PartyNextDoor’s anticipated efficiency on the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park on Thursday, March 14 was the proper kick-off to Billboard’s annual THE STAGE at SXSW live performance sequence.
Throughout Get together’s one-hour set, he not solely delivered hits together with “Break from Toronto” and “Come and See Me” (feat. Drake), however elevated them to new heights with a present stopping crew of dancers and vigorous three-piece band. However naturally, he ended on the final word excessive: a shock announcement about his long-awaited fourth studio album, PartyNextDoor4 (P4).
As he advised Billboard in his present cowl story: “That is the toughest I’ve ever labored on an album. That is the proudest I’ve felt…I’m excited to grind much more for the subsequent [one]. I’m in love with how laborious it is best to work for it.” To coincide with the massive reveal — which turned out to be the album’s launch date of April 26 — Get together additionally dropped his new single “Actual Girl.”
Over time, Get together has established himself as a go-to hitmaker for artists together with Ye, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Submit Malone and Rihanna (he’s scored two Sizzling 100 prime 10 hits with the lattermost, together with “Work” and “Wild Ideas”).
THE STAGE takes place from March 14-16 as a part of SXSW, Austin’s annual music, movie and tech competition, and options performances from Billboard’s newest cowl stars: Get together, Christian Nodal, and Illenium. Tickets could be bought right here.
Final yr’s THE STAGE headliners included Lil Yachty, Feid and Kx5.
Learn on for the 5 finest moments from Get together’s sold-out present beneath.
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The Lengthy-Awaited Launch Date of ‘P4’
PartyNextDoor saved the very best for final.
On the finish of his 60-minute headlining set, the singer, songwriter and producer lastly introduced the discharge date of his upcoming fourth studio album, PartyNextDoor4. “Thanks all for displaying up tonight,” stated Get together whereas strolling offstage, “P4 coming quickly.” Seconds later, followers discovered simply how quickly because the on-stage screens flashed “PARTYNEXTDOOR 4, APRIL 26TH 2024,” alerting the viewers that the discharge of his subsequent album was simply over a month away.
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The Choreography (No, Not His)
One of many best challenges in performing a catalog like Get together’s is enjoying by hit songs that function different artists who are usually not current, with out it feeling like one thing is lacking from the efficiency. And although neither Drake, Summer time Walker nor Ye weren’t on the present — regardless of hopeful rumors that Drake, who had his personal gig in San Antonio, simply 90-minutes south of Austin, the identical evening — Get together made certain their absence wasn’t felt. It’s a feat he achieved, partly, because of 4 skilled dancers who shared the stage with the star. As his greatest tracks blared by the audio system, they stored the vitality excessive — and the group engaged.
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The Reside Instrumentation — Particularly One Roaring Solo
Very similar to the dancers, Get together’s band was delivering excessive vitality that stored the present transferring and helped fill the areas when Get together would step off for a fast breather. However one second stood out among the many relaxation: on the finish of “Acknowledge” that includes Drake, Get together’s guitarist took centerstage, shredding over the music’s outro. It was a robust second that gave the present a dynamic really feel, bridging the divide between an R&B efficiency and stadium rock present.
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A Shock Setlist Addition
True Get together followers know he is likely one of the co-writers behind Rihanna’s smash hit “Work,” infusing the music with the identical Caribbean aptitude that defines a lot of his personal discography. Nevertheless it got here as a pleasing shock — judging by the roaring crowd — when Get together opted to incorporate his personal stay rendition of the observe in his setlist. He stored it much like the recording launched by Rihanna, however ended with a twist — a minute-long drum solo.
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The Rowdy Crowd
Final Could, Get together gave his first Toronto efficiency in seven years. And since stay music’s post-pandemic return, he has solely carried out at a handful of festivals (and a few school exhibits) — but it surely’s all a part of the plan. As his supervisor, Tyler Henry, stated in Get together’s present Billboard cowl story, “We love to do just a few every year to ensure we’re contemporary and in entrance of individuals’s minds. It retains us sharp for when a second like this album comes.” And given the jam-packed amphitheater and fervent screams reverberating from the group, it’s a technique that’s positively working in his favor.
