Chicago-based rapper Chief Keef needs no introduction when it comes to 2010s hip-hop. Pioneering the drill subgenre when he was just a teenager, he went on to influence a seemingly endless amount of rappers and pop artists, encapsulating a paradigm shift in what the new generation had to say in terms of music. The gravitational pull Chief Keef had in internet spaces guaranteed his success in the mainstream and solidified his importance within music culture.

Performing in Minneapolis at the Armory on September 13th 2026, there was plenty of buzz surrounding the show especially after the unfortunate cancellation of his Chicago concert just the day prior, making his official tour kickoff the Minneapolis date.

The night started with a DJ set, playing a variety of popular songs from Juice WRLD to Justin Bieber, which were successful in keeping the crowd hyped for the performances. There were two opening acts – EL Hitta and Lil Gnar– that both didn't perform for very long, and the DJ set felt like a continuous stream of production in-between these sets. The openers overcame the magnitude of the stage well and had a lot of energy, covering lots of ground and interacting with the audience. However, both their sets were about 10 minutes long (if even that), which was disappointing. It comes down to personal preference, but I would much rather watch artists perform either their own music or covers than listen to a DJ set.

While Chief Keef has notoriously been known to show up late to live performances, this one was… still no exception. It wasn't until around 10pm that he came on stage, and it was obvious that there was some confusion from the DJs about when he would be ready. It wasn't offensively late however, and he still was able to play a full setlist. He was accompanied by his cousin Tadoe, who rapped alongside Chief Keef and helped in engaging the audience.They have faced criticism in the past from fans, some believing that Tadoe has performed the bulk of Chief Keef’s songs, but I'm a personal fan of artists performing with their friends. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a punk, and performing with your friends is a common practice for hardcore bands. If anything, I think how both hip-hop and punk foster community brings them together in an important way, a connection I don't see people discuss often enough.

The setlist was well rounded with massive hits like Love Sosa, Hate Bein’ Sober, and I Don’t Like, but also held some surprises by including songs like Citgo and Sucka. There were moments where Chief Keef took a seat on stage, seemingly tired, but it wasn't egregious. If anything, it was charming to me personally because of it being on-brand for him. However, I could see his nonchalance becoming more prevalent as the tour goes on after the initial thrill of the tour wears off. There was no encore at this show, possibly due to the delays in Chief Keef’s set, and audience members were swept out of the venue rather quickly.

Overall, the crowd felt lively and everyone around me seemed to have a great time despite the rather minor hiccups that occurred. The person working security standing in front of me in particular seemed to be having the time of his life, and his smile alone made the show a success in my opinion.

Show Review: Liv Degendorfer 
Photos: Audrey Marschel