Divided into three acts, Lil Nas’ thematic show borrowed from The Wizard of Oz to illustrate his metamorphosis from aspiring rapper to Grammy winner. As if it were a Broadway show, fans were given a Playbill outlining his cast, crew, fashion credits, and setlist.
The Playbill included a delightfully goofy greeting reflective of Lil Nas’ comedic style of celebrity. “Hello ladies & gentlemen & nonbinaries, and bottoms:” it read. “I love you and appreciate you for coming here with me blah blah blah blah.” He opened the show with “Panini.”
Lil Nas used immersive Snapchat AR to bring fans to his psychedelic Wild West for Act I. Just before “Old Town Road,” he introduced a mechanical horse onstage. Real ones would agree the best part was sampling Ginuwine’s “Pony” into a live rendition of his hit song.
For Act III, Lil Nas emerged from an egg (or stone? pop stars love rebirth) to perform “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name.)” His delivery, as sexy as the song’s devilish music video, was a boundary-pushing display of fearlessly rewriting what it means to be a rapper today.
Lil Nas later danced to Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On,” flashing his appreciation for early-2000s hip-hop. He closed the show with “Industry Baby,” prompting the audience to support his newest single, “Star Walkin.’” It’s the anthem for League of Legends' 2022 championship.