FO·MO
ˈfōmō/
noun
informal
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- anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.
- “I realized I was a lifelong sufferer of FOMO”
Urban dictionary definition: The fear that if you miss a party or event you will miss out on something great.
My definition: DON’T MISS THE EVENT.
Luckily, I’m here to provide you with all things you’ve missed, in this popping city of Los Angeles. My name is Shirley Ju, and I live, breathe, sleep Hip Hop. Coming from the Bay, I grew up to the hyphy movement. That being said, turning up is all I know. This will be a weekly recap of the dope events that I myself felt like I couldn’t miss, and you guys wish you were at.
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Sunday, March 19
Today was my first official day back. I knew people were gonna trip out that I had gone out right after I landed lmao. Well, it caught up to me. I ended up staying out hella late and sleeping in the most I’ve slept in months. No alarms equal life. But anyways. I forgot I snapped this pic when I unexpectedly found myself surrounded by Dreamville at SXSW, and had to get it up. Earthgang is the wave.
I’m absolutely in love with Drake’s More Life.Love. I love “Do Not Disturb” and think it’s the perfect closing for the project. That was the only motivation for my short run on this glorious Sunday. I felt so lame. I was only doing 30 minutes while everyone else ran the L.A. Marathon this morning. A full marathon is actually on my bucket list. Something I hope to do before I die, for sure.
Tonight was one of those shows that you want to go to so bad, but by the time you find out about it, it’s sold out. The true definition of FOMO. The last stop of The Internet’s The Internet Tour in Los Angeles. This was night one of two sold out shows at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood. If you guys know good music, you know The Internet. I am so in love with the band’s lead singer Syd (along with the rest of the world). Her voice is one-of-a-kind.
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Sold-out crowd indeed. We walk inside a packed venue and I immediately maneuver our way to my secret spot (right of the stage, by the wall). This usually works in my favor, but tonight, it cropped out two of the band members from my eyesight lmao. The entire night. I literally thought it was only three people on stage for a good minute. Smh. They graced the stage opening with “Special Affair,” followed by “Under Control.” Yes, Ego Death. Yes.
Syd was rocking a dark olive green shirt, sweats, and all-white sneakers, and looking beautiful as ever. She’s gay, and we all treat her no differently. In fact, most of my friends say they would turn bi for her. I was so happy to be blessed by her presence. She was funny too. Shout out to Steve Lacy, the vocalist/guitarist by her side. Steve played us “Ryd,” “Some,” and “C U Girl,” which I really enjoyed. Then, the band brought it back together for “Gabby,” a track with my girl Janelle Monáe.
Syd shouted out to her mom on the balcony up top, twice throughout the show. They played for almost a whole two hours. You’re literally getting your money’s worth. She thanked everybody for tuning in before the band did their “Prototype,” an Outkast cover. I use the word “perform,” specifically because in this moment, you truly appreciate them for their musical talent. Syd on the vocals, the guitarist (Steve), the bassist (Patrick), the drummer (Christopher), and the keys (Matt). They all have solo projects out too. They’re all that talented.
“Just Saying/I Tried” had Syd demanding crowd interaction. It was great lmao. She had everyone screaming the hook of the record as loud as they could: “You fucked up.” She let us all know this was supposed to be an angry song. The track came to life tonight. It was memorable. Syd then played her record “Got Her Own,” off Fin. This song bangs. As well as the rest of the project. She then asked the crowd if she could play a slow jam, blessing us with “Body.”
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“Girl” featuring Kaytranada is the most beautiful track. Shit, I’m listening to it right now. It really hit home tonight. Although it’s probably meant to be more of a romance record, the words “if they don’t know your worth” and “anything you want is yours” spoke to me. I’ve been dealing with some personal things. It was as if Syd was singing right to me.
Just when I thought “Girl” was going to be one of the last songs, Syd blesses us with four or five more. What happened next was unexpected and took everyone by surprise: the bass. It was out of this world. Honestly, it’s not something you can describe in words. You literally have to attend a show to feel what we felt. This was bass times a million. And it was incredible. It added a whole new tier to our already incredible experience. I’ve honestly never felt so much bass.
“Palace/Curse” was another highlight, one of my favorite records off Ego Death. They closed out with “Get Away,” which turned the entire venue into a party. Shout out to my babe Brittany with Apple Music, who actually told me The Internet has a show with them on Beats 1. She was telling me how ridiculously chill Syd is IRL. I’m so jealous lmao. I want to hang out with her. Huge thanks to Katie for allowing me to cover the show. We were blown away.
Monday, March 20
Tonight was Little Simz’ Welcome To Wonderland Tour at The Echo on Sunset. She’s the dopest female rapper from the UK. Once again, huge confusion on which venue it would be at (Echo or Echoplex). This literally just happened at the Ugly God show. Every time I think I got it down, I walk up to the wrong one. They really make it hard on these streets lmao. After attempting to enter the Echoplex on Glendale, we were instructed to head to The Echo on Sunset. Best believe I got in my car and re-parked.
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I truly fell in love with Little Simz tonight. That’s the best part about going to shows: really getting a sense of the artist and their personality. Around 10:30 p.m., homegirl graces the stage in her run-down converse and khaki overalls. Straight out of an Urban Outfitters catalog, this is your average girl from the UK. Plus one thing: she can spit. It was all eyes on her tonight. She performed “Devour,” “Doorway + Trust Issues” and “Her (Interlude).”
Holy shit. “Wings” is such a powerful track. Literally, touches my soul. My homie actually texted me this was the track that made him fall in love with her at SXSW. I had to send him the video. She actually raps about real shit. Music with substance. This record is off her first album. One of my favorites tonight. She proceeded to play “God Bless Mary,” “Shotgun” featuring Syd, and “Bad to the Bone” featuring Bibi Bourelly. Man, I wanted Syd to come out so bad, but then I remembered The Internet had their second sold out show tonight lmao.
I’m not sure what my obsession with accents is, but Little Simz (not Lil Simz) definitely validated it. She had me wanting to visit the UK. Next, she slows things down by bringing a guitar to the center of the stage. This girl in the crowd screams “Simmi Hendrix” lmao. I laughed out loud. Man, “Poison Ivy” sounded so good <3.
This was the track of the evening: “Dead Body.” Turn up. The whole venue was rocking with her. She literally put her all into this one. It was so heartwarming to see. She finished with “Low Tides” and “No More Wonderland.” Huge thanks to Eddie for allowing me to cover. Definitely adding her music on my most recent playlist.
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And shout out to my homegirl down for the cause. Friends who go to shows together, stay together.
Tuesday, March 21
Meeeeeeeeep. When things don’t go as planned. Meep to the bullshit we have to deal with being in the music industry lmao. If you guys know me, you know I hate going out of my 15-minute radius. Maybe 20. Tonight, we were promised tickets to Big Sean’s I Decided Tour at House of Blues in Anaheim. Yes, Anaheim, as in Disneyland, as in an hour away. The key word here is promised.
I mean, to be honest, with how many shows I do go to, I probably deserve this L. But the fact that it was an L is what hurts the most. I always somehow finesse my way into things. I remember pulling up to The Migos show with no ticket. . . but tonight was different. V drove us all the way down there, only to be faced with rejection. Some bullshit took place with the artists backstage (which I, unfortunately, cannot speak of) and our passes got ripped up. It’d be cool if it was at like The NOVO down the street, but we had driven an hour. On a school night.
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I’m so happy V was with me because she saved me with her positive energy. I was just being a shithead about the whole situation lmao. I need to learn from her. By the way, Big Sean took absolute control of this tour. He has it so that there are no comps and no guestlist. . . for anybody. It’s a bit intense, really. That was my first time at HOB down there (RIP to the L.A. HOB on Sunset), and they were not budging. I feel like if it was one the venues here (where they recognize me), I could have convinced them. But then again, maybe not. They said Big Sean even had his friends and family pay for their tickets.
We made the best of our situation. I was originally supposed to see Logan with my brother, and was really sad to have had to bail. That’s what made tonight a little harder, because it wasn’t even worth it. But we ended up heading to V’s hood to the Edward Cinemas Anaheim Hills 14 to cop the deal of a lifetime: a movie ticket for $5.50. #TYBG. Literally, died. And caused a scene lmao. The cherry on top: Lion was playing. I’ve been trying to see this film ever since it got nominated for however many Oscars.
Holy shit. This movie was interesting. And beautiful. And based on a story. I actually forgot that fun fact until the very end and it made it so real. It’s about a five-year-old Indian boy who gets lost on a train and ends thousands of miles away from his family. He ends up being adopted by an Australian couple (shout out Nicole Kidman), who takes him and another orphan under their wing.
There’s honestly so much behind this layer of the film. I literally had to text my homegirl from the Bay mid-movie. She talked about wanting to adopt. There’s a scene where Nicole Kidman is explaining why she chose to adopt that had me in tears. Now, 25 years later, homeboy sets out to reunite with his family and find his place of origin. I couldn’t help but laugh at the use of Google Earth to do so, that shit is wild.
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We both were touched by the film. I’m so glad I caught it in theaters before it escaped. I highly recommend it. Let me know if you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
