As the crowd began filling the floor of the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in Indianapolis last week, the excessively bright lights from the stage beamed a direct message: Pusha T. It’s Almost Dry. Rap Album of the Year.

It’s a bold statement that’s also hard to argue. The name It’s Almost Dry, which dropped back in April, was meant to communicate the final touches being put on a masterpiece. An homage to his past, a comment on his present, and establishing his future, the album was acclaimed upon release and stands as some of King Push’s best work. His current tour serves as a victory lap for both the album itself and over two decade’s worth of hits.

The night opened with rising British-American rapper IDK, whose energetic performance got the crowd moving. Tracks like “Dog Food” and “Taco” from this year’s Simple. kicked off the set, but it was 2021 single “Shoot My Shot” that hit hardest.

The bulk of Pusha T’s extensive set was obviously populated with tracks from It’s Almost Dry, but it also served as a tour of his full catalogue, including almost the entirety of 2018’s stellar Daytona, select tracks from My Name is My Name, as well as covers, guest verses, and even the delightful appearance of “Grindin'” from his time with Clipse.

It should come as no surprise that “Let the Smokers Shine the Coupes” absolutely went off to open up the set. It’s a beat custom made for such a setting, and in truth, his history of production from the likes of Pharrell and the Neptunes to Kanye West shines through the speakers, each beat telling its own story. His run through Daytona tracks mid-set was a keen reminder of Kanye’s brilliance on that project, as was the surprising performance of 2012’s GOOD Music collab “New God Flow”.

But aside from the excitement generated from the setlist itself, Pusha truly appeared joyed to be sharing in these songs with the audience. His smile resonated between tracks, even as his determined and intricate delivery of lines could send chills down your spine. Despite his self-given title of “Cocaine’s Dr. Seuss” and the cold reality of his stories from the streets, there’s always been something blatantly approachable to Pusha’s personality.

He’s in his element on stage as much as anyone you’ll witness, and his ability to translate such personal and specific stories into music that resonates across a wide fanbase is something that sets him apart from his peers. It’s Almost Dry is another thrilling chapter in his tale, and it’s truly a gift that we can experience it from the stage while hanging on every line.

by Kiel Hauck

Kiel Hauck is the editor in chief at It’s All Dead. Over the past decade, he has been a contributor for multiple online and print publications and was most recently an editor at PopMatters. Kiel currently resides in Indianapolis, IN with his wife and their imaginary pet, Hand Dog. You can follow him on Twitter.