2 Chainz and company set the trap

Review and photos by Frances Sealy

There was an air of mystery surrounding the appearance of 2 Chainz at the Rialto Theatre. Tucson was the first stop for the rapper's Pretty Girls Like Trap Music Too Tour. Part of the buzz started with an expected arrival of four tour semi trucks and an entourage of approximately 48 people. Skooly and Young Dolph were scheduled to be the opening acts. No one could guess why 2 Chainz would need so many people and so much equipment.

Tucson fans love hip-hop and of course, this was a sold out show. The fans were lined up around the block at the venue and the body searches were on as everyone was allowed entrance. Inside the theatre, a DJ was entertaining the crowd as they packed in the room. The University of Arizona basketball team entered the venue for the show as well.

Trap music started in the southern part of the United States and the artists of this show are based in Atlanta, Georgia. The music tends to have lyrics that cover subjects about life in "the trap," drug dealing and life's struggles.

Atlanta native, Skooly was the first opener. He is signed to 2 Chainz' independent record label, T.R.U. and a member of the group, Rich Kidz. His energetic set was a short 15 minutes. Young Dolph's set followed after an intermission. His stage entrance was different from his predecessor in that he had a large ornate chair located center stage that rotated around toward the crowd occupied by Young Dolph. Young Dolph was actually raised in the south side of Memphis. The southern rapper has been a regular collaborator with 2 Chainz. His 40-minute set was a perfect fit for the tour.

It was finally was time for the main event. As the curtain came up, there was the most elaborate stage setup ever witnessed for any singer or for a traveling Broadway play. It was all pink. The background was a replica of 2 Chainz's TRAP house in Atlanta used for his latest album cover. It included a sidewalk with a chain link fence, street lamps, and strategically placed lights. Everything seemed real. The set started with the Trap choir singing on one side of the stage. Then the "hooker" dancers appeared in the yard and outside on the street. Emerging from stage left was 2 Chainz riding in a pink wheelchair with his left leg elevated.

Initially, it seemed that the wheelchair portion was a part of the show, especially since the wheelchair was color coordinated with the rest of the set. However, after the first song, 2 Chainz addressed the fans and told them that he broke his leg at his daughter's birthday party two weeks ago. "When I woke up from sedation the doctor told me, 'well looks like your gonna have to cancel your tour.' So I told him maybe it means God wants me to use my mind and be creative. So after all the morphine and pains meds wore off, I called management and said somebody find me a 'pink wheelchair.' The tour and the show must go on.

2 Chainz performed the one-hour set from his wheelchair being pushed around by one of his dancers. His doctor will be happy that he is staying off that leg. There was no electric wheelchair for him. Upon closer inspection of his leg, the dressings and soft cast appeared to be legitimate. 2 Chainz is a genius at marketing with his elaborate set, matching wheelchair, merchandise, and his raised awareness of 'TRAP' music and what it means. It is the truth according to 2 Chainz. This is a show to see. Just ask the throngs of ecstatic fans.