Ill Niño Tour Rocks Omaha's Waiting Room Lounge with Tropidelic, UBI, and The Palmer Squares
By Mitch West
The Ill Niño Tour, featuring Tropidelic, UBI of CES Cru, and The Palmer Squares, delivered an electrifying performance at a sold-out Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday night. The venue's air conditioning struggled to keep up with the intense energy of this Midwest hip-hop and reggae fusion storm. Marking the eighth stop of the tour, which kicked off Feb. 18, the night was a vibrant mix of boom-bap, speed rap, and lyrical prowess that left the audience buzzing.
Photo Credit: @thatonemitchkid
The Palmer Squares Set the Stage on Fire
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, The Palmer Squares have been making waves in the hip-hop scene since their 2012 debut. With 13 albums under their belt, this duo shows no signs of slowing down. Their live performance at Waiting Room Lounge was nothing short of spectacular, exceeding all expectations with a flawless set. The Palmer Squares' lyrical complexity and high-energy delivery raised the bar, leaving the crowd chanting for more. Fans of Midwest hip-hop concerts won't want to miss their remaining tour dates with Tropidelic and UBI, followed by stops in Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They’ll also reunite with Tropidelic at the Everwild Music Festival in Thornville, Ohio, on Aug. 1.
Photo Credit: @thatonemitchkid
UBI of CES Cru Shines with Speed Rap Mastery
Underground hip-hop fans likely know UBI, aka Ubiquitous, as one half of CES Cru, the Kansas City, Missouri-based rap duo signed to Strange Music. Alongside Godemis, UBI represents a roster that includes heavyweights like Tech N9ne, King ISO, Murs, Rittz, and Krizz Kaliko. UBI’s intricate lyricism and seamless gear-shifting speed rap captivated the Omaha crowd. A standout moment came when The Palmer Squares joined him on stage for “The Quill,” a collaboration from UBI’s 2019 album Under Bad Influence, followed by the explosive closer “Game Show.” Fans can stream UBI’s latest track, “Deal or No Deal,” featuring Mike Summers, available now.
Photo Credit: @thatonemitchkid
Tropidelic Brings Reggae-Rock Vibes to a Sold-Out Crowd
Before their set, Tropidelic’s Matthew Roads and James Begin sat down to discuss their new singles “Same Hat” (featuring Rittz) and “Ease Up,” as well as their upcoming Everwild Music Festival (full interview forthcoming). The band also treated VIP fans to an intimate three-song acoustic performance, signing merchandise and posing for photos. At 9:05 p.m., Tropidelic hit the stage, blending new tracks with older favorites like “Hey Now” from their 2017 album Heavy Is The Head. Halfway through, James Begin announced the sold-out show to a roaring crowd, a testament to the band’s relentless grind. Tropidelic’s infectious reggae-rock energy makes them a must-see at live music events.
What’s Next for the Ill Niño Tour and Tropidelic?
The Ill Niño Tour continues with stops in Wichita, Kansas (March 14), Kansas City, Missouri (March 15), Des Moines, Iowa (March 16), Savannah, Georgia (April 12), and wraps up in Orlando, Florida, on April 13. Tropidelic keeps the momentum going with their newly announced King Flamingo Tour, featuring rotating support from The Quasi Kings, Tobyraps, Crooked Coast, Jon Wayne and The Pain. Their summer festival run culminates at the Everwild Music Festival, Aug. 1-3, at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio. This year’s lineup includes Stick Figure, SOJA, Rebelution, The Movement, The Palmer Squares, and more, making it a top destination for reggae and hip-hop festival fans.
This tour showcased the best of Midwest hip-hop and reggae-rock. Keep an eye on Tropidelic, UBI, and The Palmer Squares for more high-energy performances and new music releases.
