The boys of Coast Contra have two rules: number one, be yourself, and number two, be legendary. Beyond their impressive lyricism and commanding presence, the hip-hop foursome has tapped into something universal with their music. Now on their very first headlining tour, Coast Contra has a message, and they’re not afraid to share it.
On a lazy Sunday night in Portland, Oregon, the crowd at Holocene seemed, more than anything, laidback. As rolling clouds of smoke from nearby wildfires blanketed the sky, local Contra fans gathered in small groups, sipping PBR and chatting quietly. Merch sellers lazed on cushioned sofas next to their swag. It didn’t feel like you were at a venue. Instead, under the blanketed windows and vaulted ceilings of Holocene, it felt like you were gathered in your buddy’s garage.
You might have guessed, given the hyper-chill atmosphere, that the evening’s performance would follow suit. Come to find out, you would’ve been very wrong.
Apt. 505 Tour
When openers Villain Park and Girll Codee took the Holocene stage, there was an immediate jolt of energy into the room. Villain Park rallied the crowd with a call to arms: “we out here.” And Girll Codee, in their matching blue leopard print pants, delivered raw ambition and lyrical magnetism, all with a prideful catchphrase: “cleeeearly!”
When Coast Contra finally burst on to the stage, they launched right into “APT,” the opening track from their debut album, Apt. 505,. “It’s a method to the madness, n— raise yo’ status.” Twin brothers Ras & Taj Austin jounced around the stage with their bandmates Rio Loz and Eric Jamal, all proudly repping their own shirts. This is only the second show of their tour, and they’re here to make sure you have a good time.
On Apt. 505, released earlier this year, the boys chronicle the pressures of Black adolescence, and the ability to rise above it through perseverance and vision. They named the album after the one-bedroom apartment the foursome shared back in Los Angeles: “it was roaches in the cabinets, but we flyer than the maggots.”
During “Get The Worm,” they snagged uplifted phones from the crowd, recording themselves joyously on stage before returning them to delighted fans. On the surface, it may seem like a flashy party. But if you listen closely to their lyrics, you’ll find the true Coast Contra ethos. “I could’ve fronted coke like my moms, but I chose to rap. N— ain’t believe me like Houdini. I got out the trap. … Wait ya turn, go and get the worm. Where ya vision at?”
They admit their show is aimed to show you a good time. But they really love to share “game” or insights that changed their lives for the better. They cite the origins of hip-hop–” hip” meaning to be woke or aware, and “hop” meaning a movement–as their raison d’être behind the Coast Contra tour.
On “Pimpin’ Benjamin,” they challenge traditional western ideals of work and worth. Insights like “do you question what it cost or what it makes” are shared with such tongue-in-cheek swagger that you might miss them. But this is Coast Contra, the wisdom of generations packed into one comforting, affable group of guys.
Check out more tour dates from Coast Contra and stream the album Apt. 505 now.
Coast Contra Photo Gallery
