"You never know what you're going to get with hip hop shows. Usually it's the finger in their air and the hyped vibes, but Ted Park wasn't like that." -Anonymous
Saturday, May 13, 2023 was another memorable night for fans of Ted Park as he returned to perform again in his hometown as a headliner, following his first time doing so in December 2022. On this night at Aisle 5 in Atlanta, Park was joined by openers DJ Jay Envy!, OOWOAH, Lewie, and collaborator and friend, Parlay Pass.
Before the show, fans were lined up outside, excited to see Park perform live again. Some were newer fans (having discovered Park when he opened for PH1 on his recent tour) while others had been following him for years. Some were residents of Atlanta as well, but others had traveled long distances (up to 7 hours!) to see him perform.
Ever the gracious host, Park stopped by to greet and visit with the fans lined up outside.
As fans entered the 625- capacity venue, they were greeted by the sound of DJ Jay Envy! With a mix of genres ranging from R&B Ballads to Hip Hop basslines, this DJ knew how to make sure the crowd’s energy was set for what was coming next.
The first artist to take the stage was OOWOAH, a 19-year-old Atlanta native whose live performance career began that night. With any first-time performing artist, attendees perhaps take a few bars to warm up to the artist’s sound – but this crowd was captivated and cheered along to his raps and sang along as they learned the lyrics. At the end of his performance, OOWOAH said “this may have been my first time performing live, but it won’t be my last!!!”
The next opener is a Washington native who defines our idea of a #Soundlover. Lewie’s reason to pursue music was simply because he “just loved the sound” then “fell in love with the influence and the art process.” Lewie’s latest single came just in time for this tour stop. His collaboration with Ted Park, Down 4 You, was released on May 5, 2023, and later rejoined Park on stage to perform the track together. He expressed his affection for both Park (and his “dope personality and songs” as well as his “lit fans.”
The next artist to take the stage was no stranger for anyone who has ever attended any of Park's events. Long-time collaborator and friend, Parlay Pass, delivered an effortless style of trap that got the crowd jumping. As he continued to interact with collaborators, media and fans alike - - he did something a little different your typical indie artists. Parlay took the time to teach and explain the words noona and dongsaeng; As well as how they related to his lyrics. He also took time to teach the crowd to count for "Hana, Dool, Set"
Park’s fans eagerly anticipated his arrival on stage and launched into screams when the opening bars of his hype song Friend of Mine began to play. As he launched through the doorway on stage, he and the fans were energetically jumping and throwing their arms in the air. He also mixed in Jjajang Mami, Coca Cola (an homage to curvy girls) and kept the hype going with Slip n Slide which also had an insane level of crowd participation and energy.
Park performed a number of other fan favorite songs that the crowd eagerly sang along with, including Adore You, Dior You, Kakao, Dance Like Jay Park, Freezer, and Drippin. Parlay Pass also returned to the stage to perform tracks from their recently-released album, The Pain, such as 4 AM, Over & Over, and Monday to Sunday.
Park also performed several as-yet-unreleased songs, such as Adderall, and Weekend. The fan response to these tracks was immediate and positive, heightened by Park’s energy and enthusiasm for showing his newest work to his fans. He shared that he still has hundreds of tracks that he has held back on releasing out of concern that they might not be good enough, but he said “no more!” He related that he loves hearing new work by his peers and wants to continue to trust that his fans will also be excited to hear his new music in the future, too.
Park recounted how naysayers told him he wasn’t ready to tour on his own but he launched out on a solo tour successfully in 2022 and again this year, bringing a crowd to shows organically and independently, without having to rely on heavy marketing and promotions.
One thing is clear is that Park’s fans are loyal – if Park decides to have a show in Atlanta, they WILL show up and show out: “A-T-L-HO!”. Their affection for him is genuine and among the many reasons given, a big factor that can’t be discounted is his own genuine-ness and caring for not just his fans but everyone he encounters.
Park’s impact on everyone that he comes into contact with is unforgettable. Fans praised both his talent and his ability to be genuine and remain down-to-earth and wholeheartedly REAL in his music. Those who have worked with him on collaborations or on stage know how much he values and encourages them and their work. But even venue staff recognized how Park is different: “You never know what you are going to get when dealing with hip hop artists. Typically it’s the ‘F you’ finger in the air sort of vibe, but Ted Park wasn’t like that.” Multiple staff said that his actions spoke volumes about his level of respect and consideration for others, without taking away from his ability to entertain the crowd and bring a high-energy show that thrilled fans and kept everyone hyped throughout the night.
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Immediately after the show, Park kept his promise to have a meet & greet with his fans. Park truly took his time with each of them (vs rushed assembly-line-style fan events that are common for other artists in certain K-music genres). He also extended an invitation to fans (of legal drinking age) to the after-party.
You can find our full photo gallery from the Atlanta stop here.
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