Our favorite rich homie is finally making his long-awaited return to the stage! His first public performance since March 2022 will come in the form of headlining the Summer Smash festival in Bridgeview, Illinois, from June 20-22. Since first launching in 2018 by Lyrical Lemonade and SPKRBX, the festival has drawn thousands of music fans. Located just outside of Chicago, SeatGeek Stadium has proven to be an attractive destination for fans. Young Thug’s first headlining performance at the El Rey will be a homecoming of sorts. That show would represent his long-awaited return to stages after staying low due to legal challenges.
The influential rapper announced he was stepping away from music immediately after his last show in Austin, Texas, in March of 2022. Yet just two months later, he was arrested on charges related to gang involvement. After his arrest, Young Thug stayed in jail until he reached a plea deal in October 2022. Though he withdrew from public life, it didn’t prevent him from continuing to make music. Even as he awaited the fate of his trial, he dropped his debut studio album, “Business Is Business.”
In the past few months, Young Thug has taken some of his most exciting musical leaps forward. He was recently featured on Lil Baby’s “Dum, Dumb, and Dumber,” his first official single since his release from jail. He’s collaborated with everyone from Björk to Playboi Carti. This new collaboration is an indication of his willingness and determination to once again find his footing and presence within the music scene.
Chicago’s Summer Smash festival is bringing in some of the city’s biggest names to join Young Thug on the bill. The lineup is stacked with the likes of Don Toliver, Yeat, Future, Chance the Rapper, and so many others. It’s a lineup that will attract an extremely diverse audience, and we’re so excited about that. Of course, they can’t wait to see the stunning performances by all their favorite artists!
After the Summer Smash festival, Young Thug will bring his tour to Europe. He’ll be playing the Les Ardentes festival in Liège, Belgium on July 5th. Just three days after that, he’ll be headlining the Openair Frauenfeld festival in Switzerland on July 11. These performances are part of a broader initiative for Young Thug to reconnect with fans and showcase his musical evolution after overcoming significant personal challenges.