Fans of Chance the Rapper filled the Hollywood Bowl on Juneteenth, celebrating a night of good vibes, dancing, and educational lessons offered up through documentary clips highlighting African-American struggles, perseverance, and community. Opening up for Chance the Rapper was DJ Novena, followed by Vic Mensa, and lastly D-Nice joined by the DC 6 Singers. The venue was packed from the pit to the very back of the Bowl as thousands gathered to celebrate Juneteenth through music and community.
The Ambiance
Fans dressed in their sickest fits filtered into the Hollywood Bowl carrying wine, picnic baskets, and charcuterie boards, while those closer to the stage enjoyed everything from pizza to massive Tomahawk steaks delivered directly to their seats.
DJ Novena
Kicking off the night was DJ Novena, who got the crowd moving immediately once Patrice Rushens’ “Forget Me Nots,” blasted through the speakers. While the set was short, it totally set the mood for the night.
Vic Mensa
Next on the stage was Vic Mensa. His music consisted of melodic rap songs about politics, community, inequality, incarceration, freedom, and suicide. At one point, Vic brought out artist Rhapsody.
D-Nice
One of my personal highlights was finally seeing D-Nice perform live after becoming a fan during his “Club Quarantine” livestreams throughout the pandemic.
During D-Nice’s set at the Hollywood Bowl, actress Tisha Campbell and Heather B came out on stage and presented a birthday cake to D-Nice. As a huge fan of the classic TV show, Martin, it was awesome seeing the actress whom I watched all the time pop out in person.
Another memorable moment was when the DC6 Singers danced to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up.” This was the best way to celebrate D-Nice’s 56th birthday and we enjoyed it.
Check out the gallery below.
Chance the Rapper
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for. Chance took the stage backed by an giant screen showing every single word from his lyrics. Between songs, fans got to watch documentary clips featuring commentary on historic events, including violence, community problems, and protests.
Another highlight of the show was during “Drapetomania” where fans shouted in unison, “Fuck Ice.”
During “Burn Ya Block,” the energy inside the Hollywood Bowl kicked up another notch as fans danced and sang along. Between songs, documentary clips highlighting riots, resilience, strength, and unity reinforced the evening’s Juneteenth message, adding depth beyond a typical concert experience.
The momentum continued with “No Problem,” as thousands of fans rapped along to every word of the Grammy-winning hit. The Hollywood Bowl transformed into one giant singalong, with voices echoing from the pit all the way to the back of the venue.
Chance closed the night with “Same Drugs,” one of his most beloved songs. As confetti blasted across the Bowl, fans sang every lyric word for word, creating a memorable finale that felt both celebratory and emotional.
Overall, the event was extremely entertaining and a melting pot of fans of all ages, coming together to celebrate Juneteenth in a once-in-a-lifetime event.
About C² (Christy + Chris)
Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.
Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting rap, R&B, punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
Leave a Reply