Saba’s Phoenix performance at The Van Buren on June 27, his second-to-last stop on The Big Picture Tour, brought back shades of the Chicago-centric 2016 “Coloring Book” era of hip-hop: a bright, hopeful era of the genre and more.
And though it pulled through, this stop was a little awkward at first.
The crowd was very limited. As the openers came on, what felt like a head count better suited for Valley Bar grew to a more reasonable size by Saba’s set, but the emptiness was still noticeable within the venue.
Fans that were there were familiar, a trucker hat, jorts and cargo pant-adorned community that made up for its size in engagement. What was tangibly awkward at first was quickly forgotten with Saba’s late-night energy.
DJ Oreo opened the concert with a setlist celebration of alternative hip-hop and its 21st-century legends. Oakland’s own Ovrkast showcased his own talent early by live-flipping a sample to rap on before expanding into his own impressive catalogue with witty energy, while still giggling with his own DJ for most of the set.
Though the openers brought undeniable enthusiasm that the crowd enjoyed, it felt like a bit of an eternity before Saba appeared a few minutes after 9:30 with his signature bright smile, long hair and stage magnetism.
“Every Painting Has a Price,” the first track off his 2025 album “From The Private Collection of Saba and No ID,” opened the show with a minimal, white-lit stage design that remained constant for the entire set, evoking the black-and-white world of the album. Quickly, this bright, smooth, and soulful track brought listeners into this new era of Saba, one particularly of maturity.
Saba’s come a long way from being Chicago rap’s little cousin. Music once centered on youth, which could be felt with every syllable, has grown into a steadier and reflective tone, but still not one without excitement.
“I got an album with No I.D.,” Saba exclaimed to the crowd. “Me!”
Accompanied by a talented live band, including longtime bassist Chef Lee, renditions of newer tracks like “Breakdown” were more mellow and less brassy, though not without their crisp harmonies of vocals and drums. In the live setting, the usually traditional beats danced into contemporary jazz, a welcome addition that just felt right.
These tracks even featured a fan basically break-dancing on the open floor for the entire show, his own show of commitment and endurance. And cardio.
Unfortunately, there were no calls to the tracklist of the 2022 album “Few Good Things,” but 2018’s “CARE FOR ME” thankfully got some love.
The live version of “GREY” and its accompanying breakdown and jam session from the band were inspired and moving, with the keyboardist even shredding jazz chords like on an electric guitar.
“LIFE” brought a thundering bassline and unstoppable energy, while “Photosynthesis,” his biggest hit and a classic track of the 2010s, was joy personified.
These songs transport you through his eras, but his message always feels the same. I’ve always felt Saba’s music is a soundtrack of finding yourself and your purpose.
It feels like growing up, like finding your mission in a world of unknowns, and the blissful hope, confidence, and simple joy that comes with that.
The chilling but uplifting “HEAVEN ALL AROUND ME,” a track narratively unpacking a central loss in Saba’s life, felt undoubtedly full of life. It’s astounding that so often, music about trauma can be so invigorating and be performed with such joy.
The show’s finale, a song separately sampling his grandparents, cousin and father, shows that Saba will always be “Westside Bound.”
This premier voice in modern hip-hop, with some of the best stage presence and breathwork in the game, gave fans their own private collection in a surprisingly intimate show.
After it was all over, Saba even chatted with fans on FaceTime before coming out to chat and take a group picture.
I last saw Saba in May 2022 in Lawrence, Kansas, just weeks after graduating from high school.
Because I lived in nowhere, Arkansas, this five-hour road trip across two state lines was the closest possible show. Now he’s a 15-minute drive away in Phoenix, a month and change after graduating from college. It’s a cute parallel, and I’m excited to see where we’ll both be in life next time.
Music of loving and overcoming, Saba’s tunes are not something any hip-hop fan should miss live. Though it might be a while before he’s on the road again, The Big Picture Tour was certainly a satisfying exploration of his growth and perspective. And man, can he rap.
