The Ninja Nation Tour made it’s way through the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado last night in epic fashion. Featuring some of the biggest names in the dubstep and trap scene, this event was jam packed with talent from start to finish. From the moment the doors opened at 6 PM, it was nothing but absolute madness. With dubstep enthusiasts rocking their Ninja Nation gear pouring in for what was certainly an unforgettable evening, it’s safe to say that Datsik and the rest of his crew will certainly be making their way back to Colorado in the near future.
Kicking off the night with a perfect hybrid set from up and coming superstar Virtual Riot, fans were blown away by the amount of talent this opener possessed. With flawless transitions and a diverse set full of dubstep, future bass, and trap influences, it’s no surprise that Virtual Riot has been referred by many as one of the biggest acts in 2017. Followed by an epic hip-hop/trap fusion set from Party Thieves and his Theft Army crew, the first hour and a half of this event was absolutely sensational. Each of these artists could have single handedly headlined the show with the amount of talent and energy they displayed on stage.
Followed by one of the night’s most anticipated acts, Protohype made sure to turn some heads with a blend of mashups and bangers to create a crazy atmosphere from the second he took the stage. Backed by a bunch of unreleased material, fans could be seen head banging left and right to some of the dirtiest dubstep around. Protohype set the stage perfectly for Crizzly’s epic return as he made sure to make the most of each moment he was on the decks. Reminding everyone why he was one of the biggest names in the scene, Crizzly wasted no time displaying new material off his up and coming EP. Dropping some of the biggest tracks of the year, Crizzly put forth one of the best sets of the night with his unique twist on a dubstep/trap hybrid he’s come to coin so well.
Following over 3 hours of complete madness, it only seemed fitting to take a step back and bring it to the old school hip-hop roots with an incredibly unique performance from GZA and his Liquid Swords album. Putting a live spin on tracks such as “Gold” and “4th Chamber”, the live band added an organic feel to a profoundly digital evening. To much disappointment, a majority of the fans of this event didn’t seem to vibe too well with the set. Where the Wu-Tang member lacked in electronic influence, he made up for with legendary flow. Despite rocking to only about 3/4 of the original audience, GZA did a phenomenal job reminding everyone what hip-hop should truly be about.
Finishing out the night with the senpei himself, Datsik took the stage at 11PM and proceeded to entice the crowd with each and every track he dropped. Dropping edits of D.R.A.M’s “Broccoli” into Jack Ü’s “Febreeze” Datsik displayed an incredibly range and taste all throughout his set. Backed by an unbelievable epic production setup, the Shogun exceeded expectations. Fans were taken away by the blend of visuals and lasers to create a 3D effect unlike anything ever seen before. Highlighted by filthy drops such as Philo’s “Jotaro” to compliment flawless transitions, Datsik proved why he has time and time again been named one of the most legendary dubstep acts of all time. Datsik proceed to rock the stage for an hour and a half including a mind-blowing encore that left the fans begging for more. All and all, the 1st Bank Center nearly reached capacity and it was evident everyone in the crowd had an absolute blast. The Datsik team did a great job at assembling a perfect lineup to provide a fantastic experience from start to finish. As many fans would agree, I’ll definitely be back to see Datsik perform his next show here in the bass capital of Colorado.
Written By: Cooper Turley