Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist took over the Observatory in Santa Ana on Oct. 26 for Alfredo: The Tour, a run coinciding with the release of their latest album Alfredo 2. The venue was completely sold out, with fans packed shoulder to shoulder waiting for the two to hit the stage.
Adrian Taylor
The night opened with Sven Wunder, a composer who came all the way from Stockholm, Sweden, to join the tour. They played a mellow set filled with smooth, jazzy instrumentals that set a relaxed tone before the main show. I spoke with one audience member who mentioned they first heard of Sven through a Tyler, The Creator clothing collaboration a few years back, where Sven's song was used which was a cool connection to see Sven Wunder was connected to this rap scene.
Adrian Taylor
Next up was Mavi, who had a massive presence in the crowd. Fans were already chanting his name before he even appeared, and when he finally took the stage, the room erupted. His energy was unmatched. He spent most of his set right at the edge of the stage, connecting directly with fans who sang along to every lyric, phone lights waving through the air.
Adrian Taylor
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. The Alchemist stepped up behind his DJ setup, sparked a joint, and the crowd went wild. He started with the “Daddy Loves You Intro” from the first Alfredo album, letting the beat ride until Freddie Gibbs’ voice echoed through the speakers with his signature “Check, check,” sending the audience into chaos.
Adrian Taylor
The duo rolled right into back-to-back classics from the first Alfredo album “1985,” “God Is Perfect,” and “Scottie Beam” and the crowd knew every line. The energy stayed high as Freddie Gibbs tore through his catalog, with fans chanting along to his iconic ad-libs like “Fuck Police” and “Fuck 12” at the top of their lungs.
Adrian Taylor
Halfway through the set, Freddie took a quick break while The Alchemist stepped into the spotlight. Still behind his DJ table, he grabbed the mic, light a joint and started rapping, performing a few of his own tracks while mixing live. The crowd went crazy! Freddie soon returned, and the two finally performed one of their tracks together, moment that everyone had been waiting for all night.
Adrian Taylor
After the crowd demanded an encore, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist returned to the stage and closed out the night with “Jean Claude” and “A Thousand Mountains.” The crowd went wild, shouting every bar and waving their hands to the beat. The energy stayed high even as the lights came up, showing the strong connection between the duo and their fans!
Adrian Taylor
