Middle Fingers and Country Shit: Big K.R.I.T. @ The Blockley.

Text by Sofiya Ballin. Images by Michael Bucher.

The floor of the Blockley was littered with rolling papers, drops of sweat and a fake eyelash. It was natural to assume a fight broke out.But it didn’t.

Big K.R.I.T.’s “Live From The Underground Tour” officially rolled through Philly Friday night. The tour’s namesake is in honor of his first studio album, which was released in June.

Local artist, Kidd Fresh and Dosage kicked the show off completely a cappella.

Soul Rock Ent. took the stage next, and led the crowd in a synchronized two-step to “Swaggin.”  Their contagious amounts of energy kept the audience’s hype level to the maximum.

“It was electrifying,” Bucky Da Heatbreaka said. “This feeling is like no other.”

Mic Stew (right) was next. Stew’s fast delivery, teamed with a mean stage bounce, won the crowd over. He performed “That’s How You Say It” from his upcoming project, Peaceworld. Stew ended his set with a freestyle, blowing the audience away with the incendiary line, “Haters hop off my scrotum and my penis!”

“He’s nice right?!” yelled an audience member.

Mississippi rapper, Big Sant (right) strolled on and the South was officially in the building. Every song ended with a resounding  “Biiiiiiiiiiiiittch!” from the crowd.

“It was great,” Sant said. “People were really receptive to Southern rap.”

However, Sant is no stranger to Philly hip hop.

“I like Meek Mill,” he said. “And Freeway. I really like his beard. I want mine like that.”

Slim Thug also took the stage, repping Houston, Texas in his deep drawl. There was a surprise appearance from the people’s champ, Paul Wall, tippin’ on four fours with Slim Thug.

When it came time for Big K.R.I.T., the crowd flooded to the stage. K.R.I.T. entered with a smile and got right into it, giving a performance like no other. Massive circles of pumping arms and mean mugs began to form. Middle fingers were flung up like weapons while water was splashed into the crowd fueling the excitement. K.R.I.T. jumped up and down on stage, performing the anthem-like song “I Got This.”

K.R.I.T. even jumped off the stage, into the center of the crowd and joined in. Then, it didn’t matter if you were Philly bred or Southern picked. Everyone got BUCK.

Big K.R.I.T.

Paul Wall

Slim Thug