teyana Taylor shared she would be creatively directing and co-producing this tour. Although his Back Outside Tour (2021) was great, the I.O.U. Tour was an elevated experience – from the choreography to the visuals to the production to the outfit changes to Lil Baby’s overall stage presence.

The show was broken up into five chapters: West End, Trapped, Earthquake, Riches, and Serenity. The stage production allowed him to tell a story – during “Pure Cocaine” you were transported into a dark, cold, and snow-filled atmosphere meanwhile during “Girls Want Girls” the screen displayed a star-filled sky and lush green mountains shaped like women.

While the show was visually stunning, the stage setup allowed the 28-year-old Atlanta native to engage with the audience. Two catwalks stretched out onto the left and right sides of the stage allowing him and his eight dancers to get close to the fans seated in the 100 level. During the middle of the show, he walked across a bridge onto a circular B-stage located in the middle of the crowd. The setup gave the tour an intimate feel, especially for the fans.

Speaking of the fans, the camera crew showcased some of Lil Baby’s loyal supporters in the crowd who were rapping along to lyrics and dancing in the aisles. A simple gesture but fans of all ages were excited to see themselves displayed behind Lil Baby on the big screen.

Next time Lil Baby is stopping by a city near you…see him! Not your average rap concert – expect storytelling through visuals, choreography, a live band, crowd engagement, and more!