Throwback Thursday: The time 03 Greedo brought Los Angeles rap to the Central Coast
Lorenzo Cano is a content writer for KCPR. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
A sound that takes you back to 2016. A distinctive Los Angeles hum. A voice that cuts through all the noise of the rap scene.
03 Greedo got his start in 2009, releasing the “I Can’t Sleep” mixtape under his old stage name, Greedy Giddy. Back then, his style was very embedded in the larger rap scene and took aspects from such.
The flow was very hopeful, punchy and dramatic, coasting over production that was full of horns and tinny-sounding drums. 03 Greedo has evolved since then, transitioning to fit the mold of a late 2010s West Coast rapper, joined by artists like Shoreline Mafia and Drakeo The Ruler.
The differing style can be found in his heavy use of autotune and willingness to play around with prolonged melodic vocals. This version of 03 Greedo lends more towards a calming drive through Los Angeles at night, with beats placing emphasis on bass, creative samples and drum loops consisting of snaps and bounce.
I had the opportunity to catch a performance of his at the San Luis Obispo Grange Hall on Sept. 26, hearing that defining late 2010s rap voice for myself.
The concert experience began with a line that wrapped around the venue, constantly getting cut by groups of men who pushed their way to the front. After a thorough security pat-down, entering the venue felt like returning to a high school gymnasium for senior prom.
The lighting, DJ set and general shape of the venue were a blast from the past. To add to that, the bodies flooding into the small room felt like I was immersing myself in a sauna, and that made me sweat almost instantly.
I made peace with the sweat for a few hours, sitting through smaller artists that had the crowd riled up with boos and chants calling for the main act to come to the stage already. The crowd seemed to be a congregation of everyone with a burst fade in San Luis Obispo, and eventually, they got their wish when 03 Greedo appeared.
A headliner hitting the stage is always a big deal, but 03 Greedo treated the moment like it was trivial. Sauntering out onto center stage, the rapper almost immediately began his set with no attempt to ingratiate himself amongst the concert-goers.
As if it was not clear enough in his music, 03 Greedo moves about life with a calm demeanor, and his monotone delivery proved that just as much.
Throughout his 45-minute set, 03 Greedo paced back and forth in a very lackadaisical manner, seeming relaxed but also like he just needed to get through his set and go home.
There was no fluff or stylization, just the business of performing, which was assisted by the overall laid-back nature of his songs. Just as I was getting bored by the music, I heard the familiar witchy tune of my favorite song of his (and one of my favorite songs in general): “Rude.”
I was reeled back into the concert after that song. He then began to perform his most-streamed track, “Substance.” I was able to discern the artist’s distaste for playing popular songs, given that he played about 15 seconds of it, sang a few words and rolled his eyes, then moved on.
The stage was packed with attendees surrounding 03 Greedo, which led to a public notice for everyone to “clear out or get kicked out.”
Further quirks of the performance were the dense layers of fog and bursts of white venue lights that periodically flickered on.
In summation, 03 Greedo’s clean execution left a lot to be desired, namely excitement and a larger stage presence. However, the set was still packed with crowd favorites and acclaimed singles that had everyone singing along.
I am still quite surprised that an artist of that caliber came to a small venue in a town like San Luis Obispo. His arrival was necessary, setting a precedent for similar performers, and giving those who enjoy rap and hip-hop culture a space on the Central Coast.
