All good things must come to an end. After two days of fun in the sun shining down upon Audi Field, the 2024 Broccoli City Festival has concluded. As we make our way into work on Monday morning, it’s hard to stop thinking about Offset joining Gunna on stage and Rep. Jasmine Crockett making a special appearance. Not to mention, Kaytranada provided a glimpse into the Timeless Tour and Jordan Ward teased new music. Reflecting back upon the weekend that was in the nation’s capital, here’s what we like, learned and loved from the final day of the 2024 Broccoli City Festival.
Liked: Jordan Ward brings Joony to the stage to perform new music
For those who are unaware, the city of St. Louis is shaping the sound of popular music. From Sexyy Red and Smino to Metro Boomin’ and Tech N9ne, the city continues to develop talent year after year. Most recently, Jordan Ward broke through with the success of “White Crocs” and his recent album, FORWARD. During the weekend, Ward brought his show on the road to Audi Field, performing hits like the aforementioned “White Crocs” and “Mustard” featuring 6LACK. Along the way, he brought out Maryland’s Joony to debut new music. While Ward may not be known as a classically trained vocalist, his ability to sing live without a backing track shined through as he delivered the first two verses of the smooth, soulful track. Towards the end, Maryland native Joony shared his guest verse. Unfortunately, there appeared to be a delay between his performance and the beat playing in the background, but the experience of seeing a DMV native take the stage at one of the area’s biggest music festival is always special. At the end of their performance, Jordan Ward hinted at the release of the track and a new project. There’s no release date for either, but we’ll patiently wait until it drops.
Learned: We need to see Kaytranada on tour
After Sexyy Red completed her set, it appeared the production staff was setting up for Victoria Monét’s performance. However, the production staff was forced to pivot after the GRAMMY Award winner wrote, “BROCCOLI CITY! See you tonight at 8:20 PM on the Converse Stage. [T]here have been no changes. [I] can’t wait to see y’all…don’t be late.” Initially, she was scheduled to perform much earlier, before Kaytranada took the stage. However, the lineup change pushed Kaytranada’s performance up and cut shorter than he originally expected. While Kaytranada was visibly upset with his set being shorter than he expected it to be, he did not take it out on his fans. From start to finish, he was in the zone, effortlessly moving from “Be Your Girl” Teedra Moses to “Intimidated” with H.E.R. In fact, the set being shorter than he wanted it to be left fans wanting more. With his tour coming up this fall, a teaser set is the best advertisement for fans wondering if they should buy a ticket. If you were there during his set, it was impossible not to dance, smile and lose yourself in the moment. If the tour is anything like his Broccoli City set, then the Timeless Tour will be on the best of the year.
Loved: Gunna makes his grand return to Broccoli City
When Gunna took the stage at Broccoli City Festival in 2022, things were a bit different. DS4Ever had emerged as one of the year’s best album, “Pushin’ P” with Young Thug and Future was climbing the charts and the Atlanta native was positioned to become one of the biggest artists in music. However, things quickly changed after he left the stage at the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds. Within 72 hours, he and Young Thug were among more than two dozen individuals charged under the RICO Act in Fulton County, Georgia. Just like that, Gunna was denied bond multiple times and sidelined indefinitely. Seven months after the arrest, Gunna received what he would later call a gift and a curse. He pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and sentenced to five years in prison, with one year already served and the rest of the sentence suspended. As critics accused him of “snitching” to secure his release, he countered with an undeniable hit — “fukumean.” The multi-platinum single anchored his return LP, A Gift & A Curse, and created a momentum for the follow-up, One of Wun.
Two years after his debut at Washington, D.C.’s biggest music festival, Gunna made his triumphant return to the nation’s capital. Cycling through his catalog of hits, Gunna confidently sauntered around the stage with a type of command that only comes through experience. He has spent the last two years mastering breath control, learning how to raise and lower his energy throughout a set and most importantly, making the crowd feel like they’re part of his show. To put the cherry on top, he brought out Offset to perform “Prada Dem.” If Gunna were to write a movie script for his return to the top, it would have included a performance much like what we saw on Sunday night.
