ATL UNTRAPPED: Concerts in the ATL

FROM A BIRDS EYE VIEW: Cordae continues his ascension in rap with his second headlining tour. PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN MACON/TH4NKS FOR NOTHING/HNHH

Cordae, Heaven at Masquerade — At the height of its run in 2018, the YBN collective — which consisted of YNB Nahmir, Cordae, and Almighty Jae — was slated to take over the Masquerade’s largest venue, but recording schedule conflicts and internal rifts led to the concert being indefinitely postponed. Nearly four years later, Cordae is finally throwing a show in Heaven, but this time around, it will just be him and the music. Since his solo breakout year in 2019 with his debut album The Lost Boy, the former YBN rapper has built a reputation as a respected lyricist and an outspoken activist. At the 2020 GRAMMY©  Awards, Cordae was nominated for two Grammys — Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song — and although he left the ceremony without a gramophone trophy, Cordae became the people’s champion months later after being arrested during a peaceful Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville, Kentucky. Add in a highly publicized relationship with world-renowned professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and it’s easy to understand Cordae’s newfound celebrity, yet with the release of his sophomore album From a Birds Eye View last month, all attention is currently on his new music.

MMM MMM: Kali joins forces with Flo Milli and Dess Dior for a Valentine’s Day concert at Buckhead Theatre. PHOTO CREDIT: SCRILL DAVIS

Flo Milli, Kali & Dess Dior, Buckhead Theatre — As evidenced by the record-breaking number of women featured on last summer’s XXL freshman cover, the popularity of female rap is at an all-time high, and this month, Flo Milli — one of 2021 XXL freshmen — is teaming up with Kali and Dess Dior for the three-date Girls Just Wanna Have Fun tour. After knocking out two shows in Texas, the trio of femcees will conclude their short run with a Valentine’s Day show at the Buckhead Theatre. If you aren’t yet familiar with Flo Milli, Kali, and Dess Dior, their Atlanta show is your chance to see why they are three of the most promising female voices in Southern Hip-Hop.

STILL OVER IT: Summer Walker is giving two rare live performances at the Coca-Cola Roxy to celebrate the success of her sophomore album. PHOTO CREDIT: RO.LEXX

Summer Walker, Coca-Cola Roxy — Approximately two years after the release of her lauded debut album Over It, Summer Walker returned with another big hit in the form of Still Over It — a critically acclaimed sophomore record that explored topics such as heartbreak, infidelity, and motherhood. The overwhelmingly positive reception to the LVRN artist’s latest release has easily translated to ticket sales, too. The original one-night-only show she had at the Coca-Cola Roxy on February 18 sold out so quickly that a second night was added on the 19th. Considering that she is an artist who typically shies away from touring and performing due to her social anxiety, the upcoming shows at The Battery are two rare opportunities for anyone who hasn’t yet heard Summer Walk sing live.

OLD FRIEND: Earl Sweatshirt reunites with Action Bronson and The Alchemist for the ÑBA Leather Tour. PHOTO CREDIT: RYOSUKE TANZAWA

Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, Boldly James & The Alchemist, The Tabernacle — Save for a few deep cuts from Domo Genesis and The Alchemist during the early 2010s,Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt don’t have a lot of music together, but that isn’t stopping the peculiar duo from hitting the road for a 15-date tour across North America. Titled the ÑBA Leather Tour, Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt’s latest trek arrives a year and a half after the former’s eclectic 2020 album Only For Dolphins and just months after the release of the latter’s pithy new record SICK!. Boldly James and The Alchemist — who is one of the go-to producers for all three of the aforementioned artists — will also be joining Earl and Bronsolino on the ÑBA Leather Tour is The Alchemist, so if you’re a fan of underground, avant-garde, and lo-fi rap, check them out when they hit the Tabernacle later this month.

OKWME: Last fall, Aminé shared one of his most experimental projects to date, and this month, he’ll be performing it live at the Tabernacle. PHOTO CREDIT: LUCAS CREIGHTON

Aminé, The Tabernacle — Like every other major label artist who released music in 2020, Aminé was unable to tour in support of his last album — the amazingly succinct Limbo — but that hasn’t stopped him from embarking on both a North American tour with over 30 dates and a 17-date European tour in 2022. Billed as “The Best Tour Ever Tour,” the Portland, Oregon-born artist’s upcoming trek has a big name to live up to, but if the experimental approach to his recent TWOPOINTFIVE EP is any indicator, Aminé’s Atlanta show on February 24 should be one of the most vibrant and imaginative concerts this month.