EVENT REVIEW: Los Angeles Shows Up to See 03 Greedo One Last Time at Globe Theatre Event

Originally seen on Billboard 6/18/2018

Filled with family and friends, the Globe Theater played host on Friday night (Jun. 15) to what could possibly be Los Angeles MC 03 Greedo’s final performance for a very long time. 

On that fated Friday night, there was just as much jubilance as their is anxiety about the future. The show, put together by Red Bull, was a celebration of Los Angeles producer Ron-Ron’s birthday. Greedo was adorned by fans and friends as he got to let the uncertainty of his future melt away for a few minutes — before he is set to turn himself into authorities to begin a 20-year sentence, after pleading guilty to possession of more than 400 grams of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in 2016.

Also on stage with Greedo for his final show was a cardboard cut-out of fellow L.A. rapper Drakeo the Ruler, who remains in custody as he awaits trial on a murder charge that could land him behind bars for the rest of his life. “Free” and “RIP” was almost a theme of the show, as the stage featured numerous tributes to incarcerated and fallen rappers. For a region that created the term “gangsta rap,” the latest generation of stars is following in the original icons’ footsteps — for better and for worse.

Taking the stage around 9:30 p.m., Greedo joined Ron-Ron and Shoreline Mafia to a thunderous, raucous applause, and ran through some collaborations before performing a handful of solo cuts. Twenty minutes later, the crowd began cheering for Greedo to re-emerge on stage, but his set was already over — and a crowd full of young, energetic L.A. rap fans had just witnessed a historic moment for the new West, as they bade the MC adieu just as quickly as they crowned him.

Other moments throughout the show, however, felt somewhat jumbled, as local DJ Cypress Moreno opened and closed the show, bringing out guest after guest with virtually no introduction. In total, the show had upwards of 20 artists taking the stage to perform disjointed sets over their own vocals, with unusually long and awkward multi-syllabic call and responses chants. The show’s headliners, Shoreline Mafia, performed after a lengthy delay with microphones that almost seemed to be completely turned off.

None of that mattered, however, as the young crowd came for the party and to participate in an epic send-off for one of their new local heroes. It was clear this night that was a coronation: Los Angeles showed up for Greedo, giving him a farewell fit for a king. That’s all any artist can really ask for.