Event Reviews

The promotion leading up to the event was insane. Every day you would get online, and Young Xav would post about and hype it up. You would get various sneak peaks and incentives to buy tickets. One day, anyone who purchased a ticket would get the chance to take a shot with Xav. He personally reached out to different people, and I enjoyed the hospitality of him checking in on my flights and me. In the days leading up to the show, he would post people getting into town and other tidbits to get us excited. Every day, his Instagram stories were about getting everyone ready for the show.

The Show 

I was not expecting such an incredible show. It was a full-blown concert with various entertainment, contests, and soup. Cream Shows was a major element in getting things together and ensuring the crowd was enthused during set changes. Reggies is a good-sized venue, and it was pretty full. There was standing and some sitting room. Ultimately, the success of a show comes down to the crowd. This crowd was elite and there to have fun. I’ve been to a lot of events over the years, and this might be my favorite, so much so that I made a recap video of the night.

There’s a quote from an unknown author that states, “I’m impressed with people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.” That quote couldn’t be truer that the commitment artists and fans showed on January 30, 2023 at Innjoy. BaSkaveli worked diligently to throw an extraordinary event for local, undergrounds artists to showcase their skills and start off the year. Unlike other events where barely 20 people showed up during a summer event, Breaking Bread 2 was packed to the brim-don’t tell the Fire Marshall- with little walking room. The only area where you could walk was near the bathrooms. The shocking element is it was one of the coldest days, nearing record lows and frigid temperatures. Additionally, it was a Monday night where you would not expect upwards of 80 people to show out.

The crowd was extremely diverse, not just racially and ethnically but also musically. You had fans who listen to emo, hip hop, rock and even some skaters showed up. A fan even came all the way from Germany for the showcase and to check out the Chicago hip hop scene. While it was a small venue, it was high energy and once the performers were done, they would join the crowd creating a comfortable environment. One patron quoted, ” There was hella energy. No one was rowdy or trying to start problems or talk shit.” Now let’s get into the nitty gritty.