Spotted: Zombies in Philly!
Flatbush Zombies celebrates 10 years of BetterOffDead at The Fillmore
“ZOMBIES! ZOMBIES! ZOMBIES!” The city of Philadelphia brought nothing but energy for Flatbush Zombies return to the Fillmore Friday evening, celebrating 10 years of their BetterOffDead Mixtape.
BetterOffDead, which was released in September of 2013, garnered much acclaim for its stellar production and lyrical reflection of the rap group’s different realities and experiences, which their fans can relate to. These topics range from systemic issues they’ve faced as black men, self-discovery, or even just experiences with weed and Psilocybin. The down-to-earth trio always provides its listeners with a way they can all connect through music and struggle to have a good time; tonight was no exception!
From opening to end, fans were treated with hard-hitting rap and memorable performances from both the show’s openers and of course, Flatbush Zombies. Taking the stage first was AKTHESAVIOR, a hip-hop artist from Brooklyn, NY, and an affiliate of Flatbush Zombies. The 32-year-old artist began to make waves in 2011 with his childhood friend, Issa Gold when they formed TheUnderachivers. The group began collaborating with Flatbush and has joined Beast Coast, the rap super collective consisting of Pro Era, Flatbush Zombies, and TheUnderachivers.
Performing notable tracks such as “Another Dimension,” “Melting Amethyst,” and “Flowers,” AKTHESAVIOR kept the crowd comfortable, entertained, and engaged throughout his set. The biggest treat for the crowd came when he surprised the audience with free blunts, which he passed out to different sections of fans wishing to snag one.
Following up AKTHESAVIOR was Quadie Diesel, a Delaware-based rapper known for his feature on Rob Bank$ – ‘Spanking’, his work with production collective Better of Dying, and his recent collaboration project with Zelooperz, “Quezel” (2023). Bringing out fellow rappers Didit and THWAGLORD, Quadie kept the gas hot as he kept Philly ignited! Performing many tracks from his collab album with DidIt (NBA Street, Vol. 5), and collaborations with THWAGLORD.
Both openers set the mood for the night, but fans needed plenty of energy for what the Zombies had in store. Taking the stage last were Erick the Architect, Zombie Juice, and Meechy Darko of the rap group Flatbush Zombies. Hailing from Flatbush, Brooklyn, the group has been releasing alternative hip-hop & rap together since its formation in 2010. In the beginning, the group saw success with their first mixtape D.R.U.G.S., and appearances on tracks featuring A$AP MOB, Pro Era, and TheUnderachivers. After partnering with the other two groups and forming the Beast Coast supercollective, FBZ released what fans are celebrating tonight, their second mixtape BetterOffDead!
“Look you only get one 10-year anniversary so let’s act alright,” Meechy said as he addressed the crowd. “This is not a show, this is a reunion. We’re gonna have fun tonight.” Opening with “AmeriKKKan Pie”, FBZ treated its longtime fans with a run-through of iconic tracks from the mixtape such as “Regular & Complex (GNB)”, “MRAZ”, and “G Tearz”.
Taking a break from the group’s performance, rapper Erick the Architect performed some tracks from his solo career. This included “No Ice” ft. AKTHESAVIOR, where Erick brought AK back out on stage to assist, and his newly released song “Shook Up” ft. Joey Bada$$ & FARR, which was released Wednesday, November 29th.
Everything from delivery to performance was spot on from every member, giving the fans their all. Hopping on and off the stage, FBZ’s crowd control is simply unmatched when they’re in their element. “I gotta know, can I trust y’all to catch me?” Meechy said before diving into the crowd, who did catch him, during “Bath Salt!” Fun is all you could say to describe people’s reactions to the energy delivered in their performance. For the final song, the group closed out with simple instructions, “If you know the words to this song, Imma need you to scream this shit with us. But if you do not know the words, Imma need you to shut the fuck up, listen, and fucking learn.” Singing with fans their most iconic track from the mixtape, “Palm Trees”.
“OPEN YOUR FUCKING MIND”, were Meechy’s departing words for the audience in attendance for Flatbush Zombies: BetterOffDead 10-year anniversary tour. A message that on the surface might reflect the group’s advocacy of Psilocybin mushrooms, but primarily reflects their encouragement to listeners to broaden their outlook, become more receptive to diverse viewpoints, and be willing to consider alternative perspectives beyond what they might already know/believe.
If you’d like a chance to experience the BetterOffDead tour before it ends, check out Flatbush Zombies there will also be a livestream celebrating the anniversary on December 16th available to fans.
See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
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