As I frantically pulled my closet apart on February 4th, 2025, looking for something to wear that would be just right for the night—something that just might catch attention from the stage but pieces that didn’t look like I had just frantically pulled apart my closet for them—I thought a lot about the people I would be surrounded by throughout the night. Tyler the Creator (or Tyler Gregory Okonma) is an artist I, among many others, admire and was looking forward to seeing that evening. Having known that a large portion of his fans are teenage boys, I was expecting there to be some moshing in the pit but not intense enough for it to affect my experience, and while I can say that overall, I enjoyed myself, there was an aspect of severity that I was not prepared for.
Arriving at the Xcel Energy Center, filled with excitement, anticipation, and near frostbite due to the harsh Minnesota winter, my friend Arabella Fracisco and I made our way to the line. My experience with being in the pit at large concerts is slim; usually, I opt for the cheaper option at big venues such as the Xcel Energy Center, which are often the high-up seats. I don’t mind them as the experience can be more comfortable, making it more enjoyable, however this concert was one I felt inclined to be close to: to really feel the music, to fully embrace the vibes. Getting down to the pit was eye-opening: stepping down and feeling the intensity, sweat, and heat of the teenage boys and grown men surrounding us made a weird feeling well up inside of me.
The set included two stages, one larger and one smaller, and a bridge that came down during the performance to connect the two. The two openers, Paris Texas and Lil Yachty performed on the smaller stage and did their best to work with the crowd. Both performances were relatively exciting but slightly underwhelming as it was clear much of the crowd’s energy was being saved for Okonma. Around 9:45 the green, metal set with his album name CHROMAKOPIA, began opening up and immediately phones were up. Promptly when Okonma entered the stage, energy rose and the big show began.
As we sang with him in terrible harmony, did our best to rap as fast as Okonma, and jumped up and down to the beat, there was this aggravating and constant shoving from all around us. Again, I am not a new concert attendee, nor am I filled with hate for the people who may accidentally push a little in the pit. However, none of this seemed accidental.
Every moment a boy in that pit even smelt a beat drop arriving, there would suddenly be pushing and shoving galore. A small circle would open up and give way for grown men to run around punching the air. I’m aware that this tends to be an act that often occurs at rock and punk concerts, and that sometimes this is the way people feel inclined to express themselves. While I am extraordinarily grateful for the experience of seeing Okonma in real life, this experience has also built a negative perspective of certain people that I can’t seem to shake. The violent patterns, although not explicitly hurting others, are something that will unfortunately stick with me as a part of this otherwise magical experience.
Seeing Tyler the Creator perform was an adventure. While the pit experience was not what I expected and clouds the fondness of that evening, I am definitely still in awe of Okonma. The way he carries himself, his artistry, his stage presence, his humor; it all added up to be a night to remember. While I struggled just as a fan to feel safe and secure attending his concert, I admire the transparency and honesty he gives to his fans about his own fears surrounding his art and life in general. I am excited to see what he does next as an artist and while I hope to see him in concert again, I probably won’t be making the choice of the pit next time.
