Hip hop producer Metro Boomin and notorious trap artist Future exhilarated Oakland Arena as they took the stage for their “We Don’t Trust You” tour on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The 90-minute concert was divided into three parts, giving structure to the show and allowing fans to anticipate the setlists based on the performers from each set. Ninety minutes after the promised concert start time, the first part commenced with Metro Boomin deejaying a solo set, including his well-known songs “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” and “Ric Flair Drip,” followed by DJ TJ Banks’s set of four Future songs.
The second part of the show entertained fans with a Future-performed solo set of nostalgic hits that spanned his career, including tracks like “March Madness” and “Stick Talk.” Once more, Banks concluded part two with a heavily emphasized “We Don’t Trust You” and “We Still Don’t Trust You” set, making way for Future and Metro Boomin’s collaborative performance in part three. The night ended with enlivening performances from Metro Boomin and Future together, with the duo performing a 13-track setlist of collaborated songs.
From the moment the lyric “You’re the only power” from “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” echoed until the drums from the track “We Still Don’t Trust You” faded out, the stage production of the concert dazzled fans with colorful technicolor and dynamic effects like smoke fumes and explosions. Whether the audience was on the floor or sitting in the farthest seat in the arena, the vibrant and grand stage production presented a favorable view to any fan.
Each track from the setlist appropriately matched the polychromatic variations of the stage setup, with “Loveeeeeee Song” set against a backdrop of drowsy and lush pinks, to the crisp and blue-white light strobes for “Wicked.” Uniquely, the track “Relationship” played alongside the infamous Future and Young Thug “She belongs to the streets” clip and “Relationship” music video, rather than using animated visuals. The famous references and visuals invigorated fans, adding an unpredictable yet entertaining touch to the show. As a touching ode to currently incarcerated rapper Young Thug, Future appropriately donned a “Free Thug” shirt.
Throughout the night, fans across the arena were invited and incorporated into the setlist. Banks divided the arena into the left side, right side and upper bowl, designating each part of the setlist to a specific section of the crowd and inviting them to cheer once their respective part was over. Future called his “day one” fans to sing to track “Purple Reign,” all the “baddest b—-es” to groove to “Loveeeeeee Song” and “WAIT FOR U” and anyone “cheated on in a relationship” to holler at the toxic anthem “Low Life.” While newly introduced Future and Metro Boomin fans may have expected more tracks from their latest albums and felt left out, such inviting stage presence made the concert worthwhile for fans who’ve followed the duo since the early 2010s.
Overall, the thunderous and nostalgic setlist promised Future and Metro Boomin fans a sentimental yet spirited time. Although it felt a bit rushed at times, with only one to two-minute intervals of tracks playing to make time for the combined 50-track setlist, each part of the concert allowed fans to enjoy tracks that spanned throughout Future’s career. The charisma of Future and Metro Boomin paired with dynamic fans who cheered and moshed together created reciprocal chemistry. The “We Don’t Trust You” tour gifts fans the Future and Metro Boomin package in a 90-minute fanfare, giving the hip-hop veterans their flowers for their consistency throughout their careers.
4/5
