Harlem's own kicked off his 43-city international tour at Chicago's United Center, celebrating his career with an apocalyptic rave for the ages
May 31, 2026 11:45am
Steph Photos
In the days since A$AP Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb seemingly became another rap urban legend, Chicago has been a part of the album’s journey. I remember when he premiered songs from it at the 2021 Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash. You might even remember when he closed out 2025’s Lollapalooza when he famously rappelled from a helicopter on the stage. At Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb World Tour kickoff show at Chicago’s United Center (May 27), all the love came full circle as he delivered a hot show (seven years in the making) strictly for the fans.
Beside the Bulls and Blackhawks championship ceiling-high banners towered a similar black and white police helicopter. Fans couldn’t help but gawk and question whether A$AP Rocky was going to jump out of the chopper again like he did last year. Turns out, he wanted to surprise the fans and make his grand entrance to “Grim Freestyle” from the nosebleeds. That was the first of many moments throughout the night where Rocky wanted to make sure that everyone in the building got to see him and experience him up close, regardless of where they were. After he hit us over the head with the explosive “Trunks” and “Highjack,” he arrived in the middle of the stage in that same helicopter.
