A Boogie Wit da Hoodie brings it for Syracuse fans

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie headed back to campus this weekend with a Syracuse stop on his “Me vs. Myself: The College Tour.”

Upstate New York fans had two chances in “24 Hours” to see the Bronx rapper between Saturday’s show in Albany and Sunday’s Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial.

A Boogie’s fall tour to college towns is in support of his December 2022 album, Me vs. Myself. And while he isn’t new to Syracuse with previous appearances at a SU basketball game earlier this year and record-setting night at the 2018 New York State Fair, A Boogie brought with him new live talent this go around.

Sunday’s crowd first heard from DJ Sosa and rising Georgia hip-hop opener Kaliii, who released her EP, FCK GIRL SZN, last week. Many know her for her song “Area Codes” that marked her first top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in May.

In the crowd’s pit was concertgoer Marlowe Briggs, who said she truly enjoyed Kaliii’s performance, but noted how A Boogie split his time with his openers.

“It seemed like he really only performed for an hour or so,” Briggs said. “The DJs ahead of him played a lot of songs to ‘test our energy’ and that part was a fun opener, but it definitely felt long.”

Briggs also noted that A Boogie had both a strong stage presence and a sizeable crowd. The stage displayed graphics behind the rapper like clocks during his song “Timeless,” with dancers behind him for the majority of the show.

Fellow concertgoer Lizzie Kick said A Boogie made a point to connect with his crowd.

“He tried to interact with all sides of the stage, so even though we were in the pit, we could tell he made an effort with people in seats as well,” Kick said. “He really worked all sides of the stage.”

Not only was this Kick’s first time at the Oncenter War Memorial concert venue, but also her first time seeing A Boogie live. While she noted the venue was smaller than some she’d been to in the past, she said it made for an intimate feel.

“For me not knowing much of his songs and just going for fun, I had an amazing time,” Kick said. “I thought I’d be standing there and not enjoying it or having fun, but I really enjoyed it.”

Syracuse marks A Boogie’s second-to-last stop on his 14-location tour, with a final performance Monday in Amherst, Massachusetts.