Vro- very rare only, used like bro, nigga, brother if y'all didn't know. A word X & Ski made up.
I can't believe I'm in Chicago!!! I thought giddily as I grabbed my luggage off the turnstile and stifled a yawn. It was 5 am & I had just stepped off the flight from Miami. I was here for the annual Lyrical Lemonade Fest hosted by the one & only Cole Bennett. I had been infatuated with Cole's videos for years, he was a visionary genius & I had so much respect for him. He had put me on to so many of my fav artists, including my celebrity crush Ski Mask the Slump God. I had always wanted to see Ski in concert but had never gotten around to it. To my dismay his concerts were always sold out in my hometown or I would learn about them after the fact.
When I heard about the 3 day festival I jumped at the opportunity because I knew I was guaranteed to see him & a bunch of other rappers I had on my playlists. It was a win win situation for me. I readjusted my airpods as I called my Uber. My hotel wasn't far from the airport and it was pretty close to Douglass Park as well. I had a horrible time trying to sleep on the plane so I couldn't wait to plop down on the bed and KO.
My Uber was outside & I noticed it was drizzling a bit so I pulled my hoodie over my already puffy hair. I'd deal with it in the morning. "Jeffrey?" I asked as I approached the Honda Civic I saw on the app. The driver nodded & I got in, sitting my bag on the seat next to me. I hear him talking to me but I turned up the volume on my earphones drowning him out. I wasn't trying to be rude, I just wasn't feeling very social at the moment. I had nothing to say, I just wanted to lay down. I stared out the window at the scenery as the rain slid down the windows & let Sofaygo take me away.
We finally pulled up to the hotel & I thanked the driver shooting him a smile as I got out, slammed the door & walked inside. The hotel was almost as beautiful as it looked online. I checked in grabbed my room key & waited for the elevator. There was tons I wanted to explore later but for now I was exhausted. The elevator dinged as it got to my stop, the 15th floor. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I let myself inside, dropped my bag & plopped down on the bed, immediately falling asleep. I had a long day ahead of me today.
My alarm went off at 10 am & I got an alert from the Lyrical Lemonade app saying that the grounds were opening at 12. I groggily wiped my eyes and hopped out of the bed. The view of the Chicago skyline from my window was so beautiful. I marveled at it for a bit before grabbing my shower stuff & hopping in. I washed thoroughly but quickly, brushing my teeth & washing my face. I got out of the shower, did my hygiene stuff & threw on a pair of black denim booty shorts, a black top my twin Maddie got me a whole ago & my Rick Owens geobasket sneakers.
I did my makeup quickly, swiped on some Dior lip gloss & pulled my ginger afro into two puffy ponytails with tendrils falling into my face. I added some butterfly clips to my hair & fluffed up my lashes with my fingers. I felt one lifting so I slipped my lash glue into my pocket just in case. I slipped on the concert band, sprayed one last spritz of my Ariana Grande cloud perfume, grabbed my phone and sprinted out the door. I didn't look at the times but I knew Ski was performing around 3 pm today. And I wasn't missing it for nobody.
I headed to the train trying to get there early but after getting sidetracked I ended up at Dunkin' Donuts. A breakfast sandwich & an iced coffee later I was finally outside the gates of Douglass Park. The line damn near wrapped all the way around the block & I could hear Trippie Redd doing a mic check. I pulled out my mirror to check my makeup & so far so good, it was hot as hell but my makeup wasn't melting yet. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it taking in my surroundings. The energy in the air was electric & everyone was excited, I could tell it was gonna be an experience I'd never forget.
2 hours later the gates were open & everyone was rushing to get in. I took my time & kept my distance from the crowds, I was in no rush. I finally made it to the stage where Ski would be performing and someone named Xxxtentacion was on stage at the moment. I didn't know much of his music but I knew him and Ski had a few songs together & they were best friends. I saw everyone start to rush the stage & I saw Ski come out to perform the song with him. I pushed through the crowd of mostly niggas to get to the front. I was so close that I could almost touch him. X left the stage & Then Ski's set started. I had no idea it was already 3pm! I got hyped as he started off with songs from his old mixtapes DoIHaveTheSause? was first. I rapped all the words & I was just in awe. He had this energy about his presence that was just unreal. I felt like my whole body was on fire & I started shaking. Like it's crazy to know that he was real you know? Like I knew he was real but seeing him in real life was different than seeing them him in pics or on socials. And he was so fine. We locked eyes briefly and I think he smiled at me. I don't know what song he was performing at the moment... all I know was that the moshpits had started & I was no longer near the front. I was being pushed back and forth & I couldn't find my footing. It was hot & I couldn't breathe. I was covered in sweat and all I knew was that it wasn't mine. "Aye, Aye!" "Waterrrr". I heard Faucet Failure begin & the crowd literally lost it.
Let's make a deal...
Bitch be FORREAL...
The pushing got to be too much and I don't remember why but I started screaming. "LET ME OUT!!! LET ME THE FUCK OUT". I yelled, as I tried to balance myself in the throng of moving, pushing bodies. Majority of the crowd was guys so it was very unnerving that they were pushing the girls out of the way to get Ski's attention. Idk how he heard me screaming over the crowd but I saw him motion to his dj to cut the music. "Aye, y'all niggas need to chill vro. We here to have fun. Everybody take a step back & let her through" he said pointing at me. At least I thought he was pointing at me. My heart caught in my throat. Everyone turned to look at me. "I said let her the fuck through. Come'ere mama" he said gesturing to me with his finger. Was he talking to me though? Why would he be talking to me.
"He said go, You holding up the concert you dumb bitch!"
"Shut the fuck up dickeater," I yelled back. I didn't know who said it but I could tell Ski wasn't happy about it either by the frown on his face. Someone behind me pushed me toward the stage aggressively & I walked slowly towards ski. I wanted to punch them but it was true, I was holding up the concert. "Let her up vro." He told the security guard & they lifted me over the barricade. Ski held out his hand and pulled me on stage. "What's yah name?" He asked talking into the mic but looking me square in my face. He was even more beautiful up close. He had smooth cocoa skin that was glistening with sweat from the heat. His pink lips looked so soft, I wanted to bite them. His deep brown eyes were friendly & inviting and the tattoos on his face really fit him. I'd never been into face tattoos until Ski. Somehow he made them look very attractive. His scent was so intoxicating, I could barely contain myself. "It's Anajah" I replied, clearing my throat trying not to faint. I was extremely nervous & I could tell by the smirk on his face & the glint in his eyes that he knew his presence was affecting me. "Imma need whatever Dickhead called this girl a bitch to come foreword or I'm fucking done! My set over. Don't be a pussy, vro. Own that shit."
"You can't say you a true Ski fan if you a pussy. It just don't work like that vro." He said as he walked toward the front of the stage. I kept my feet planted firmly, if I moved a muscle at all I felt like I was gonna pass out.
It was him! The crowd started yelling and collectively pointing to this tall scrawny kid wearing a blue & purple basketball jersey. He didn't have to confirm, the scared look on his face said it all. "Aight, Security, get him the fuck outta here. Scheme drop that shit" he yelled as his continued his set. What was I supposed to do, just stand there? I rapped along with ski as he performed some of my favorite songs and half an hour later, his set was over. "Fuck, I love y'all Chicago. Y'all like my second home. I'm outta here" he said before taking off his cap & throwing it in the crowd. I stood on the side and watched the fans fight over the hat as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel his assistant had given him. She handed him a bottle of water & he accepted it gratefully, downing a bottle of water in what seemed like .5 secs. He caught my eye & nodded toward the backstage entrance. "Aight. Come with me lul mama."
