by Donte Kirby
There was a sea of hands in the air when the beat dropped at the Mad Decent Block Party at Penn’s Landing on Friday Aug. 8th.
Trap house was the music of the day. DJ Snake, Mac Diesel and Vic Mensa opened up the show and Diplo closed out the night.
At the entrance shoes and bags were checked, and bodies were patted down. The increased security was necessary since the drug related deaths and injuries at the tour’s Baltimore show. More than a few people were escorted out over the course of the day.
Fellow Chicago rapper Vic Mensa did a cover of Chance the Rapper’s “Cocoa Butter Kisses” but it did little to ease the pain of his abscence. The crowd sung along nonetheless and chanted “Chance, Chance, Chance”, hoping for a surprise appearance.
The sets with the highest energy were Flosstradamus and the evenings closer Diplo. During Flosstradamus’s “Mosh Pit” they had the sea of people spilt into two seperate tidal waves and crash against each other.
Diplo’s set left the crowd soaking wet. Those in the back were dripping with sweat after losing their minds when the beat dropped. Those in the front were hosed down by security. It was half rave, half water park near the stage.
The Philly staple will, of course, be back next year. As a Philadelphian it’s a summer experience you owe to yourself.
