Audiences say ILoveUILoveU to the Antagonist Tour

By Staff Writers Gaurasundara Amarnani and Varun Madhavan 

Fans rushed into San Francisco’s Bill Graham Auditorium on October 10 to see the Antagonist concert, the first collective tour by Playboi Carti’s rap label, Opium. Consisting of Carti himself, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, Homixide Gang, and ApolloRed1, the Opium record label artists performed a thrilling setlist to satisfy their fans.

The Opium record label, also stylized as 00pium, is known for its energetic, rebellious music. Through songs such as Ken Carson’s “Fighting my Demons” and Playboi Carti’s “ILoveUIHateU,” the group creates unmatchable energy amongst concert crowds, typically in the form of mosh pits. 

The Antagonist night began with ApolloRed1, a lesser-known artist for whom audiences held low expectations, evidenced by the lower crowd turnout. Yet, the moment he stepped onto the stage backed by flashing, strobing crimson lights to match his name, Apollo’s set turned confident and charged, instantly captivating the audience. As an up and coming artist of the label, Apollo built up audience hype for later, well-known Opium artists.

Quickly following up, the duo Homixide Gang, another lesser-known group, played their most notable songs, namely “Lifestyle.” Despite creating another enthralling production amongst other popular rappers, they were relatively forgettable.

Unfortunately, as artist Destroy Lonely stepped onto the stage, the first real mediocrities of the concert began. Although Destroy Lonely put on popular songs, such as “if looks could kill” and “how u feel,” much of the crowd did not know the lyrics, and, as the audience’s singing and chanting faltered, the arena atmosphere dulled down as well.

The atmosphere drastically shifted when former viral SoundCloud rapper  Ken Carson came on stage. In stark contrast to Destroy Lonely’s sets, the audience was rambunctious, jumping up and down with their arms in the air, singing every lyric of Carson’s “overseas,” “Fighting My Demons,” and “ss.” Carson’s strong crowd control and popular song choices led to undoubtedly the greatest performance of the night. “San Francisco, y’all the real ones!” Carson said, concluding his set and thanking the audience.

Finally, Playboi Carti, the leader of the Opium group, built up on the energy from Carson as he emerged from the smoke cannons and flickering lights wearing his iconic vamp cloak. The audience, filled with anticipation, seemed to enjoy every second of Carti’s act. Starting with “Pop Out” and finishing with the unreleased “24 songs,” the self-proclaimed King Vamp shattered the audience’s expectations. 

Apart from the artists’ individual performances, the concert environments were perfectly curated. The costumes, the props, and the lighting especially synced perfectly with each song and artist. For example, more relaxed melodies, like “24 songs” were paired with a softer white-gray color, while unrestrained songs, like “HBA,” were complemented by bright scarlet. 

Ultimately, the Antagonist tour put on a thrilling performance, encapsulating the preeminence of the Opium record label and leaving fans around the Bay excited for more.