One Year Ago: Under Pressure Show Review - Logic w/ DJ Rhetorik + Michael Christmas (Charleston, SC)

Almost a year ago to this very day, Logic and DJ Rhetorik + Michael Christmas and Marvel Alexander were driving across the country performing for fans everywhere. Logic was showcasing Under Pressure with The Incredible True Story is his back pocket. Michael Christmas was a newcomer on the quick rise, riding his success from Is This Art?. Fast-forward a year later and Logic is again on tour, this time selling out crazy huge venues for TITS and Christmas -- well...if you haven't heard of him by now, you're not updated with hip hop/rap today.

Join us and take a step back into the past; this is what early 2015 looked like.

(please excuse some of the horrendous pictures, taken with an android camera, last year)

Michael Christmas

Waiting in line outside in the cold for the Under Pressure Show in Charleston, SC, a lot of people seemed to not know who was opening for Logic. Some thought Castro, some thought Bellion, some don't know how to read a tour poster. Luckily, they soon found out what my friends and I knew all along and were highly impressed.

About two and a half hours before the show started Christmas pulled up right in front of the venue and got out of a van with his (now) trademark Florida themed hat and vintage bright green Go Daddy racing jacket (you know the ones from like 2007) combo, and I drove right past him knowing shit was about to go down. The line that already ensued didn't even make a peep as i'm sure none of the VIP Logic members knew who this big guy was.

Fast Forward to Marvel (like the comics) Alexander (like the great) (DJ for Christmas) and his 90's themed intro...Christmas came out on stage to the Pokemon theme song...like whaaaat. For his first time in South Carolina, let alone first tour ever, Christmas didn't miss a beat.

The Michael-Ceraaaaaaaaa-spirit-animal having rapper earned the fans attention with his continuous adlibs such as "Check, Check, Check!" and "Fuck That Bitch!" as he cruised through his set with ease. Performing various tracks including "Fuck With Me", "Michael Cera", "Vinnie Johnson" and an ultra secret special new song that is sure to get you...smiling...the crazy antic, hyper Christmas got fans hungry for more and left them with the question Michael has been asking for awhile now...Is This Art?


Logic

2/27/15... Logic's second time to South Carolina, first time to Charleston was a sold out success. After Christmas' banging intro to Logic, DJ Rhetorik took stage for his set. Saying that he got the crowd even more warmed up was an understatement. His blend of early 80's - 90's - 00's hip hop got everyone buzzing.



After a short intermission filled with Lenbo and 6ix lurking from time to time and Logic in the upstairs room trying to break his personal best rubik's cube time came the moment everyone was waiting for...Logic ran out on stage and immediately went into "Soul Food". The crowd erupted watching the Gaithersburg, Maryland rapper go wild.

Five tracks in and Logic went in on a verse on "5AM" and then paused. The music stopped all of a sudden and it was that time. Everyone knew and everyone went crazy for a chance to hop on stage for a chance to rap with Logic. The pick was predetermined however as a 15 year old that drove 14 hours from Indiana was chosen. At first glance fans were disgruntled however the decked out in OG RattPack gear fan had a crazy story. Apparently he was unable to make it the show for some "fucked up shit" in Indiana but wrote a letter that Logic later received and was touched by. Logic wrote back and the two finally met in Charleston, South Carolina. With everyone in awe just from that they wondered..."well, can this kid spit, though"?

With Logic being this kid's hypeman, he spread his wings and flew rapping a verse of "5 AM" like he himself wrote it. I've never seen someone so nervous but kill it like that. Huge props were given to him by everyone around as he deserved nothing less - a truly special moment in the show.

A mere two tracks later, Logic broke into a freestyle that was absolutely ridiculous. Started out with his fast rap, original fans will also note how he through a few lines from "Relaxation" in there as he nearly went for two minutes. Logic continued to burn through the Under Pressure album live, and finished his first set off with an a cappella (which I will leave to future audiences to decipher which track it was).

Logic then continued to fire off live performances from Welcome To Forever while taking another break two tracks in to discuss where a few fans were from (a delicate little touch). Finalizing the show were fan favorites that included "Gang Related", "Ballin'", "Nikki" and "Dead Presidents III". When Logic finished his last set, the chant for Logic to get back on stage to perform one more song was almost instant and with the chanting, Logic came back within a minute and suited everyone with a fitting ending of, "Under Pressure".



Logic Set List

Soul Food
I'm Gone
Now
Alright
5 AM (2 PT.)
Metropolis
Freestyle
Bounce
Buried Alive
Acapella

Mini Break

One The Low
Roll Call

Talking To Fans

Gang Related
Ballin
Nikki
Dead Presidents III
Never Enough
Till The End

Encore - Under Pressure

★★★★1/2