Megan Thee Stallion makes a hometown splash
Even Omar Apollo knew it was all about Megan.
“Some real hot girls over here, I see that,” he said, pointing out fans near the stage during his set. Apollo performed Friday at Discovery Green during the March Madness Music Festival, part of the men’s college basketball Final Four festivities. Fans swooned and sang along during his sunset performance. But some remained seated on the grass.
“Oh, y’all are here for Megan, for sure, for sure,” he said.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s headlining slot was more than just a homecoming. This was the Houston native’s first show of the year — and first since Tory Lanez was convicted of three counts related to shooting her in the foot.
Megan took the stage promptly at 8:45 p.m. in a silver bodysuit and thigh-high boots, showing off the gorgeous, natural curls she debuted recently at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty.
“We’re home! We’re home!” she screamed as the crowd matched her excitement.
“NDA” kicked off the hourlong set, the scorching opener from last year’s “Traumazine” album.
“Barely be at home, but I still put on for my city” — it was the first of many professions of H-town love.
Megan had always been a towering stage presence. And she’s only continued to hone her power. She shifts effortlessly from superstar diva to everyone’s bestie.
“Simon Says” was a twerking master class. “Gift & a Curse” namechecked El Chapo atop a languid groove. She rallied the crowd to put their middle fingers in the air to kick off
“What’s New,” a fiery kiss-off to the haters and naysayers. (“Turned the whole world into a savage.”)
It was a relatively mild Houston night, but Megan (and Apollo earlier) complained about the Texas heat. At one point, Megan wiped her face with a towel and tossed it to a fan.
“I’m trying to make it better than yesterday,” she quipped, a reference to her ceremonial first pitch on the Astros’ opening day.
Fan participation was a big part of the show. Megan pointed out several “hotties” in the crowd and invited them onstage for a twerk-off. There were a few rules. Don’t be shy. Don’t be on your phone. Don’t be nervous. Don’t fight.
Two sets of fans let loose as she watched. (Group 2 impressed the most.) A girl named Essence nearly stole the show, rapping confidently to “Girls in the Hood.”
“WAP,” complete with Cardi B’s prerecorded verses, was a booming highlight. Megan urged the crowd to celebrate their shapes and curves during “Body.” She gave the crowd a bit of Beyoncé with the “Savage Remix.”
Real hot girl … stuff. Now can we get a full tour?
Apollo has a voice and presence that don’t just demand attention — they playfully tease it out of you. He emanates a natural charisma and knows how to play it up across a catalog that moves from R&B to pop-punk to reggaeton.
He incited screams just by removing his jacket. He signed an autograph for a fan. He frequently flashed a sheepish smile. And he played to key components of his fanbase.
“How many homosexuals are out here?” he asked to introduce “3 Boys,” a new single about the perils of a three-way relationship. Apollo is openly gay.
“How many Mexicans we got in this b— right now? How many Latinos we got in this b— right now?” he asked before launching into the traditional ranchera “En el Olvido” against a backdrop of the Mexican flag.
Apollo paused during breakout hit “Evergreen” when people in the tightly packed crowd signaled for help. He asked for water and medical attention before restarting the song. Rhythmic rapper J.I.D. and DJ Young Jas did the same during their sets.
Apollo repeatedly told the crowd he wasn’t allowed to curse but did anyway throughout his set, often without realizing. It became a running joke.
“Damn, I can’t say nothing. Are they gonna fine me?” he asked.