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Sound Advice: Rappers J.I.D. and Smino to Bring Luv is 4ever Tour to a Sold-Out Crowd in Cincinnati

J.I.D. and Smino play the Andrew J Brady Music Center on March 28.

By Killian Baarlaer on Wed, Mar 22, 2023 at 5:21 am

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Photo: The Come Up Show, Wikimedia Commons

Rapper J.I.D is co-headlining the "Luv is 4ever" tour, which is coming to Cincinnati's Andrew J Brady Music Center on March 28, 2023.

This story is featured in the March 22 issue of CityBeat.

Rappers J.I.D. and Smino boast musical styles suited for the intimate venues of a garage jam session or cafe, but they’ve been taking on the big stage as of late.

The co-headliners will be performing in Cincinnati as part of their Luv is 4ever Tour — a play off the pair’s most recent albums, Smino’s Luv 4 Rent and J.I.D.’s The Forever Story.

St. Louis native Smino’s music exists in a serene haze sure to lift moods and sedate qualms. Sauntering flows that weave back and forth between drawling, charismatic croons and insouciant rapping are staples of his catalog. Luv 4 Rent is no different, with flowery instrumentals propelled by intricate drum patterns and dreamy vocal harmonies.

Atlanta rapper J.I.D. is heralded for his poetic wordplay and flows that feel like a musical ride through an obstacle course — no flow is identical to the next. With tracks ranging from smooth jazz grooves with staunch bass lines to formidable boom bap deep cuts and moshpit-ready trap bangers, J.I.D.’s sound runs a gamut that enshrines him with the best in his field.

On The Forever Story, J.I.D. escorts listeners through introspective glimpses into past and present experiences, boldly calling out systemic racism while reflecting on the Black experience in America.

This performance of vulnerable and outspoken commentary to a sold-out crowd of thousands at the Andrew J Brady Music Center should make for an emotionally staggering night. The acts will perform with a live band, infusing the raw and eclectic nature of their sounds into the large-scale live renditions.

J.I.D. and Smino play the Andrew J Brady Music Center at 8 p.m. March 28. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Info: bradymusiccenter.com.